A Cudahy, Wisconsin resident, Joni Nogay, is facing felony theft charges for allegedly diverting tens of thousands of dollars donated to a program that transports veterans to Washington, D.C. The charges, filed on June 22nd, allege Nogay misappropriated funds intended for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight program, a non-profit organization that enables veterans to visit war memorials in the nation's capital.
Nogay, 60, led a Milwaukee-based fundraising organization called We Run — They Fly, which supported Stars and Stripes Honor Flight through events like an annual 5K run and various local fundraisers. Prosecutors contend that between 2013 and 2023, Nogay deposited a significant portion of the over $100,000 in collected donations into her personal accounts, while only contributing approximately $20,000 to the intended veteran flight program over the same seven-year period.
During her initial court appearance on Thursday, Nogay did not enter a plea. Court Commissioner Grace Flynn mandated that Nogay report to the Milwaukee County jail for booking and release by Sunday at 5 p.m., with an arrest warrant to be issued if she fails to comply. Nogay's legal representative, Daniel Morgan Adams, stated that his client is committed to fully compensating all those affected by the situation and intends to rectify her actions within the community.
