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Fire chief, asst. chief charged with stealing $130K

The husband and wife pair are accused of taking money from the fire department for credit card bills, cell phone bills and to help pay off a loan

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ROANE COUNTY, W.Va. — A husband and wife are facing embezzlement charges after stealing from a volunteer fire department.

A grand jury indicted Sean and Celestiel McCarthy, members of the Newtown (W.Va.) Fire Department, WSAZ reported. Sean, who served as chief, was indicted for falsifying accounts, embezzlement and conspiracy. Celestiel, who served as assistant chief, was indicted for embezzlement and conspiracy.

The pair embezzled more than $130,000 from 2009 to 2015, according to the report. Officials said they wrote check to themselves, transferred money electronically and also reimbursed themselves from department accounts.

The couple allegedly spent the money to pay credit card bills, cell phone bills and to help pay off a loan.