(KAIR)--The former chief of the Kickapoo Tribal Volunteer Fire Department has been indicted on federal charges for intentionally setting fires for financial reasons.
According to a news release from Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, 26-year-old Stephen Ramirez is charged with four counts of wire fraud.
34-year-old former volunteer firefighter Arlene Negonsott was also indicted Wednesday on the same federal charges.
According to the indictment, Ramirez recruited Negonsott to set fires on the Kickapoo Reservation, in order to collect funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, contracted to pay the tribe $600 for each fire fought.
It's alleged that six fires were set intentionally, with the crimes occurring from July to November 2015.
If convicted, both Ramirez and Negonsott face up to 20-years in federal prison, and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
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