New Castle youth football coach, wife charged with theft

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A youth football coach and his wife have been charged with stealing more than $3,300 from the program’s coffers.

The state Attorney General says the investigation began when someone made an Open Records inquiry about how 47-year-old Frank Bongivengo and his 46-year-old wife, Karen, handled money for the New Castle Youth Football program they headed.

The Pennsylvania State Police investigated after the records were obtained, and prosecutors today filed charges of conspiracy, theft and forgery against the Bongivengos.

The money was allegedly taken from March to June 2009 when the couple allegedly transferred football funds to their own bank accounts to avoid overdrafts on personal checks.

The couple did not immediately return a call for comment. Their attorney, John Bongivengo, was Lawrence County District Attorney at the time of the thefts. He also didn’t immediately return a call.