Grand jury indicts former commander of local AMVETS Post for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars

DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged a former local AMVETS Post commander with 15 counts of wire fraud related to embezzling money from the non-profit organization’s bank accounts.

Danny Dale Gordon, 48, of Kettering, served as the commander for AMVETS Post #24 on Leo Street in Dayton from January 2022 until May 2024.

According to the indictment, during that timeframe, Gordon fraudulently transferred money from the veterans organization’s fundraising and scholarship bank accounts into its primary bank account before withdrawing the funds for his own use.

It is alleged that Gordon defrauded AMVETS of approximately $622,000. The indictment details that Gordon allegedly used the money at various local gambling casinos, for travel and hotel expenses, and frequenting a Dayton-area “gentlemen’s club.” Gordon allegedly made numerous fraudulent financial transactions ranging between $200 and $900 each.

Wire fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; and Lt. Col. Seth Newfang, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 10^th Field Investigations Squadron; announced the charges returned yesterday. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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