Man Involved in Alleged $20M Fraud Scheme Died From Gunshot Wound

The Buckingham Township man charged in a connection with a multimillion dollar insurance fraud scheme died Thursday from a single gunshot wound to the head, his autopsy revealed.

The death of Thomas French was ruled a suicide, Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell told The Intelligencer.

French is a member of a prominent Bucks County family who has been charged in a highly-publicized insurance fraud scheme after three fires at their Buckingham Township mansion in less than five years. French, a retired Bucks County sheriff’s deputy, killed himself at a property in Buckingham Township that the family was renting.

French’s wife, Claire Risoldi, her daughter Carla Risolidi, son Carl Risoldi and his wife, Sheila, claimed millions of dollars in losses after a fire at their Stoney Hill Road home in 2013, according to a grand jury. The fire on Oct. 22, 2013 was the third at the home in the past five years, investigators said. Fires also happened in June 2009 and August 2010.

Investigators say that the family’s insurance company, AIG, paid out more than $20 million in connection with the fires and the family is seeking $20 million more for the October fire.

The grand jury alleges that the family used the payouts to buy fancy cars and jewelry.

The charges were announced last month.

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