The man accused of setting fire to multiple Swift trucks across eight states has been jailed indefinitely after investigators discovered $200,000 in cash duct taped to the underside of his couch.
The Detroit News reports that the trucker, Viorel Pricop, set fire to the trucks as a way to seek revenge against the trucking company, which had a part in sending him to prison several years ago.
While investigating his home, investigators discovered the $200,000 in $100 bills duct-taped under a couch in Pricop’s Allen Park, Michigan house. Pricop later lied to federal court officials and told them he was only hiding $20,000 in cash.
After the discovery of the cash and subsequent lie, U. S. Magistrate Kimberly Altman concluded that Pricop is a danger to the community and a flight risk, and he was ordered to stay in jail indefinitely on Thursday, October 13th.
“All of that is very concerning and troubling to the court,” Altman told Pricop.
“That shows a total disregard for human life,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy McDonald told the magistrate judge. “And an extreme amount of danger.”
“It’s almost a wonder to the court how people who were sleeping in those [trucks], and with those fires going on, that no one was ever injured,” Altman said.
Pricop faces between 5 and 20 years in prison if convicted of arson of property involved in interstate commerce.