KHOU reports that a man who was a former resident of Huntsville is looking at federal charges stemming from a 2023 fire that destroyed his home and killed two men.
According to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, 52-year-old Mario Raynard Roberson was arrested in Houston on multiple counts related to conspiracy to commit arson resulting in death.
Ganjei says Roberson was responsible for recruiting the victims to set his house on fire, so he could collect insurance money from State Farm.
On June 14, 2023, the two people hired by Roberson were killed while setting the fire.
Roberson, at the time, said he was the victim of a hate crime.
Roberson is looking at nine additional charges related to the fire.
The indictments were returned on July 1st by a federal grand jury in Houston.
If found guilty, Roberson could receive a prison sentence for life, along with a $250,000 fine.
