Long Island man accused of faking Purple Hearts, stealing $81K from veterans group
Maria Gomez has over 15 years of experience in local journalism, having previously served as the editor for the Hempstead Herald and a contributor to Newsday. She graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Journalism and has a passion for engaging with the diverse voices of Garden City. Maria believes that community journalism plays a crucial role in shaping local identity.
More from Maria →
Long Island man accused of faking Purple Hearts, stealing $81K from veterans group Stream New York's #1 news - AccuWeather - original content 24/7 By Aaron Katersky, ABC News Tuesday, November 10, 2026 4:25PM Share Follow abc7NY on Google NEW YORK -- A man dishonorably discharged from the US Army falsely cast himself as a decorated combat veteran and stole tens of thousands of dollars from a veterans organization, prosecutors on the east end of Long Island said Tuesday, the eve of Veterans Day, as they announced criminal charges. David Agtsteribbe, 58, is accused of receiving benefits and stealing money from the American Legion by falsely portraying himself as the recipient of two Purple Hearts, when he had in fact received a bad-conduct discharge following a court-martial conviction in 1988. According to the criminal complaint, Agtsteribbe repeatedly falsified military records to obtain personal and financial benefits by claiming he received a Purple Heart for actions as a member of the elite Combat Applications Group in Panama and received his second Purple Heart for wounds received while protecting a United States Senator in Iraq. He is also accused of obtaining a leadership position in the Hampton Bays American Legion and stealing more than $81,000 from the organization. The stolen funds were allegedly used to pay 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 personal purchases. "This case is about alleged fraud, theft, and the exploitation of resources that exist to support and honor those who have served our country. That's what they're for. They're for our veterans. They are not for fraudsters," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said during a news conference announcing the charges. Agtsteribbe is charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, offering a false instrument for filing, and falsifying business records. He was arrested on Monday. "Our investigation revealed that the defendant should never have been able to join the American Legion in the first place, but was able to do so, only able to do so by falsely portraying himself as a decorated combat veteran with over three decades of service that never took place. So not only did he steal from veterans, he pretended to be one as well," Tierney said. For the better part of a decade, Tierney said Agtseribbe submitted falsified military documents to obtain memberships in multiple veterans' organizations, attend recognition ceremonies, media appearances, promotion for his businesses, and official government documents, including a veteran's photo identification, Purple Heart license plates, and government permits. He also claimed to be a prisoner of war. However, according to prosecutors, during the time he claimed to be a prisoner of war, Agtseribbe was a prisoner in upstate New York for a grand larceny conviction. ---------- * More Long Island news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Tour helicopter makes hard landing on pier in Bayonne 1 hour ago Bob Boone, MLB All-Star and father of Yankees manager, dies at 78 1 hour ago Long Island man accused of faking Purple Hearts, stealing $81K from veterans group 36 minutes ago Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 ABC News Internet Ventures. Related Topics SUFFOLK COUNTY ARREST THEFT Watch Live ON NOW Tour helicopter makes hard landing on pier 1 hour ago Bob Boone, MLB All-Star and father of Yankees manager, dies at 78 1 hour ago Woman critically injured, 2 children hurt in overnight Bronx fire 2 hours ago AccuWeather: Breezy beauty and what to know about a late week storm 1 hour ago Defiant Hegseth blasts impeachment effort as 'spectacle,' puts 'target' on troops 30 minutes ago S.S. United States sinking date moved up due to weather Meghan Markle makes 1st public appearance since father's arrest 20 seconds ago Mike Bloomberg, Diana Taylor marry after 26 years together