Arson plot comes to light in Arlington Heights

Two Arlington Heights teens have been charged with arson after authorities said one hired the other to set his father's house on fire in a scheme to collect insurance money.

Kyle Kelly and Alan Villagrana, both 19, appeared in court Wednesday in connection with the Oct. 1 house fire on the 1800 block of North Forest Avenue in Arlington Heights.

The alleged scheme unfolded after, authorities said, the pair were arrested Monday after trying to sell cocaine to an undercover officer in a parking lot on Rand Road.

Arlington Heights police said they had previously received information that Kelly, of 910 N. Beverly Lane, might have known about the arson.

Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Kenneth Galinski said Kelly and Villagrana, of 1609 N. Windsor Drive, eventually gave written statements admitting their involvement.

Authorities say Kelly solicited Villagrana on Sept. 24 to set fire to Kelly's father's house, which had been on the market for 10 months but wasn't selling. Kelly apparently hoped insurance money would be paid out to his father, who he believed to be in financial trouble.

A week later, on Oct. 1, authorities said, Villagrana entered the house through an unlocked door and doused the house with gasoline that Kelly supplied. Police also found gang symbols they say Villagrana spray-painted in an effort to throw off investigators. Kelly paid Villagrana $800 to $900, authorities said.

Arlington Heights Deputy Fire Chief Ken Koeppen said arson was immediately suspected because the fire had multiple points of origin. He estimated the house, which was vacant, sustained $150,000 in damages. No nearby homes were damaged.

The fire remained under investigation when authorities got a tip that Kelly was dealing cocaine. Police arranged meetings with Kelly before the arrest, which Galinski said was to "see what kinds of quantities he was moving."

Authorities said Kelly and Villagrana arrived together Monday at a Rand Road parking lot, where an undercover officer paid Kelly $260 for about 5.1 grams of cocaine. Police charged them with delivery of a controlled substance.

A Cook County judge on Wednesday set Kelly's bond at $160,000 for both the arson and drug charges. Villagrana was held on $140,000 bond.