State police filed arson and insurance fraud charges against three men in connection with a fire in Lansford in 2016.

The men, Benjamin Arnold, 52, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Richard Snyder, 53, of Coaldale, and David B. Argott, 46, of Frackville, all face felony charges of arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, reckless burning and insurance fraud.

Troopers said Arnold paid Snyder $10,000 to burn down the house he owned at 524 E. Front St., which was half of an unoccupied double-block home. Snyder then paid Argott $5,000 to set the fire, police said.

Firefighters found the double home at 522-524 E. Front St. fully involved upon arrival at 4:12 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2016, Lansford Fire Chief Joseph Greco said. The fire was aided by high winds that carried flames through the interior, he said.

Firefighters from multiple mutual aid departments responded and remained on scene for hours, Greco said. Both Lansford police and a state police fire marshal were requested to assist, troopers said.

In February 2016, then-Lansford police Sgt. Jack Soberick developed information that Snyder had been involved in setting the fire, troopers said.

In 2023, additional information was discovered and there was a joint investigation between the state police Troop N’s Fire Marshal Unit and the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office, troopers said.