A Michigan man faces at least 15 more yeas in prison for setting fire to trailers owned by one of the nation's leading trucking companies.
Last week, a federal jury found Viorel Pricop, 66, of Allen Park, Michigan, guilty of three counts of arson of a vehicle or property in interstate commerce. Pricop has been in federal custody since October 2022.
According to evidence presented at an eight-day trial, Pricop set fire to three semi-truck trailers belonging to Swift Transportation as part of a larger pattern of arsons targeting Swift.
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Two of the arsons occurred in Willcox, Arizona and one occurred in Holbrook, Arizona. In each of the incidents, the Swift-owned trailer was parked at or near a truck stop when Pricop set a fire on or near the trailer tires.
According to other evidence presented at trial, Pricop set at least 16 additional Swift Transportation semi-trailers on fire in multiple states between October 2021 and September 2022.
These arsons occurred at locations from Barstow, California to McCalla, Alabama, with most occurring along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40. Federal criminal charges associated with some of the fires were filed against Pricop in several districts and were the basis of a 2024 criminal trial in the Central District of California, where Pricop was found guilty of six arsons.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, an analysis of cellular data showed that a specific device – later determined to be used by Pricop for navigation – had connected to cell towers in the vicinity and around the times of the fires. Pricop’s cellphone was also located in the general area of all three Arizona fires.
Additional items, including a gas torch, lighters, and fuel-soaked rags were found in the Pricop’s vehicle.
United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker has scheduled a Nov. 13 sentencing hearing. Pricop faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.
