Two charged in W. Chicago arson scam

Two West Chicago men face felony charges after one paid the other to set fire to his van for an insurance scam, prosecutors said Friday.

Sergio Carmona, 34, and Erik Pena, 20, were indicted by a DuPage County grand jury Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, insurance fraud and arson. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Carmona gave Pena a key to his 1999 Honda Odyssey and agreed to pay $300 in exchange for setting fire to the vehicle on Feb. 27. The next day, prosecutors said, Carmona filed a claim for the damage with his insurance provider.

Prosecutors said Carmona sought thousands of dollars from the insurance company. Additional details were not immediately released. Both Carmona and Pena were arrested in late April and early May, respectively, and released on $3,000 bonds, according to court records.

Carmona, of the 700 block of Oak Street, is scheduled to appear in court May 16. Pena, of the 400 block of Ann Street, is due in court May 23.