Suspect To Plead Guilty In Hitching Post Fire

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A New Jersey man intends to plead guilty to a federal charge stemming from the 2010 arson fire that destroyed the Hitching Post Inn in Cheyenne, according to court records.

Falgun Dharia of Flanders, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty in January to six charges, including conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors and Dharia filed notice in federal court in Cheyenne Wednesday saying his case will be transferred to New York, where he faces other charges. The notice says Dharia will plead guilty to an unspecified Wyoming charge in New York.

Prosecutors and a defense lawyer declined comment Thursday.

Dharia was a principal in a company that owned the Hitching Post. Prosecutors say the arson was set to defraud an insurance company of $13 million.