News

Pa. Chief Admits $45K Theft in Federal Court

James Halpin

09/25/2014

Editor's Note -- Former Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief John Yuknavich pleaded guilty late Thursday morning to a single count of theft.

Sept. 25--SCRANTON -- Former Wilkes-Barre Township fire chief John Yuknavich on Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to a felony count of stealing about $45,000 from his volunteer department.

Yuknavich, 50, entered his plea to a single count of stealing from programs that receive federal funds before U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik. He faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing.

Yuknavich remains free pending sentencing. A date for sentencing has not yet been set.

Yuknavich was accused of skimming from checks from Wilkes-Barre Township intended to cover the fire department's mortgage and other bills.

Court documents allege that from 2008 through 2011, Wilkes-Barre Township gave monthly checks of $3,500 to the fire department to cover its mortgage and other bills. But instead of putting the full amount in the bank, Yuknavich deposited only a portion of each check, taking the rest in cash for his own use, according to prosecutors.

Under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Yuknavich agreed to resign as chief, although he is still permitted to be a member of the department. He also agreed to repay $45,000 in restitution and is banned from holding any leadership or officer positions in the fire department for five years.

When he was hit with the federal charge last month, Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said her office would drop the state charges against him. Court records indicate that has not yet occurred.

In an unrelated legal matter, Yuknavich was convicted of trespassing earlier this month and ordered to pay a $251 fine after he failed to appear in court. The charge stemmed from a long-simmering feud between Yuknavich and Wilkes-Barre Township resident Joseph Naperkowski, who claimed he saw Yuknavich in his yard on May 1.

Yuknavich and Naperkowski have clashed for years, with Naperkowski recently filing a lawsuit claiming Yuknavich invaded his privacy by mounting a camera aimed at Naperkowski's house atop the firehouse. In October 2009, Naperkowski filed a defamation lawsuit against Yuknavich after the fire chief accused Naperkowski of threatening to kill him, his mother and his family.

Yuknavich is also under investigation in Hanover Township after allegedly threatening Wilkes-Barre Township police officer Tom Zurawski and former Wilkes-Barre police officer Tino Ninotti. The FBI and Hanover Township police are investigating that incident, which took place at the Fraternal Order of Police social hall earlier this month.