(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sewickley, PA) The former business manager of a local nonprofit organization pleaded guilty to bank fraud in federal court yesterday. 

According to information shared by the Department of Justice, sixty-three-year-old Judith A. Hetzell of Sewickley, pleaded guilty to seven counts of bank fraud. 

Hetzell served as the business manager for an organization which offered guardianship in the Western Pennsylvania area from November of 2023 to February of 2025. 

Police confirmed that as the business manager, Hetzell had access to bank accounts that belonged to people who were using the nonprofit’s fiduciary services. 

She was accused of fraudulently drafting checks against those bank accounts. 

The name of the nonprofit has not been released by prosecutors, and they did not say exactly how much money Hetzell received from this situation. 

Hetzell’s sentencing is scheduled for October 13th and she faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in jail, a fine of up to $1 million, or both.