Evette “Betty” Osuegbu, 62, of East St. Louis, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for orchestrating a decade-long arson and insurance fraud scheme that endangered public safety and exploited vulnerable individuals. A jury found her guilty in December 2024 on 15 counts, including conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Osuegbu manipulated a man with intellectual disabilities through a romance scam, unlawfully obtaining access to his property and insurance. She later used his identity—without his knowledge—to file a fraudulent insurance claim after a house fire she had orchestrated.
On New Year’s Eve 2022, Osuegbu directed her co-defendant, Rufis Jefferson, to set fire to a home in East St. Louis. A neighbor witnessed the blaze and contacted emergency responders, while Osuegbu attempted to create an alibi by claiming she was at a casino at the time of the incident. Following the arson, she sued her insurance company, fraudulently naming the disabled victim as the plaintiff, and received a payout that resulted in her being placed in a hotel.
Investigators uncovered further evidence that Osuegbu had planned additional arsons in Granite City and Venice. In recorded conversations obtained before her arrest, she also advised others on how to set fires while avoiding detection—urging them to avoid cameras and target properties in ways that would make investigations difficult. Authorities believe these planned attacks were thwarted by ATF Chicago, preventing further destruction.
Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of ATF Chicago emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “Arson and insurance fraud are not victimless crimes, and the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed. This was a dangerous, deliberate, and brazen scheme orchestrated by Ms. Osuegbu, putting the public at risk for personal gain.”
Court documents show Osuegbu acted with calculated intent over a period spanning nearly a decade, targeting both insurers and individuals for her own financial benefit. Her sentencing brings to a close a wide-ranging investigation involving local and federal agencies.
