Man Charged in $81K Legion Theft
PHOTO CAPTION: David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, New York, is accused of fabricating a military career that included Special Forces service, two Purple Hearts and prisoner-of-war status. Suffolk County prosecutors allege he used fraudulent military credentials to join an American Legion post before stealing more than $81,000 while serving as its finance officer. He pleaded not guilty to charges announced November 10, 2026. (Photo credit to be confirmed with originating publisher.)
A New York man who allegedly fabricated an elaborate military career involving Army Special Forces, two Purple Hearts and time as a prisoner of war has been arrested on charges of stealing more than $81,000 from an American Legion post where he served as finance officer.
David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, was charged November 10 with grand larceny, possession of a forged instrument, offering false documents for filing and falsifying business records.
According to Suffolk County prosecutors, Agtsteribbe claimed to be a decorated combat veteran who retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after decades of service.
His actual military record told a dramatically different story.
Prosecutors say Agtsteribbe was court-martialed for stealing money from another soldier, received a bad-conduct discharge and left the Army in 1988 as a private.
They also allege that during a period when he claimed to have been held as a prisoner of war, he was actually incarcerated in a New York prison following a grand larceny conviction.
The charges were announced one day before Veterans Day.
Claimed to Be a Special Forces Officer With Two Purple Hearts
Investigators say Agtsteribbe used falsified military records to build an identity as a decorated combat veteran.
His claimed military history included service with the Army's elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force.
He allegedly claimed to have received a Purple Heart during Operation Acid Gambit in Panama in 1989 and a second Purple Heart after being wounded while protecting a U.S. senator in Iraq in 1991.
He also claimed to have earned a Prisoner of War Medal and retired in December 1993 as a lieutenant colonel.
Those accomplishments appeared in an official Hometown Heroes profile published by the Town of Southampton.
The government webpage described his purported military career in considerable detail, including specialized training, elite assignments and the decorations he supposedly received.
But prosecutors say none of those combat achievements were legitimate.
Agtsteribbe enlisted in the Army in 1986.
The following year, he pleaded guilty at a court-martial to stealing money from another soldier and was sentenced to five months of confinement.
He received a bad-conduct discharge and formally separated from the military in 1988.
He never served again, according to the district attorney's investigation.
Claimed POW Captivity While Actually Serving Time in Prison
One of the most unusual allegations concerns Agtsteribbe's claim that he had been a prisoner of war.
Prosecutors say investigators examined the period when he allegedly claimed to have been captured during military service.
Instead, they determined that he had been incarcerated in an upstate New York prison following a grand larceny conviction.
The claim was particularly significant because prisoner-of-war status and the Prisoner of War Medal represent experiences and recognition reserved for qualifying military personnel held captive by enemy forces.
The district attorney's investigation alleges Agtsteribbe used that supposed military experience to reinforce his fabricated identity.
Authorities also say he acquired or displayed fraudulent military discharge documents and decorations to support his claims.
The altered DD Form 214 allegedly described service and achievements that did not appear in his genuine military records.
A DD-214 is an official separation document used to verify military service, rank, decorations and discharge status.
Prosecutors contend that falsifying this document helped Agtsteribbe obtain recognition and benefits he otherwise would not have received.
Became Finance Officer at American Legion Post
In 2021, Agtsteribbe joined American Legion Hand-Aldrich Post 924 in Hampton Bays, according to investigators.
He allegedly used his fabricated military credentials to gain membership.
Because of the circumstances of his bad-conduct discharge, prosecutors say he was not eligible for membership in the organization.
Agtsteribbe subsequently became the post's finance officer, a position providing access to organizational accounts and financial records.
Investigators allege he used that access to transfer money from the American Legion into his personal checking account.
The alleged thefts took place between September 2022 and August 2026.
Prosecutors calculated the total amount at $81,798.31.
The money was allegedly spent on purchases and expenses unrelated to the veterans organization.
Those included Amazon orders, household electric and cable bills, streaming services, business-related memberships, clothing, accessories, travel and leisure activities.
