Latest news with #AmericanLegionPost26
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
American Legion Post 26 discovers misappropriation of funds upwards of $20,000, SLED continues investigation
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)- An investigation is underway after a local organization that serves veterans discovered a misappropriation of funds. American Legion Post 26 found upwards of $20,000 missing from the post's account. Now, the post's financial officer has been removed. Members of the post are looking for answers after discovering the money was missing. 'I look at all the great things our volunteers do, all the great things our community allows us to do. The first thing I thought in my mind was, man it's going to be really hard to do a lot of those things,' said Post Commander Frank Carson. American Legion Post 26 in Aiken recently discovered the misappropriation of a large amount of money. An internal review of financial records between last November and this February showed unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling more than $17,000. ALSO ON WJBF: Fire officials warn of consequences for ignoring South Carolina burn ban 'Then the gamut of emotions that come after that, right. I'm angry because now we're not going to be able to do those things,' said Carson. Now the post's financial officer David Savage is being investigated by law enforcement. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office confirms Savage is under investigation for embezzlement. Carson says he immediately tried to contact Savage, and after multiple attempts to reach him, Savage told Carson he was responsible. Savage served as the Post Treasurer since 2023, raising thousands of dollars for the baseball and softball programs. 'Last year, he was our Legionnaire of the year. He's been running our baseball program. 2 years ago, we started a softball program for the young ladies, and he's had a hand in doing all of that. Well-respected member of the post, and one that most of us would consider a friend,' said Carson. The post filed a report with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, but now they're concerned whether they can support vital programs like baseball and Boy's State. 'That is one of our larger expenses each year, and now we're in discussions on whether or not we are even going to be able to do that. Boy's State is a great program that's also a fairly large expense where we send young men to Anderson. It's far enough out that we'll be able to do some fundraising, but instead of us saying we'll do fundraising throughout the year, now we're in a crunch,' Carson added. 'We're going to have to dig deep, get out in the community and do that fundraising, or else we're going to lose some of those programs. These are men and women that have written a blank check to our nation. They do a lot of great things for our community, and now we have to come to them to ask them to double their efforts,' Carson said. Post leaders confirm Savage is still a post member, but is not serving as the post's financial officer. An interim financial officer will be appointed at the beginning of April, and Carson says in the meantime post leaders will discuss necessary changes to financial processes. The Sheriff's Office has passed the investigation on to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. They say no arrests have been made, and the investigation is 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Misappropriation of American Legion Post 26 funds discovered
AIKEN, SC (WJBF) – American Legion Post 26 discovered Thursday, March 20th, the misappropriation of at least $1,200 and as much as $20,000 from the Post's bank account. According to a press release, Post Commander Frank Carson was notified Feb. 25, 2025, by the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 26 leadership, of an unauthorized transfer of funds from their bank account to the Post's bank account. Carson made numerous attempts to reach the Post 26 Finance Officer, David Savage, which went unanswered. Email and multiple phone calls went unanswered between March 4 and Wednesday, March 19th. Carson contacted Savage on Thursday to discuss the Post's finances and during that call Savage stated he had been withdrawing funds without authorization, for his personal use, since early February. Savage estimated the amount to be about $7,000. Carson called an emergency meeting of the Post's Executive Committee Thursday where action was taken to freeze the Post's bank accounts, remove Savage's access to funds and to Post property, and notify the American Legion District 15 Commander, who notified the American Legion Department of South Carolina per protocol. The Post Commander contacted the Aiken County Sheriff's Department to file a complaint. Savage served as the Post Treasurer since 2023 and helped raise thousands of dollars for the American Legion's Youth Baseball and Softball programs. His fundraising, youth, and community activities helped him earn the 2024 Post 26 Legionnaire of the Year. 'We are an organization of volunteers, an organization of, and for, veterans, and today one of our own has violated the trust our community has placed with us,' said Carson. 'We have followed proper procedures upon discovery to ensure a swift, thorough, competent and independent investigation of this matter, so that we may provide a full accounting to our community and our membership. We place a great deal of trust in our Post officers and in this case that trust was betrayed,' he said. The post temporarily suspended fund raising and sponsorship activities and named an interim finance officer. An initial internal review of the Post's financial records from November 2024 through February 2025 revealed unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling more than $17,000. The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
