Minneapolis -- July 13, 2022: U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger stated that a Brooklyn Center man has been indicted for wire fraud after filing fake insurance claims for a staged arson.
On September 23, 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 29, fraudulently reported to law enforcement that someone had set fire to his camper, according to court documents. Molla stated that "Biden 2020," "BLM," and an Antifa symbol were spray-painted on his garage door, and that his camper was targeted because it displayed a Trump 2020 flag. In actuality, Molla set his own property on fire and sprayed his own garage with graffiti.
According to court documents, Molla filed various insurance claims claiming compensation for fire-related damage to his garage, camper, vehicles, and apartment. When some of these claims were denied by Molla's insurance company, he submitted written complaints alleging fraud and threatened to denounce the insurance business to the Department of Commerce and the Attorney General. Molla also established and permitted the creation of two GoFundMe accounts for the benefit of himself and his family. Molla submitted more than $300,000 in bogus insurance claims, and his insurance company paid him around $61,000. Individual contributors contributed more than $17,000 to Molla via GoFundMe.
Molla is facing two charges of wire fraud. He made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung in U.S. District Court yesterday.
This investigation was performed by both the FBI and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz and Kimberly A. Svendsen.
The defendant is deemed innocent until guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is shown in a court of law.