Massachusetts Man Arrested in Connection with Maine Home Fire

A Massachusetts man was arrested this week in connection with a fire that destroyed his second home in New Portland Maine two and half years ago.

49-year old William Carabetta of Monson, MA was arrested at his home Tuesday evening by Massachusetts State Police and charged with four counts of insurance deception and a fifth charge of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.

The charges against Carabetta stem from a January 2017 fire that destroyed his home on the Carrabassett Road in New Portland. Carabetta had purchased the house for $84,000 in 2014 and received  $350,000 in insurance payouts. Fire investigators say the cause of the fire was never determined. An insurance claim of water damage to the house from frozen pipes and the reported theft of an ATV from the property in 2016 also led to charges being filed.

Carabetta was taken to the Hampden County Jail in Ludlow, MA and was being held on a fugitive from justice charge.  He is expected to be returned to Maine once that charge has been resolved.