According to Prosecutors and Insurance Journal, the owner of a local New Jersey diner hired a friend to burn it down for the insurance payout.
51-year-old Thomas Giannisis of Bellmawr, NJ, owner of the Country Town Diner in Berlin, NJ, along with his accomplice, 56-year-old Robert Zbikowski of Mount Holly, NJ, have been officially charged with Arson for Hire and Conspiracy to Commit Arson last month. Zbikowski, who allegedly carried out the arson, has also been charged with Aggravated Arson and Creating or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage, and Giannisis has also been charged with Conspiracy to Create or Risk Widespread Injury or Damage.
The charges are in connection with the January 10th, 2018 fire that consumed and destroyed the Country Town Diner. Luckily, no injuries were reported from the blaze, and it was not clear what Zbikowski used to set the fire, only that it began on the second floor of the structure.