Ex-Coroner Gets 6 to 23 Months in Pennsylvania Arson Scheme

A former northeastern Pennsylvania deputy coroner has been sentenced to six to 23 months in prison in an arson-for-profit scheme.

Fifty-eight-year-old Joseph Swoboda of Clarks Summit pleaded guilty in March to arson with the intention of collecting insurance.

Prosecutors in Lackawanna County dropped other counts as part of a plea agreement.

The (Scranton) Times-Tribune says Swoboda was sentenced Wednesday.

Authorities said Swoboda offered an undercover state trooper $40,000 to set fire to his Scranton funeral home and gave the officer $1,000 in “good faith” money.

Defense attorney Joseph D’Andrea later said his client had been admitted to a residential alcohol rehabilitation program.