A 58-year-old Hampton Bays man is accused of falsely claiming he earned two Purple Hearts to work his way into a leadership role at the local American Legion, then siphoning off more than $81,000 from the veterans’ organization over several years. David Agtsteribbe was arrested Monday and now faces multiple felony charges tied to the alleged scheme.
According to the criminal complaint, Agtsteribbe claimed one Purple Heart for actions with the Combat Applications Group in Panama and another for wounds he said he suffered while protecting a United States senator in Iraq, as reported by ABC7 New York. Prosecutors say none of it was true. Agtsteribbe actually received a bad-conduct discharge following a court-martial conviction in 1988, the outlet reports, and was later imprisoned in upstate New York on a grand larceny conviction during the very period he claimed to have been a prisoner of war, according to prosecutors.
Falsified Papers Opened Doors for Nearly a Decade
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Agtsteribbe should not have been able to join the American Legion at all, but did so by falsely claiming decorated combat-veteran status and more than three decades of service. For the better part of a decade, Tierney said, Agtsteribbe submitted falsified military documents to obtain memberships in multiple veterans’ organizations, per the same account.
Those fabricated credentials allegedly got him more than just a membership card. Prosecutors say he used them to secure a veteran’s photo identification, Purple Heart license plates, and government permits, along with invitations to recognition ceremonies, media appearances, and promotional opportunities for his own businesses. Tierney said the case centers on fraud, theft, and the exploitation of resources meant to support veterans.
Legion Role Comes Under Scrutiny
Court records cited by the station describe Agtsteribbe obtaining a leadership position in the Hampton Bays American Legion using those same falsified papers. Sources differ on exactly what that role was. The Hampton Bays American Legion’s own website lists him as the post’s Finance Officer, describing him as a U.S. Army veteran, while 27east has referred to him as the post’s commander. It is not clear from available records whether the discrepancy reflects a change in title over time or something else.
A separate local account from Long Island Life & Politics states that Agtsteribbe joined the Hampton Bays American Legion in 2021 using a falsified DD214, then held the Finance Officer position. That report alleges he abused the role between September 2022 and August 2026, transferring Legion funds — reportedly totaling $81,798.31 — into his own personal account.
Stolen Funds Allegedly Covered Everyday Expenses
Stolen Funds Allegedly Covered Everyday Expenses Investigators say the money taken from the Legion was allegedly used to pay for Amazon purchases, residential electric and cable bills, a private business-membership program, streaming services, travel, clothing, and other personal expenses, according to the complaint detailed by ABC7 New York.
Agtsteribbe now faces charges of grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, offering a false instrument for filing, and falsifying business records. He was arrested Monday by members of the Town of Southampton Police Department, and Suffolk County prosecutors announced the charges Tuesday on the East End of Long Island.
The Hampton Bays post has long presented itself as a hub of community support for local veterans. 27east has reported that the Legion hosts a monthly food pantry for veterans in need and runs a van service to help veterans get to appointments and social visits, and that it had scheduled a fundraiser concert for October 25, 2024, at Westhampton Beach Brewing Company, with the cover charge going to the post. It is against that backdrop of community-funded veteran services that prosecutors allege Agtsteribbe was diverting Legion money for years.
