An East Hartford man was recently sentenced to 71 months in prison for arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion offenses.

According to court documents and statements, John A. Barile was co-owner of Enzo’s Restaurant and Lounge on Main Street in Middletown. In 2009, Enzo’s was facing financial difficulty and Barile began planning to cause a fire at the restaurant to collect insurance proceeds. In January 2010, Barile and his coconspirators discussed how to make the fire appear as an accident and Barile went through with it.

Barile received $180,787 from the insurance company after the fire.

Additionally, from 2010 to approximately January 2014, Barile was also involved in an illegal sports bookmaking operation. The illegal gambling business involved at least five other people including sub-bookmakers. At that time, the business was Barile’s main source of income. At times, the company made more than $2,000 per day.

One bettor owed Barile approximately $50,000 in unpaid gambling losses. In November 2011, Barille tased the bettor in a parking lot in Hartford as punishment.

Barile was ordered to pay full restitution to the insurance company and ordered to forfeit $165,287 to a civil seizure warrant.

On Feb. 4, 2016, Barile pleaded guilty to one count of arson, one count of mail fraud, one count of conducting an illegal gambling business and one count of collecting an extension of credit by extortionate means.

Barile, who is released on a $350,000 bond and under electronic monitoring, was ordered to report to prison on July 12.