Two Brookhaven men have been charged with conspiracy to commitarson in an alleged attempt to collect a $750,000 insurance policy,according to authorities.

Two Brookhaven men have been charged with conspiracy to commitarson in an alleged attempt to collect a $750,000 insurance policy,according to authorities.

Thomas H. “Tommy” Little, 45, of 205 Natchez Avenue, and Glen E.Smith, 43, of 334 East Cherokee Street, were arrested last weekafter authorities learned of the plan to set fire to Little’shouse, said Brookhaven’s Acting Police Chief Arlustra “Pap”Henderson.

Brookhaven Police Department Investigator Nolan Jones recentlylearned that Little had increased the insurance on the home and itscontents to $750,000 on May 13, 2001, Henderson said.

The house was built in 1877 by Capt. Jack Hardy.

“He planned to have Smith set it afire while he and his fatherwere gone,” said Henderson, citing the information Jones gatheredfrom an anonymous tip.

Smith, who has done yard work for Little in the past, wasallegedly going to burn down the oldest brick home in Brookhaven onWednesday, but authorities arrested the two men on Tuesday beforethey had an opportunity to fulfill the plan, Henderson said.

“We had evidence that it was going to happen on Wednesday, so wewent ahead and moved in on it,” said Henderson.

Police were assisted by the Brookhaven Fire Department and theMississippi Fire Marshal during the investigation.

“I really want to commend Detective Nolan Jones, BrookhavenPolice Chief Paul Cartwright and State Fire Marshal Jim Woodard fortheir work. They did a fantastic job of constructing a strongcase,” said Henderson.

Authorities were able to gather a significant amount of evidenceprior to the arrest and after interviews with the suspects.

The case will go to the grand jury later this month, and the mencould both receive five year sentences, according to the districtattorney’s office.

This is Little’s second time to face conspiracy charges. Heserved prison time after being found guilty of conspiracy to commitmurder for hiring someone to kill his aunt and a former girlfriendin 1990. The plot was discovered before it was carried out.

Smith did not have any prior charges on record, saidHenderson.

Little posted his $30,000 bond Thursday afternoon. Smith remainsin the Lincoln County Jail.