HOUGHTON COUNTY, Mich. (WMZQ) – A man from Dollar Bay has been sentenced to jail time for embezzling funds from a vulnerable adult.
47-year-old Jason Heikkinen was a salesman at a Houghton area car dealership, according to Michigan State Police (MSP). Over the years, he developed a relationship with an elderly woman while selling her cars.
When the woman was placed in a nursing home, her bills were being managed by a financial institution. Eventually, that institution stopped handling them. With no family nearby to help her, Heikkinen became her conservator and managed her finances for a small fee. However, officials say Heikkinen took advantage of the situation, putting her house and portfolio in his name and selling her personal property.
The situation came to light when the woman’s bank account, which had an approximately $70,000 balance, quickly dwindled down to almost nothing. The bank manager noticed and alerted Michigan State Police, leading to an investigation that revealed Heikkinen had spent more than $130,000 of the woman’s funds. The investigation also showed that he had sold her property without anyone’s knowledge or permission.
The MSP Calumet Post began its investigation in 2023. On February 24, 2025, Heikkinen was sentenced, following a plea agreement. His sentence includes 180 days in jail with credit for one day served. He is required to serve 89 days immediately, and the remaining 90 days will be served if his probation is violated. Heikkinen was also sentenced to 24 months of probation and must pay $179,250 in restitution.
