Jessika L. Hiepler, a 47-year-old resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding two nonprofit veterans organizations. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl and includes three years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and restitution totaling $432,925.35.
Hiepler pleaded guilty last September to two counts of wire fraud after being charged in August 2024. As part of her plea agreement, she also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment amounting to $1,425,847.24.
Court documents reveal that Hiepler served for nearly 15 years as a board member and as the manager, treasurer, and financial officer for American Legion Post 34. In 2019, she offered to “bail out” American Veterans Post 19 (AMVETS Post 19), which was experiencing financial difficulties. Under this pretense, Hiepler took control over AMVETS Post 19’s finances and acquired its four-acre commercial property in Lancaster through fraudulent means.
Hiepler misled AMVETS Post 19 with promises of an interest-free loan and minimal rent while diverting funds from Legion Post 34 to raise money for the supposed bailout. She later used AMVETS Post 19’s funds for personal benefit and concealed her actions by manipulating or destroying financial records at both organizations.
In communications presented during the case, Hiepler expressed her intentions regarding the property acquisition:
“[W]e will make our money and they [AMVETS Post 19] can kiss our a[**]”
“I am ready to get rid of these motherf[*****]s. . . . I can’t wait for sh[**] to be ours”
“I can’t wait to see their face when we hand them their eviction notice”
“Wizardry at work / Madoff activated”
“Honestly all I want is my money. That’s it. I could care f[***]ing less about any of them.”
Three years after obtaining the property at a below-market price of $500,000 through the “bailout,” Hiepler’s real estate investment company sold it for $1.95 million, resulting in a gain of $1.425 million after expenses.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf commented on the case: “Jessika Hiepler abused the great reputation of veterans to win the trust of those who support them,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “All the while, she boasted about her schemes, mocked her victims, and celebrated her role in their misfortunes. These were calculated crimes of greed, not of impulse or desperation, and justice demanded that Hiepler be held to account.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office added: “Jessika Hiepler and her associate pocketed over one million dollars intended for organizations that support our nation’s veterans, and today illustrates our commitment to holding to account anyone who preys on the public for personal profit,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners at every level, will continue to safeguard the integrity of these organizations and bring these fraudsters to justice.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police; prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel Dalke and J. Andrew Jenemann.
