Former Restaurant Owner Indicted for Arson and Related Charges

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Arletta Allen (age 43) of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The indictment charges Allen with arson of a commercial building in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i) (Count One); wire fraud and attempted wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1349 (Count Two); arson in connection with a federal felony in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(h)(Count Three); and making false statements to law enforcement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(Count Four).

According to the indictment, on or about October 10, 2021, Allen maliciously damaged by fire a restaurant known as “A Family Affair Soulfood Kitchen” located at 417 S. Main Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The indictment further alleges that Allen executed a scheme to defraud Germantown Mutual Insurance Company by setting fire to the restaurant and signing a sworn proof of loss claim seeking insurance proceeds for losses caused by the fire, while falsely representing that she did not cause or procure the fire. The indictment also alleges that Allen lied to law enforcement officers on multiple occasions about her activities and location prior to the fire.

If convicted, Allen faces the following penalties: Count One, mandatory minimum of 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment; Count Two, up to 20 years’ imprisonment; Count Three, mandatory minimum 10 years’ imprisonment which must run consecutive to any other sentence; and Count Four, up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly B. Watzka and Porchia S. Lewand.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove her guilty of each offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.