Hampton Bays Army vet accused of stealing upward of $81G from American Legion

A former member of the U.S. Army has been charged with stealing more than $81,000 from the Hampton Bays American Legion and fraudulently obtaining other benefits by falsely portraying himself as a decorated combat veteran, Suffolk prosecutors said Tuesday.

David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, the former finance director of the legion post on Ponquogue Avenue, had actually received a bad-conduct discharge following a court-martial conviction in 1988, but presented himself as a three-decades-long veteran.

Agtsteribbe was arraigned Tuesday in Southhampton Town Court on charges of grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records.

He was remanded without bail.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, announcing the charges at a news conference at his Hauppauge office, called Agtsteribbe "a career fraudster."

"There is something particularly despicable about fabricating a military record and claiming honors you have never earned," Tierney said. "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."

Agtsteribbe allegedly used the stolen funds for various personal expenses, including Amazon purchases, residential electric and cable bills, a private business-membership program, streaming services, travel and leisure, clothing and accessories, and other miscellaneous personal purchases.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon called the alleged actions of Agtsteribbe, who was arrested Tuesday — the day before Veteran’s Day — "a new type of low." Toulon’s office assisted in the investigation.

"When I first heard about this, I was shocked that someone would mastermind such a shameful scheme," said Toulon.

Tierney said the American Legion contacted the Southhampton Town Police after they "noticed some irregularities, with regard to finances."

Asked if Agtsteribbe made any statements upon his arrest, Tierney replied: "I don’t know. I don’t care. He’s a fraudster, an alleged fraudster."

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.