Ex-VFW official admits $122,000 theft

Ex-VFW official admits $122,000 theft
Updated: Saturday, 24 Oct 2009, 12:06 AM MDT
Published : Friday, 23 Oct 2009, 8:05 PM MDT

Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
Web Producer: Bill Diven
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A Vietnam War veteran Friday admitted to stealing more than a $122,000 from fellow veterans and is awaiting sentencing.

In a plea deal with the state prosecutors Joe Salas, 63, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of fraud for stealing from a Veterans of Foreign Wars bank account Friday in a plea deal with.

In court Salas told District Judge Kenneth Martinez he would reimburse $17,000 of the stolen money.

Salas was the VFW state treasurer. His scheme was uncovered three years ago leaving veterans outraged

“It's disgust, it's knots in the stomach, it's bad thoughts through my head,” Fred Ortiz told KRQE News 13.

Prosecutors said Salas used the post debit card to go on a three-year spending spree. The list of items he bought included tires, gas, car washes, jewelry and plane tickets to Florida.

As the financial officer for the post Salas had a card in his name.

Suspicions arose after a check bounced. Then an internal investigation revealed the amount of missing money to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The money Salas used came from VFW membership fees and payments from VFW posts.
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Ex-VFW official admits theft