Man Accused of Taking $200K in Insurance Funds After Vernon Fire

VERNON, CT — A man arrested 18 times already for crimes like larceny and contractor violations was charged on Wednesday with stealing more than $200,000 in insurance money from a house fire claim, a warrant indicates.

John Matava, 54, was charged Wednesday with first-degree larceny on a warrant. He was initially held on a $250,000 bond, police said. It was was reduced to $150,000 at his arraignment later on Wednesday, but he remained in custody, police said.

The initial complaint about the insurance money — $207,007.16 in all — was filed by a local lawyer for Retained Realty Inc. in September, according to a warrant.

Matava had taken out a mortgage for a home at 9 George Drive in Vernon in 2008 and the real estate company had initiated foreclosure proceedings for payment default in March 2011, a warrant indicates.

The house was wrecked in a fire in April 2014, according to a warrant.

An insurance check for the $207,000 was issued three months later and Matava cashed it behind Retained Realty's back, according to a warrant.

On New Year's Eve, Matava was charged with second-degree larceny, violating home improvement contract regulations and a crime called "notices in sales agreements," according to a separate warrant.

He had been free on a $20,000 bond, court records indicate.

For details on his 17 other arrests, click here.

Photo Credit: VPD