Federal authorities in Roanoke announced Thursday they have indicted a husband, wife and family friend in what authorities say was a plot to intentionally set fire to the couple's house and collect on homeowner's insurance last year.

According to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Virginia, the friend agreed to start the flames at the couple's Vinton house while they spent two nights in Virginia Beach in late December.

Shawn Combow, 45, Melissa Combow, 40, and their friend, Aaron Eugene Woods, 49, were each charged with using fire to commit a felony and causing malicious damage and conspiracy, among other charges.

The Combows owed more than $4,000 in real estate taxes for the house, which was in need of extensive repairs, the news release said. So Woods agreed to set fire to the house, on the 1300 block of Hardy Road, and keep $5,000 from the insurance settlement, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

But the night after the Combows left town Dec. 26, "Woods removed a newer model washer and dryer, a coffee table and an end table from the couple's residence as a down payment for the arson.

"These items were later found at Woods' residence," the news release said.

Late Dec. 27, Woods used gasoline left by Shawn Combow to accelerate a fire at the house, the U.S. attorney's office said. And days later, Combow filed for insurance benefits, according to the news release.

Each defendant faces at least 10 years in jail for use of fire to commit a felony, at least 5 years for arson, and up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit arson.

-- Jorge Valencia