American Legion Finance Officer Accused Of Fabricating Service, Stealing $81K: DA

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The finance officer for the Hampton Bays American Legion has been arrested, accused of fabricating military service — and stealing more than $81,000 from the Legion, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.

He reportedly claimed to be a decorated combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient when, in fact, he had received a bad-conduct discharge following a court-martial conviction in 1988, Tierney said.

David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, was arrested and charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and other related charges, after allegedly fabricating his military service history, submitting falsified military documents to obtain personal and financial benefits and stealing money from the American Legion where he served as finance officer since 2021, Tierney said.

According to the investigation and the charges, Agtsteribbe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986. The following year, he was court-martialed and pleaded guilty to stealing money from another soldier, Tierney said.

Agtsteribbe was sentenced to five months’ confinement and received a bad-conduct discharge, Tierney said. He formally separated from the U.S. Army in 1988 and has not served since, the DA said.

In 2021, Agsteribbe joined the Hampton Bays American Legion, Hand-Aldrich Post 924, where he held the position of finance officer by reportedly using fabricated military credentials, the DA said.

The American Legion is a United States veterans’ organization that supports military veterans and service members, Tierney said.

Agtsteribbe did not qualify for membership due to his bad-conduct discharge, Tierney said.

However, the investigation revealed that in order to gain membership, he submitted a fraudulent DD Form 214 that included multiple alterations to his official DD Form 214, Tierney said.

The alterations included charges to his active-duty time, a wounded in combat designation, retirement at the rank/paygrade of SP4/E4, an honorable discharge characterization and a Purple Heart award, Tierney said.

Between September 2022 and August 2026, Agtsteribbe reportedly abused his position by stealing funds belonging to the American Legion, Tierney said.

He has been accused of transferring funds into his personal checking account and using the organization’s money to pay for personal expenses, including Amazon purchases, residential electric bills, cable bills, a private business-membership program, streaming services, travel and leisure, clothing and accessories, and other personal purchases, Tierney said.

Thus far, the total he is accused of having stolen $81,798.31, Tierney said.

The investigation further revealed that Agtsteribbe had been applying for and obtaining membership in other veterans’ organizations for which he did not qualify, dating back to 2019, the DA said.

He submitted falsified documents to obtain benefits and privileges reserved for those who served their country, including membership into groups such as the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Tierney said.

In 2023, Agtsteribbe reportedly filed a falsified DD Form 214 with the Town of Southampton to avoid having to pay a $50-dollar resident permit fee, the DA said.

In 2024, Agtsteribbe submitted multiple letters to the Town of Southampton Clerk’s Office for handicap permits, claiming in each to be a U.S. Army combat wounded veteran, a Purple Heart recipient and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Tierney said.

He also claimed to be a retired Lt. Colonel when in fact, at the time of his bad-conduct discharge, he held the rank of Private, the DA said.

On November 9, 2026, Agtsteribbe was arrested by members of the Town of Southampton Police Department, the DA said.

On Monday, Agtsteribbe was arraigned before Southampton Town Justice Karen M. Sartain on charges including second-degree grand larceny, a class C felony; second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class D felony; two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, class E felonies; and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records, class E felonies, Tierney said.

Justice Sartain ordered Agtsteribbe remanded during the pendency of the case, the DA said.

Agtsteribbe is due back in court on November 13 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

He is represented by the Legal Aid Society.

On the Hampton Bays American Legion website, Agtsteribbe is said to be a "U.S. Army veteran, and the finance officer for the Hampton Bays American Legion. He is also a member of the VFW, Military Order of Purple Heart, Military Order of Cooties, and the Forty and Eight."

"There is something particularly despicable about fabricating a military record and claiming honors you have never earned," said Tierney. "This defendant allegedly took that disgraceful deception even further. He is accused of falsely portraying himself as a war hero, infiltrating an organization for those who actually served this country and then betraying their trust by stealing their money. Our veterans earned their honors through sacrifice and service. This defendant allegedly exploited those sacrifices for his own selfish gain. It is a shameful abuse of trust, and one that we will prosecute.”"

During his time at the Legion, Agtsteribbe has been honored by Southampton Town and the Hampton Bays Union Free School District for his purported service.