BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Lockport man is facing up to 11 years in prison for stealing money that was meant to be donated to a veterans organization in Western New York.
According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, 48-year-old Scott Hemperly pleaded guilty to two separate counts of grand larceny.
Prosecutors say Hemperly stole money that was raised from two charity events held by the Jeep Wrangler Club of WNY, which he was a member of, in December 2017.
Some members of the Jeep Wrangler Club of WNY inquired about the $5,400 donation from the events, which was set to be donated to WNY Heroes, Inc., a local non-profit organization that supports veterans and their families. The organization conducted an audit and determined that the money raised during the charity events was never received. The club says they then asked Hemperly about the missing funds and he claimed that he dropped off the donation to WNY Heroes, but was unable to provide a receipt.
Hemperly is set to be sentenced in May.
The district attorney's office reports that Hemperly has already paid back the missing money.
