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Mahoning jury indicts 7 in arson, burglary, insurance fraud scheme

YOUNGSTOWN — A Mahoning County grand jury indicted seven people accused of taking part in a criminal enterprise that allegedly burned buildings in Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and faked burglaries to fraudulently collect more than $1 million from insurance companies.

The indictments, unsealed Monday, include charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated arson, grand theft, insurance fraud and tampering with records from 2011 to 2017.

“This band of criminals will now have to answer for their illicit and fraudulent activities that have been brought to light by this indictment,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

Tricia Floyd, also known as Patricia Floyd, 69, of Youngstown, is the alleged ring leader, the report states.

Others charged are:

l Kyrene Rodriguez, also known as Kyrene Moirai Rinard Floyd, 36, of Youngstown.

l Heather Marie Kellar, formerly known as James Kellar, 48, of Niles.

l Theodore Edward Dozier Wynn, also known as Ted Wynn, 29, of Youngstown.

l Juan Rodriguez, also known as Johnny Rodriguez, 32, of Youngstown.

l Christopher J. Gibboney, 29, of Girard.

l Jessica Gonzalez, 51, of Youngstown.

“Every time a building was torched, lives were jeopardized and this indictment demonstrates that all of us will take action to see those who commit such acts will face the consequence,” said Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.

The case was investigated by the Youngstown Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Fire Marshal, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service and Social Security Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section.

The crimes alleged include: burning several buildings owned by those charged; defrauding insurers, including Allstate, Farmers Insurance and Nationwide Insurance; counterfeit money changing $1 bills into $20, $50 and $100 bills; hiding from the Social Security Administration a mineral-rights windfall so that more than $30,000 in benefits could be collected; and burglarizing a home intending to destroy evidence about their alleged crimes.

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