August 30, 2023
By Rachel Scofield

John Siebert told police that on July 15 he received an email from Sky Gettys, Director of Finance and Administration for the United Way of Fairfield County (UWFC), regarding an audit that Siebert’s firm (Siebert & Associates, CPAs) completed on behalf of the Pickerington Food Pantry. The pantry had provided the audit report to United Way as part of a $50,000 grant application.

The problem, Siebert claimed, is that neither he nor anyone at his firm conducted a 2022 audit for the food pantry.

Gettys forwarded to Siebert emails that he had reportedly received from the pantry’s executive director, Vanessa Niekamp. Attached to one of the messages was an audit report that included forms* all dated June 30, 2022, and purportedly signed by John Siebert.

In a statement to the Pickerington Police, Siebert said, “as neither John Siebert nor Siebert & Associates, CPAs, provided any audits to the Pickerington Food Pantry after June 30, 2020, it is clear that Vanessa Niekamp, who emailed the audit to United Way, falsified the 2022 audit to the United Way.”

Siebert accused Niekamp of altering a version of his company’s letterhead and a copy of his signature to recreate the forms without his knowledge or consent.

Attorney Scott Walker of the Walker Novack Legal Group, who is representing Niekamp, said that Siebert’s allegations are categorically false and defamatory.

“Vanessa and this firm are cooperating fully with the investigator assigned to the case,” Walker said. “We believe that when the investigation is finished, Vanessa will be cleared of any of the alleged wrongdoing.”

Walker went on to say that once Niekamp’s name is cleared, his firm “fully intends to take the appropriate civil action” against Siebert for defamation.

The Food Pantry Board issued a statement through its attorney, Richard Ricketts of Ricketts Co., LPA.

Yes, the Board is aware that allegations have been made and has been and plans to be wholly cooperative with the parties that are investigating those issues. While the Board does not currently have information that confirms these allegations; out of an abundance of caution, a third-party accounting firm has been retained to complete an audit of the financial books and records of the Food Pantry for 2022 and 2023. The Board will also be seeking an independent determination of whether any funds of the Food Pantry have been improperly used in any way.

Pending completion of the 2022 and 2023 Audit Reports, the Board is focused on taking those steps necessary to maintain its standing in the community and to continue to provide its resources to families in need. The Board understands and appreciates that the current leadership of the Food Pantry has, in recent years, greatly facilitated its efforts to fill a needed resource for the benefit of the Community. Nonetheless, if any impropriety is determined to have occurred, the Board will swiftly move to address those issues with appropriate action, based upon the facts presented.  

Walker said that he and Niekamp fully support the third-party audit, as it will ensure that nothing unlawful has occurred.

“It is also our understanding that the alleged victim in this matter, the United Way of Fairfield County, has concluded that nothing inappropriate has occurred regarding its approval of the grant in question,” Walker said.

The United Way of Fairfield County stated that is cooperating with the investigation and has no further comment.

“Vanessa continues her duties as Executive Director of the Food Pantry, Violet Township Clerk, and member of the Pickerington Board of Education,” Walker said. “We do not expect that to change because of this unfortunate and groundless attack on her reputation as a faithful and trusted pubic servant of the past thirty-plus years.”

The school district offered the following statement:

Leadership of the Pickerington Local School District have been apprised of a criminal complaint that has been filed against Board of Education member, Vanessa Niekamp. Our understanding is that the allegations have nothing to do with Ms. Niekamp’s duties as a Board of Education member and have nothing to do with the operations or business of the Pickerington Local School District.

We plan to fully cooperate with local law enforcement should they need our assistance at any point during their investigation.

The township also provided a statement:

The leadership of Violet Township has been apprised of a criminal complaint that has been filed against the Fiscal Officer, Vanessa Niekamp. Our understanding is that the allegations have nothing to do with Ms. Niekamp’s duties as Fiscal Officer and have nothing to do with the operations or business of Violet Township.

We plan to fully cooperate with local law enforcement should they need our assistance at any point during their investigation.

*Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities and Change in Net Assets, Statement of Functional Expenses, Statement of Cash Flow, Notes to Financial Statements.