A Michigan man, Viorel Pricop, 67, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for setting fires to commercial truck trailers. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine and handed down by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker.
Pricop was convicted by a jury on August 21, 2024, of three counts of arson involving vehicles or property in interstate commerce. According to the Department of Justice, these acts targeted semi-truck trailers owned by Swift Transportation, a major Phoenix-based trucking company.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated: “This defendant left a nation-wide path of destruction that threatened lives, property, and critical infrastructure. Thanks to the dedicated work of federal prosecutors and ATF agents, the DoJ brought him to justice. This case is proof that the federal government will bring its full weight to bear in order to stop dangerous and destructive criminals.”
Shawn Stallo, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the ATF Phoenix Field Division, said: "The ten-year sentence handed down to Pricop marks the culmination of a multi-year, multi-state investigation into a dangerous campaign of targeted arson. This successful outcome was made possible through the exhaustive use of ATF resources, including our K-9 units, the Fire Research Laboratory, and the technical expertise of our Certified Fire Investigators who methodically linked these fires across the country. By leveraging these specialized tools to hold this serial arsonist accountable, we have ensured that he can no longer threaten the lives of drivers or the safety of our nation's interstate commerce.”
The incidents included two arsons in Willcox and one in Holbrook—both located in Arizona—as part of a larger series targeting Swift Transportation assets nationwide. Between October 2021 and September 2022, Pricop set at least 16 additional Swift trailers on fire across several states from California to Alabama along major highways.
Federal criminal charges related to some fires were also filed against Pricop in other districts. In 2024 he was found guilty on six counts of arson after a trial in California's Central District.
Previously, Pricop had been convicted in Michigan’s Eastern District for tax offenses and transporting stolen goods following an investigation led by Swift Transportation. He served approximately 26 months before his supervised release ended in June 2019—about two years prior to when authorities say his string of arsons began.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Albuquerque Field Office led this investigation with support from multiple ATF divisions and forensic laboratories as well as special agents from their National Cellular Analytics Program. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona's Tucson office.
For further details about ongoing activities from this office visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
