Hampton Bays man faked medals, stole $81K from Legion: DA

A Hampton Bays man accused of falsely claiming to be a decorated combat veteran stole more than $81,000 from the local American Legion while serving as its finance officer, Suffolk County prosecutors said.

David Agtsteribbe, 58, allegedly used an altered military discharge document to join the Hampton Bays American Legion in 2021, then diverted the organization’s money to his personal bank account and used its funds to cover household bills, shopping and travel.

He was arrested Monday by Southampton Town police and arraigned Tuesday before Southampton Town Justice Karen M. Sartain on grand larceny, forgery-related and other felony charges, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney’s office.

Sartain ordered him held without bail. He is due back in court Nov. 13, according to the DA’s office.

Agtsteribbe is represented by the Legal Aid Society.

ABC News reported that it had contacted the organization for comment; its report did not include a response.

Prosecutors allege falsified military record

Agtsteribbe served in the Army, but prosecutors said his military record differed sharply from the one he presented to veterans’ organizations and town officials.

He enlisted in 1986 and pleaded guilty at a court-martial the following year to stealing money from another soldier, according to the DA’s office. He was sentenced to five months of confinement, received a bad-conduct discharge and formally separated from the Army in 1988, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that discharge made him ineligible for American Legion membership.

To join the Hampton Bays organization, Agtsteribbe allegedly submitted an altered DD Form 214, a military discharge document, that falsely listed an honorable discharge, a Purple Heart and a designation indicating he had been wounded in combat. The document also allegedly changed his time on active duty and listed retirement at the rank of specialist.

Investigators said he had not served in the military since 1988.

Legion funds allegedly paid personal bills

Between September 2022 and August 2026, Agtsteribbe allegedly used his position as finance officer to steal $81,798.31 from the American Legion.

Prosecutors said he transferred the organization’s funds into his personal checking account and used its money for Amazon purchases, residential electric and cable bills, streaming services, travel, clothing and other personal expenses.

“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,” Tierney said.

Claims extended to town permit applications

The investigation also found that Agtsteribbe allegedly used falsified documents to obtain membership in other veterans’ organizations dating to 2019, including the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

In 2023, he allegedly filed a falsified DD Form 214 with Southampton Town to avoid paying a $50 resident permit fee.

The following year, he submitted letters to the town clerk’s office seeking disability parking permits in which he claimed to be a combat-wounded Army veteran, a Purple Heart recipient and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, prosecutors said.

He also allegedly claimed to be a retired lieutenant colonel. Prosecutors said he held the rank of private when he was discharged.

Agtsteribbe faces one count each of second-degree grand larceny and 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 DA’s Public Corruption Squad investigated with assistance from Southampton Town police and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges are accusations, and Agtsteribbe is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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Top: Items seized from David Agtsteribbe’s home upon his arrest, according to prosecutors. (Courtesy Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)