Cincinnati woman admits to stealing more than $158,000 from elderly or ill veterans

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to misappropriating money that she was managing on behalf of four United States military veterans.

Ishwanzya Rivers, 46, was charged federally and arrested in August 2025.

According to court documents, Rivers stole more than $135,000 from one elderly, dying veteran who lived at the VA hospital in Cincinnati. Rivers admitted she misappropriated the victim’s money at least 45 times from June 2021 through November 2022.

Rivers stole smaller amounts of money from three other elderly or infirm veterans totaling more than $23,000.

The defendant used the money for shopping, restaurants and to travel to New Orleans, Montego Bay, Cancun, London, Panama, Zurich, Vienna and Maldives.

Misappropriating funds as a fiduciary is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.

The case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Central Field Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

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