The fire happened back on March 13, 2016.

Khaled Baroud, 61, of New Windsor has pleaded guilty to Attempted Arson in the Third Degree and Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree after admitting that he set fire to his business, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.

Baroud, who initially denied setting the fire, was arrested after a yearlong joint investigation and while in court he admitted in that he set fire to his business “USA Waffles,” a waffle and bagel shop that he had opened on February 28, 2016.

Baroud admitted to setting the fire so that he could collect over $50,000 in insurance money.

Superintendent of Financial Services, Maria T. Vullo, said that, “This defendant sought to enrich himself by engineering an insurance fraud scheme that endangered the safety of the public. The Department of Financial Services is proud to have worked with District Attorney Hoovler and our law enforcement partners to bring this defendant to justice.”

The business was located at 440 South Plank Road, in the Town of Newburgh.

Baroud was arraigned and is being held on $25,000 bail, cash or bond and is due back in court on April 19, 2017 for sentencing.

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