Anthony Greco plans to appeal his guilty verdict Thursday, saying he has “no doubt” his felony insurance fraud conviction will be overturned.
The jury found Greco guilty of insurance fraud, but spared him a conviction on charges of felony arson as well as aiding and abetting.
“I’ve filed a notice of appeal to let the court know that I am appealing it,” he said. “I have 40 days to have all of the paperwork filled out and I have no doubt that the appellate court will overturn this.”
The conviction carries a 1-to-4 year prison sentence. He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 17.
Following the verdict, Greco said he assumed the 12-member jury would acquit him in the case that dated back to 2010.
“I expected not guilty on all three,” he said. “I knew that they didn’t have a case and they pursued this thing for almost five years.”
As a longtime firearm owner, Greco also said he will now have to get rid of his guns as a result of his felony conviction.
He earned his living as a security guard in Las Vegas.
“Now I won’t be able to keep my firearms and I’ve already called my boss and I’m out of work,” he said. “My security guard status goes through the attorney general’s office, so as a convicted felon, I’m all done.”
Greco and his girlfriend at the time, Kathy Rinaldi, were charged with conspiring to commit the crimes after Nye County Sheriff’s deputies responded to their Pahrump Valley Boulevard home in August 2010 following a report of a burglary.
Authorities said both intentionally gave misleading information to the insurance company when a claim was filed.
The defendants were originally charged with first degree arson, insurance fraud and aiding and abetting.
The motive, prosecutors said, was to collect money on the home’s insurance policy by orchestrating the fire.
According the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, Greco told police someone broke into the house and attempted to set the interior on fire on Aug. 19. 2010.
During the initial investigation, Nevada State Fire Marshal Michael Kolpak concluded the fire was set intentionally after a container of the highly flammable mineral spirits was discovered inside the home.
Last month, Rinaldi decided to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit a breach of peace, a gross misdemeanor.
As part of the terms of the plea agreement, Rinaldi received a 364-day suspended jail sentence, while agreeing to cooperate in the prosecution of Greco.
She was also ordered to pay the attorney general’s office $500 for prosecutorial costs as well as pay $14,025 in restitution to the Allstate Insurance Company.
Greco said he’s now concerned that his former girlfriend may spend time behind bars for her role in the crimes following next month’s sentencing.
He said he still considers Rinaldi a good person.
“I’ve never said anything bad about her because she is a really good person,” he said. “They intimidated her to make her plead guilty.”
Rinaldi is scheduled for sentencing on June 8.