Cherry Hill Man Imprisoned For Planning Arson Of PA Warehouse

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Cherry Hill man who paid two men to set a Pennsylvania warehouse on fire was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday.

Ramiz Duka must also pay $6.15 million in damages as part of his sentencing in Philadelphia federal court.

Duka, 62, recruited two men to set a Bensalem warehouse on fire in an effort to collect insurance money from the damages, according to court documents.

One of the men set the building ablaze in December 2022. The building was heavily damaged, and a firefighter was hospitalized when he fell 25 feet off a ladder that collapsed.

A few weeks earlier, Duka met with both men to discuss damaging the warehouse, according to his indictment. Duka claimed that his friend owned the building and wanted to collect insurance money.

The indictment doesn't specify who owns the building, which an online bookseller leased and used for storage.

In October, Duka was found guilty of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by fire of a building used in interstate commerce. He faced up to 20 years behind bars.

Once out of prison, Duka must undergo three years of supervised release.

Authorities identified the co-conspirators as Xavier Ramos Leal and an unnamed individual ("Person 1"). Ramos Leal has been convicted in the case.