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5 Members Of Bucks County Family Facing Charges For $20 Million Insurance Fraud

NEW HOPE, Pa. (CBS) – Five members of a Bucks County family are facing charges for allegedly conspiring to defraud insurance companies of more than $20 million to live an "excessively extravagant lifestyle" that included exotic sports cars, "Romanesque murals" and more.

According to Attorney General Kathleen Kane, an investigation began after an October 2013 fire at Claire Risoldi's home in New Hope, which she referred to as "Clairemont."

Officials say this was the third fire at the home in the past five years, including one in June 2009 and another in August 2010.

Following each of the fires, the Risoldi family – which also included Claire's husband, Thomas French; her son, Carl; and daughter-in-law, Sheila – filed insurance claims. Those claims have paid out more than $20 million in claims for the fires.

The Risoldis are reportedly seeking $20 million more in claims filed for the Oct. 2013 fire, including $10 million for jewelry that a Grand Jury found Claire Risoldi falsely accused the volunteer firefighters who put out the blaze of stealing.

The Grand Jury also established the Risoldi family had a 20- to 30-year history of filing "questionable" insurance claims, such as in one case, when it was found that Claire Risoldi still had jewelry she claimed was stolen back in 1993.

Investigators say the family progressively increased the value of the jewelry covered by their insurance policy from $100,000 to almost $11 million, with the final increase occurring 25 days before the 2013 fire. Additionally, in all three fires, the Grand Jury found there were large amounts of flammable materials in piles near the points of origin.

Claire, Carl and Carla Risoldi are also said to have facilitated the receipt of invoices inflated more than ten-fold for "Romanesque murals" inside Clairemont depicting the family "in flowing robes gazing down from the heavens."

Among other things, Claire Risoldi is also accused of witness intimidation, including threatening an insurance adjustor and an attorney involved in one of the real estate transactions.

The investigation also resulted in the seizure of $7 million in assets, including about $3 million in seized bank accounts, $1.2 million in jewelry, six Ferraris, two Rolls Royces, one Cobra and four other vehicles worth $2.8 million.

The following people are charged in relation to the Risoldi family's crimes:

Claire A. Risoldi, 67, 4940 Danielle Drive, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, attempted theft by deception, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility, false reports to law enforcement and insurance fraud; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and theft by deception; and three counts of forgery.

Carl A. Risoldi, 43, 4871 Danielle Drive, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.

Carla V. Risoldi, 48, 5947 Shetland Drive, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.

Sheila M. Risoldi, 43, 4871 Danielle Drive, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, insurance fraud and attempted theft by deception; and three counts of forgery.

Thomas J. French, 64, 4940 Danielle Drive, Doylestown, Bucks County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility, false reports to law enforcement and insurance fraud; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.

Mark Goldman, 54, 110 Chase Road, Wayne, Chester County, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, intimidation of witnesses or victims, obstructing the administration of law, tampering with public records, criminal use of a communication facility and false reports to law enforcement; two counts each of: dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and insurance fraud; and three counts of forgery.

Richard Holston, 51, 46 Algonquin Trail, Medford, New Jersey, is charged with one count each of: corrupt organizations, insurance fraud, obstructing the administration of law, theft by deception and perjury.

"This family and their co-conspirators stole millions to fund a lifestyle of extravagance and excess," Attorney General Kane said. "Insurance fraud drives up the cost for everyone, including seniors and middle-class families. Even worse, the scheme was facilitated through threats, intimidation and falsely accusing first responders of serious crimes."

All seven of the accused turned themselves in on Thursday and were arraigned and released after posting bail.

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