PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — A former employee of a national veterans advocacy group was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but one year suspended, for diverting more than $117,000 in organizational funds through a series of fraudulent transactions spanning 2022 and 2023.
Lisa Donor, now of Little River, South Carolina, appeared February 10, 2026, in Calvert County Circuit Court, where the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee imposed the sentence following her conviction in the theft scheme. During the offense period, Donor resided in Calvert County and held a position with the National Association of State Veteran Homes (NASVH), an organization dedicated to improving life quality for veterans and families in state veterans homes across the United States.
In her role, Donor gained access to incoming payments directed to NASVH. Prosecutors detailed how she exploited this access to redirect portions of those funds for personal benefit. An investigation uncovered her involvement in more than 50 fraudulent transactions totaling $117,000.
Judge Chandlee ordered Donor to pay full restitution to NASVH as part of the sentence. Assistant State’s Attorney Benjamin G. Lerner handled the prosecution for the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case highlights vulnerabilities in nonprofit financial oversight, particularly when employees handle incoming vendor or sponsorship payments. NASVH, focused on advocacy and support for state-operated veterans facilities, relies on such contributions to advance its mission nationwide. The diversion of funds directly impacted resources intended for veteran care and family services.
Court records from a related 2023 federal civil action filed by NASVH against Donor in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland further outline the scheme’s mechanics. NASVH alleged Donor created a fictitious vendor list to mask theft amounts, accepted unauthorized credit card payments from vendors in violation of policy, and deposited checks intended for the organization into personal accounts. The association terminated her contract in August 2023, after which Donor relocated to South Carolina and provided a fictitious address.
The criminal sentencing follows the civil judgment, where summary judgment was granted in part to NASVH on claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duty, resulting in a monetary award exceeding the criminal theft figure.
This Southern Maryland case underscores ongoing efforts by local prosecutors to address embezzlement and fraud, especially schemes affecting charitable or mission-driven entities serving vulnerable populations like veterans. No additional co-defendants were mentioned in the prosecution’s release.
The Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office emphasized accountability in cases involving abuse of trust and position. Full restitution aims to restore the diverted funds to NASVH for continued veteran support programs.