Two people are facing multiple charges in the aftermath of an investigation into insurance fraud by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

Wayne Fazzino, 52, and Angela Nini, 53, both of Butler, were arrested and charged Monday, Oct. 27, with two felony counts each of insurance fraud and one felony count each of theft by deception after investigators say they staged a fake car crash as part of an insurance fraud scheme earlier this year.

According to a criminal complaint, Fazzino and his fiancée, Nini, worked together to submit a fraudulent claim to Progressive Insurance for damage to Fazzino’s 2012 BMW X5.

Investigators allege Fazzino falsely reported his vehicle struck a deer while traveling on Route 28 around 8 a.m. on Jan. 8. The claim was filed the same day, just days after he added comprehensive and collision coverage to his policy.

In his report to Progressive, Fazzino said he hit a deer that “came out of nowhere,” damaging the driver-side headlight and door. However, investigators said the claim raised suspicions for Progressive after Fazzino declined to provide his cellphone records and failed to produce photos from the scene.

Progressive denied the $3,520 claim, citing evidence of misrepresentation and fraud.

Neighbors later told agents from the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section that the white BMW had already been damaged weeks before the alleged crash. One neighbor said she observed front driver-side damage to the vehicle before Christmas 2024, according to the affidavit.

Another said he spoke to an individual from Progressive about the incident and remembered seeing white tape around the driver-side headlight, “possibly prior to Thanksgiving,” the affidavit states.

Investigators traced the BMW’s purchase to October 2024, when Fazzino bought it from a Butler dealership. He later brought it to a Mars auto body shop for an estimate for repairs but never followed through. The individual who performed the estimates for the shop told investigators photographs taken of the vehicle showed no signs consistent with a deer strike.

Fazzino allegedly provided inconsistent information to investigators and refused to cooperate fully with Progressive and state agents.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section led the investigation with assistance from multiple witnesses, auto body shops and insurance representatives.

Fazino’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 4, in front of District Judge Lewis Stoughton. Nini’s preliminary hearing will also be in front of Judge Stoughton at 11 a.m. on Dec. 16.