Judith A. Hetzell, a resident of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on July 14 to seven counts of bank fraud in federal court, according to United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Hetzell, 63, entered her plea before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. The charges stem from her actions as the former business manager for a non-profit guardianship agency based in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Between November 2023 and February 2025, Hetzell fraudulently drafted checks against individuals’ bank accounts that the agency could access as a provider of guardianship and other fiduciary services.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2026. The law allows for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The actual sentence will be determined based on the seriousness of the offenses and Hetzell’s prior criminal history under federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.