Insurance Fraud is a Violent Crime

A Murderer Guilty of Killing for Insurance Money Must Serve the Full Sentence 60 Year Sentence

Barry Zalma

Feb 20, 2024

Transcript

CHUTZPAH: DEFENDANT KILLS GIRLFRIEND AND TRIES TO COLLECT LIFE INSURANCE

Ronald Epps, a prisoner in federal custody, filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct his Sentence as well as a filing he called a Motion for Compassionate Release.

In Ronald Epps v. USA, United States District Court, W.D. New York (February 13, 2024) the USDC refused his request.

BACKGROUND

Epps was charged with wire fraud for executing a scheme fraudulently to collect the proceeds of a life insurance policy on the life of murder victim, Ms. Moss; with mail fraud for executing a fraudulent scheme to collect proceeds of a renter’s insurance policy covering the premises, after the premises had twice been damaged by intentionally set fires; and with five specific arson-related offenses in connection with those two fires.

After trial the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts. Epps was sentenced to an aggregate term of 60 years in prison; the final judgment was entered on January 4, 2017.

THE TRIAL EVIDENCE

Evidence about Epps’s actions and the statements involving a so-called “bag of guns” tended to explain why the 9 mm firearm used to shoot Ms. Moss in the back of the head was not recovered.

EPPS IS NOT ENTITLED TO COMPASSIONATE RELEASE

A court may not modify a term of imprisonment once it has been imposed except pursuant to statute. Epps failed to establish-as he must-that extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant reduction of his sentence.

ZALMA OPINION

I have been told by prosecutors over the last 55 years that they don’t want to prosecute insurance fraud because they need the time to prosecute violent criminals. Mr. Epps killed his girlfriend to collect insurance money while simultaneously setting fires to profit from his crimes. Two violent crimes, arson and murder, resulted in a sentence of 60 years only to waste the time of the court with a pro se motion to set aside the judgment because the judge was prejudiced against him, his lawyer was inadequate, and he needed to be released from prison. Fortunately for the public of the USA his ploys failed and he will stay in prison for the next 60 years because insurance fraud is either a violent crime or the reason for two violent crimes.