Roberto Torner was convicted of multiple charges ranging from drug trafficking and gun crimes to arson and murder in a case that exposed a web of crime spanning multiple years. Sparked by a suspected arson in August 2016, the investigation led authorities down a path that exposed Torner's extensive criminal activities.
Torner's troubles with the law began in June 2015 when the Luzerne County Drug Task Force started investigating him for heroin trafficking and possible gun crimes. After Torner gained ownership of a home through nefarious actions, he decided to burn down it down for financial gain in 2016. The Weatherly Police Department called the ATF Philadelphia Field Division to assist with the fire investigation.
As ATF Special Agent Certified Fire Investigators and local law enforcement delved deeper, the case expanded beyond arson and insurance fraud to include federal firearms offenses and more. Search warrants uncovered multiple firearms, ammo, surveillance videos, and 1 1/2 pounds of stolen U.S. military C-4 plastic explosives.
Following a 12-day trial, Torner and his codefendants were first convicted on all counts of drug, gun and explosives crimes. On Feb. 12, 2020, Torner was sentenced to serve 22 1/2 years in federal prison.
Two days prior to his conviction on guns and drug crimes, Torner and David Alzugaray-Lugones faced additional homicide charges related to the 2015 disappearance of Jose "Pepe" Herran. Witness interviews during the arson investigation led authorities to a clandestine grave site, where human skull fragments were discovered alongside murder weapons on one of Torner's properties. On May 18, 2023, Torner was convicted of Herran's murder and received a life sentence.
The initial arson charges finally made it to court after the murder trial wrapped up. The blaze caused $1 million in damages to three homes and endangered the lives of surrounding families. Torner collected a $245,000 insurance payout and later pleaded guilty, earning him an additional 10-year federal prison sentence on Feb. 24, 2025.
What began as an ATF investigation into a fire unraveled a tapestry of violent crimes, demonstrating the agency's commitment to following leads wherever they may find them. As for Roberto Torner, a man whose actions showed a blatant disregard for human life and property, he will no longer be a threat to the people of Pennsylvania.
Read more about some of his crimes at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/freeland-man-sentenced-270-months-…, https://weatherlypd.com/torner-convicted-in-foster-township-homicide/#:…, and https://weatherlypd.com/press-release-roberto-torner/.
