www.nyspnews.com, Press Release, December 9, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
On December 9, 2022, State Police of Schodack arrested Christa Whitbeck, 39, of Albany, NY, for Insurance Fraud in the Fourth Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. John Martin, 27, of Rensselaer, NY, was arrested for Arson in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree.
On August 20, 2022, at about 9:40 p.m. Troopers responded to the area of Huntley Road in Sand Lake, NY, for a fully involved vehicle fire. The vehicle was not occupied at the time of the fire, and it was determined the fire had been intentionally started. The investigation discovered the vehicle owner, Whitbeck worked with Martin to deliberately destroy the vehicle to collect insurance money. Whitbeck reported the vehicle stolen to the North Greenbush Police Department just before it was located on fire and filed a claim with her insurance company the same day, reporting it was stolen and destroyed.
Whitbeck and Martin were processed at SP Schodack. Whitbeck was issued appearance tickets returnable to the North Greenbush Town Court on December 20, 2022, and released. Martin was arraigned at the East Greenbush Town Court and remanded to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility without bail. Continue Press Release