Florida couple charged in alleged Fell Township arson, insurance fraud

SIMPSON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A Florida couple has been charged in connection with a July fire that destroyed their home in Fell Township, where police allege they set the blaze and later sought insurance money.

Salvatore Carovinci, 42, and Holly Marie Carovinci, 41, were charged with arson, risking catastrophe, insurance fraud, two counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and conspiracy. Salvatore is charged with a second count of reckless endangerment. Both are listed in court records as living in Ocala, Florida.

They are being held at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail each. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 26 at 10:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Edward Adcock.

Fire crews were called to a home on Shannon Street in Simpson at about 1:45 a.m. July 25. The house was engulfed in flames and destroyed; no one was inside, according to reports on the fire. Police later said investigators found three gas cans at the scene and a K-9 indicated an accelerant was present.

According to police, the Carovincis said they had left for South Carolina the night before the fire. Investigators said cell phone records placed them at the scene, and a neighbor reported seeing a truck identified as Holly’s leave the home about 30 minutes before emergency crews were called.

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