The alleged scheme began unraveling after American Legion members noticed financial irregularities.
They contacted law enforcement, triggering an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Public Corruption Squad, Southampton Town Police and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.
Fake Military Records Allegedly Secured Other Benefits
Investigators say the American Legion membership was only part of Agtsteribbe's alleged deception.
He reportedly used fraudulent military documents to obtain memberships in multiple veterans organizations beginning in 2019.
Prosecutors also say his claims helped him gain public recognition, participate in veterans ceremonies, appear in media coverage and promote businesses.
His military identity allegedly helped him obtain official documents and privileges, including a veteran identification card, Purple Heart license plates and government permits.
In 2023, he allegedly submitted falsified military documents to Southampton Town officials to avoid a $50 resident permit fee.
The following year, prosecutors say he submitted letters requesting disability parking permits while portraying himself as a combat-wounded veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
Those requests allegedly relied on the same fabricated service history.
The investigation therefore concerns more than the money allegedly taken from one veterans organization.
Prosecutors contend that the fake military career became the foundation for years of financial, civic and personal benefits.
Town Government Published His Claimed Military Heroism
The Town of Southampton's Hometown Heroes program became another example of how widely Agtsteribbe's claims were accepted.
Its official website contained a biography crediting him with extraordinary military accomplishments.
The profile described specialized Army training, assignment to Delta Force, combat operations in Panama and Iraq, two Purple Hearts and a medical retirement as a lieutenant colonel.
Those claims are now directly contradicted by prosecutors' account of his actual service.
The webpage also identified him as finance officer of the Hampton Bays American Legion.
The profile was still accessible during reporting on the criminal charges.
The case raises questions about how organizations and public agencies verify military records before granting recognition, membership or benefits.
A public biography or an applicant's copy of a military document may appear credible without confirming the information against authentic service records.
The district attorney alleges that Agtsteribbe exploited that weakness repeatedly.
Prosecutor Says Veterans' Trust Was Exploited
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced the charges at a November 10 news conference.
Tierney criticized the alleged use of fabricated military decorations to gain standing within organizations established to support actual veterans.
He said the case involved both the alleged theft of veterans' resources and the exploitation of honors associated with military sacrifice.
The prosecutor emphasized that Purple Hearts and other military awards represent sacrifices made by legitimate recipients, not distinctions that individuals can simply claim for themselves.
The alleged theft was especially serious because the money belonged to a veterans organization that relies on its resources to carry out community activities and support those who served.
CBS New York interviewed local residents who expressed concern about the accusations and the potential loss to the American Legion.
Veteran Rodney Smith told the station that stealing money from an organization serving veterans was particularly harmful because many veterans depend on such assistance.
Arrested and Held Without Bail
Southampton Town Police arrested Agtsteribbe on Monday, November 9.
He appeared the following day before Southampton Town Justice Karen M. Sartain.
He was charged with second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records.
The judge ordered him held without bail.
He pleaded not guilty and is represented by the Legal Aid Society.
His attorney declined to comment when contacted by CBS New York.
Prosecutors say he faces a possible sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge, based on his criminal history.
His next court appearance is scheduled for November 13.
What Happens Next?
The criminal case will now proceed through the New York court system.
Prosecutors must prove the theft and document-related charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The allegations involving fabricated military honors also provide context for how investigators believe Agtsteribbe obtained access to veterans organizations and financial resources.
The American Legion has not publicly detailed whether the allegedly missing funds can be recovered.
For its members, the case presents two separate concerns.
The first is the alleged loss of more than $81,000 from an organization serving veterans and the surrounding community.
The second is the accusation that someone with a genuine but troubled military record reinvented himself as a decorated combat officer, a prisoner of war and a recipient of honors he never earned.
The charges remain allegations, and Agtsteribbe is presumed innocent of the new offenses unless proven guilty.
The case now moves toward its next scheduled court hearing, just days after prosecutors announced the accusations on the eve of Veterans Day.
(Source: OAF Nation)
