Some Fraud Counts Dismissed Against Pennsylvania Fire Chief and Wife

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A judge has dismissed insurance fraud charges against a southwestern Pennsylvania fire chief and his wife accused of stealing about $20,000 in unemployment compensation but says authorities can proceed on conspiracy and theft counts.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Fayette County President Judge Gerald Solomon on Thursday rejected the arguments of 45-year-old former Uniontown fire chief Myron Nypaver and 41-year-old Lisa Nypaver that the case could be addressed through civil action.

Solomon said authorities can prosecute Myron Nypaver on a charge of conspiracy to commit theft by deception and Lisa Nypaver on a charge of theft by deception.

Nypaver was furloughed in December 2009 and went back to work in March of last year, but prosecutors said he continued to collect unemployment based on a claim his wife filed by computer.