Tomah man sentenced for mail fraud in arson scheme

MADISON, Wis. — A Tomah man will spend time in prison for burning his house down and trying to collect insurance money for the damages.

34-year-old Darnell Rockette was sentenced Thursday to nearly 60 years in prison by a U.S. District Court judge.

Rockette set fire to and destroyed his rented Tomah home in August 2009, and then in  January 2010 sent a fraudulent “proof of loss” claim to American Family Insurance.

A judge ordered Rockette to pay back more than $158,000 to the insurance company.