He’s accused of conspiracy to commit arson.
Federal authorities say William Reneau, owner of Gold Rush Exchange LLC in Independence, MO, hired someone to set fire to a competitor’s business.
Reneau has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson, WDAF-TV reports.
He’s accused of hiring a man identified as “R.Y.” in court documents to set fire to Independence-based Bobby Jackson’s Trading Co., the Kansas City Business Journal reports. The owner of Bobby Jackson’s Trading is a former employee of Reneau’s.
It’s alleged that R.Y. drove a vehicle through the front of the business on July 17, 2017, resulting in about $10,000 in damage, and then came back an set a fire on Aug. 4, 2017, resulting in $5,000 in damage. For starting the blaze, R.Y. was allegedly paid $800.
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Prosecutors also allege that Reneau paid another individual $500 to set fire to a home, according to the Business Journal. The residence belonged to the ex-husband of Reneau’s wife.
According to its website, Gold Rush operates four jewelry stores in the Kansas City area.
Read more at WDAF-TV
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