DA: Self-proclaimed war hero from Hampton Bays made up military service, stole more than $80K from American Legion
David Agtsteribbe, who served as finance officer at the Hampton Bays American Legion, is now behind bars, facing several charges including grand larceny.
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A man, who served as finance officer at the Hampton Bays American Legion, is now behind bars, facing several charges including grand larceny.
"It's all fake. Fake, fake, fake, fake, fake...." Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said as he pointed to various military credentials and honors in the name of 57-year-old David Agtsteribbe, of Hampton Bays.
Agtsteribbe is accused of fabricating a decades-long military history.
Among what he claimed is that he was a prisoner of war and a Purple Heart recipient.
"The exact price for a Purple Heart is someone’s blood, sweat and tears. That’s what it costs for an actual person to win a Purple Heart. It cost him nothing but lies," DA Tierney said.
Investigators said the defendant, who has a criminal history, was the finance officer at the Hampton Bays American Legion for several years. He's accused of transferring funds into his personal checking account and using the American Legion's money for Amazon purchases, electric bills, and travel among other things.
Agtsteribbe was arraigned Tuesday morning in Southampton, where he was ordered held behind bars with no cash bail as an option.
He is represented by Legal Aid.
No one answered the door at his home Tuesday afternoon.
