ROCKFORD, IL — A once celebrated entrepreneur has been sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for burning down his own burger joint and filing a false insurance claim.
James Purifoy, 51, of Rockford, entered a guilty plea in January to charges of filing a fraudulent insurance claim and arson in connection with the Jan. 22, 2023, fire inside 15th & Chris a popular hamburger stand he had operated at 201 15th Ave.
He later received a fraudulent $305,400 insurance payment, according to a news release.
To hide his involvement from law enforcement, Purifoy left the premises before police and fire personnel arrived to put out the fire. Purifoy gave false statements to the Rockford Police Department, Rockford Fire Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, according to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
At one point, Purifoy had previously claimed that he had been threatened by a drug cartel in the weeks before the fire.
U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed the 66-month prison term during a hearing May 13 in federal court in Rockford.
“Arson is a seriously dangerous crime which can have devastating consequences,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “An intentionally set fire unnecessarily risks the lives of bystanders and first responders.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Owner of popular Rockford burger stand sentenced to more than 5 years
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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