BARNSTABLE – A former corporate officer of the Cape Cod chapter of Disabled American Veterans, Inc. has been indicted on additional larceny charges in connection with allegedly stealing from the charitable organization, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
Richard Trott of East Sandwich, was indicted on Thursday by a Barnstable County Grand Jury on charges of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme (3 counts).
Trott is expected to be arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court on April 6.
“This defendant allegedly abused his position and stole tens of thousands of dollars from an organization that assists disabled veterans and their families,” said Healey. “We cannot allow these kinds of acts to undermine the good work organizations like these do to help our veterans.”
The AG’s Office began an investigation in May 2013 after the matter was referred by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.
Trott was the former Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Inc. (DAV) of the Cape and Islands, Chapter 96.
DAV is a national charitable corporation that was congressionally-chartered in 1932 for the sole purpose of representing the interests of disabled veterans and their families.
Each state has a department of the DAV and each state department, in turn, is comprised of multiple chapters.
The Attorney General’s office says that their investigation revealed that Trott transferred funds from Chapter 96 DAV accounts into his own personal bank accounts and continuously withdrew DAV money for his own personal use, using debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals and checks payable to himself.
Further investigation provided additional information about how funds were allegedly stolen by Trott.
Authorities allege that at various times between June 2009 and April 2010, and again between December 2011 and June 2012, Trott diverted money from Chapter 96 DAV accounts to a separate veterans’ organization controlled by him, Disabled Veterans Association of Cape Cod and the Islands (DVACC) and subsequently withdrew thousands of dollars of those funds for his own personal use.
Authorities also allege that he diverted third party donations payable to the Chapter 96 DAV to DVACC accounts without authorization and withdrew that money for his own purposes.
Those donations included bequests and other gifts associated with individual estates, as well as donations from community members.
Trott allegedly spent the money he stole on various personal purchases including retail, personal travel and vacation expenses, various household expenses, a boat, and at restaurants, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
A Barnstable Grand Jury returned initial indictments against Trott on December 6, 2013 and he was arraigned on those charges on January 14, 2014.
