‘Fake’ war hero allegedly posed as wounded Purple Heart recipient while stealing $81K from veterans group

David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Long Island, has been accused of pretending to be a decorated combat veteran and stealing money from a veterans’ organisation. Prosecutors say he used falsified military records to gain the trust of veterans and obtain a finance officer role, then transferred the group’s funds for personal use.

Agtsteribbe was discharged as a private in 1988 after about a year in the military and pleaded guilty to stealing from another soldier in 1987, prosecutors said. They allege he claimed to have received a Purple Heart and to be a retired lieutenant colonel, and stole $81,798.31 from the Hampton Bays American Legion from 2022 onwards. He faces several forgery and fraud-related charges; if convicted on the top count, he could face 25 years to life as a persistent felony offender. He is due back in court on 13 November 2026.