Zef Gjurashaj was Convicted in 2022 of Arson in the First Degree and Related Crimes
Appellate Division Upheld Conviction and 22 and 1/3 Years to Life Sentence
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the Appellate Division, Second Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York affirmed the judgment of conviction of Zef Gjurashaj, 64, formerly of Newburgh. Gjurashaj was convicted after a jury trial in 2022 of Arson in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (2 Counts), Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree, and Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree for having burned down his restaurant for profit in 2017. In March of 2023 Gjurashaj was sentenced in Orange County Court to an aggregate term of twenty-two and one-third (22 and 1/3) years to life in prison.
At the trial, prosecutors argued that Gjurashaj conspired with his co-defendant to intentionally burn down Andiamo’s Restaurant, which was located at 5025 Route 9W, in the Town of Newburgh, Orange County, New York, in September of 2017. Gjurashaj, who operated the restaurant business in the fall of 2017, knew that the business was in a steep financial decline and decided to burn the business for insurance purposes. He instructed the wife of his nephew on how to start the fire and removed a plug from a propane line in the kitchen, which allowed for the free flow of propane into the room once the valve was turned. The investigation into the fire revealed that on September 6, 2017, at the direction of Gjurashaj, his nephew’s wife intentionally set fire to the building for the financial benefit of her “uncle” by spraying an ignitable liquid on the floor of the kitchen, opening the valve to the propane line, and lighting the liquid. The subsequent fire was of such ferocity that in addition to decimating the building, it put the first responding firefighters, as well as Gjurashaj’s wife, who was present at the time of the fire, at grave risk of death.
The appellate court found that, contrary to the defendant’s contention, the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence. Further, the appellate court found that the remainder of defendant’s claims were either unpreserved for appellate review, or otherwise without merit. Importantly, the court determined that the sentence imposed on the defendant was not excessive.
“The determination of the appeals court confirmed what was proven at trial about Zef Gjurashaj – that he was a violent criminal who endangered the lives of not only his own family but responding firefighters all for his own pecuniary gain,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I am grateful that a careful appellate review has shown that his conviction was just and the lengthy sentence imposed was appropriate.”
The appeal was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Andrew Kass.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
