Jatiek Smith, a Bloods gang member convicted on extortion and racketeering charges in New York, blamed ruthless competition and a culture of violence in the fire restoration industry for the accusations made against him by federal prosecutors.
Smith was a fire chaser, one of many in the restoration business who aggressively solicit business from owners of fire-damaged properties by monitoring emergency dispatches. They may show up at a homeowner’s door with a contract, sometimes while the fire is still burning. The restoration work is paid for by the property owners’ insurance companies.
Prosecutors found that