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Press Release

Former Treasurer Of Non-Profit Aiding Families Of Slain Soldiers Sentenced For Stealing Donated Money

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia

COLUMBUS – The former treasurer of a non-profit dedicated to helping families of soldiers killed in the line of duty was sentenced Tuesday for stealing money from the organization, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Dustin Campbell, 36, of Knoxville, Tennessee previously pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud and was sentenced by the Honorable Clay Land Tuesday to 15 months in prison. Mr. Campbell will also have to pay $38,000 in restitution to the Army Sniper Association. There is no parole in the federal system.

Created in December 2001, the Army Sniper Association (ASA) earned 501(c)(3) status in 2008, operating solely to benefit families of current and former Army snipers. Based in Columbus, GA near Ft. Benning, Mr. Campbell served as the unpaid, volunteer treasurer from April 2015 to October 2016. According to his signed plea agreement, Mr. Campbell had sole signatory authority over the account, which was located, with the approval of the ASA, at a Tennessee bank where Mr. Campbell lived. An audit of the account showed that when Mr. Campbell began his tenure as treasurer there was a balance of $62,021.46 in the account. On October 27, 2016, the Defendant was terminated as treasurer, and five months later, the balance of the account had diminished to $647.05. An audit of the account revealed that Mr. Campbell had used ASA funds for personal expenses including fast food, gas, clothing and utility bills. Mr. Campbell also made at least 150 automatic teller machine cash withdrawals, converting more than $40,000 in ASA funds for his own personal use.

“The integrity of non-profit organizations is at risk anytime there is theft within this goodwill system, and these rogue players must be rooted out and held accountable for their crimes,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Taking from our military families, who have given so much, will not be tolerated.  I want to thank the FBI who lead this investigation and uncovered the truth.”

“The work that non-profit organizations do is invaluable to our society, and we cannot allow anyone driven by personal greed to misdirect funds away from the people who need them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Some of these stolen funds would have gone to families of soldiers who gave their lives for our country. Campbell must now pay the price for putting his personal gains before those families’ needs.” 

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mel Hyde prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.

Updated May 10, 2019

Topic
Financial Fraud