Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 48-year-old Scott Hemperly of Lockport pleaded guilty, as charged, before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony, and to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class “E” felony.

In December 2017, the Jeep Wrangler Club of WNY hosted events in Clarence and the Town of Tonawanda to collect food, toys and monetary donations as a holiday fundraiser to support WNY Heroes, Inc., a local non-profit organization that supports veterans and their families.

When the Jeep Wrangler Club inquired about the $5,400 donation from the events, WNY Heroes, Inc. conducted an audit and determined that the funds were never received. The Jeep Wrangler Club asked Hemperly, a member of the group, about the missing money. He claimed that he dropped off the donation to the non-profit, but was unable to provide a receipt.

Hemperly faces a maximum of 11 years in prison when he is sentenced on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He has since paid back the missing money.

DA Flynn commends Detective Dan Brinkerhoff of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Jeffrey Campanella of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Candace K. Vogel, Chief of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Bureau.