By Ivan Pereira
A Brooklyn man was arraigned last week on several charges after he allegedly torched his car under the Long Island Rail Road tracks as part of an insurance scheme, the Queens district attorney said.
Kai S. Gates, of 1030 Elton St., was charged with several counts on April 8, including arson, insurance fraud and conspiracy, for allegedly setting fire to his SUV, which he abandoned under the railway’s tracks at North Conduit Avenue and 230th Place, according to the criminal complaint.
The incident took place on Feb. 22, when a 911 phone call was made around 8:18 p.m. of a truck fire in the vicinity, the complaint said. When police and firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a 2006 Jeep Cherokee ablaze and put out the fire around 11 p.m., according to the DA.
A fire marshal determined that the fire was deliberately set after he allegedly found gasoline residue on the passenger side seat, according to the complaint.
“Based on his investigation of the … vehicle, he was able to rule out acts of God and accidental causes of the fire,” the complaint said of the fire marshal.
An investigation by the police found that Gates, the registered owner of the SUV, filed a false insurance claim with Allstate auto insurance, stating that his car was stolen from Brooklyn on Feb. 22, the DA said. The claim said the damage was in excess of $3,000, according to the complaint.
Investigators said Gates drove the SUV to Queens where he abandoned it, hoping it would get stripped or stolen. He later went with another unidentified individual who then set fire to the vehicle, the complaint said.
The other man allegedly told Gates he did not have to worry about his car anymore, according to the complaint.
Gates was held on $10,000 bail and was expected back in court April 22, the DA said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e−mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 146.
