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Ramiz Duka, 61, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was convicted in federal court for conspiring to set fire to a warehouse located at 1388 Bridgewater Road in Bensalem on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, the Bensalem Police Department said.
Duka recruited two men to set fire to the warehouse, paying them $15,000 to do so, according to police. Over the course of several weeks, the three men met and planned the arson, ultimately leading to the fire.
While fighting the blaze, one firefighter, Nicholas Altomare, was seriously injured when a ladder collapsed, police said. He was out of work "for some time" but eventually returned to full duty.
Damages from the fire totaled almost $6 million, according to police.
Duka was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Arson, police said. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of 20 years.
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