A Hampton man on Thursday denied allegations he participated in an insurance fraud scheme with the husband of a woman accused of killing an FBI agent.
Ronald Burkharth, 50, pleaded not guilty to mail fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Lenihan. He was released on bond.
Prosecutors claim Burkharth helped Robert Korbe, 39, fake an August burglary at his Indiana Township home by taking Korbe's motorcycle while he was away on vacation. Korbe later submitted a claim to his insurance company, which paid $29,000 for the purportedly stolen motorcycle
Korbe's wife, Christina, is charged with several federal criminal counts related to the Nov. 19 fatal shooting of FBI Special Agent Samuel Hicks. Christina Korbe, 40, is accused of killing Hicks as he and other law enforcement officers tried to arrest her husband on drug charges.
Robert Korbe made his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court, Downtown, in the insurance fraud case. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. He and his wife are in custody.
Jason Cato can be reached at jcato@tribweb.com or 412-320-7840.
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