Couple accused of scamming organizations by claiming their house burned down

A Laurel County couple is in jail, accused of scamming organizations and churches out of money by claiming their house burned down.

Robert Maxie, 53, and Brittany McDonald, 26, are both charged with theft by deception for the scam in Laurel County. Maxie and McDonald allegedly collected the money from Community Corporate Care and local churches.

"Here you have those taking that from people who really need it and taking advantage of that, and we wanted to put a stop to that as quick as we could," said Kentucky State Police Arson Investigator Brian Lewis.

Maxie talked to us from jail. He claims he and his wife did nothing wrong.

"The burned house was never mentioned. The house we live in, the trailer we lived in, we was getting the electric turned on that's it," said Maxie.

Police are continuing to investigate the fire and the case involving this couple.

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