Former commander accused of stealing nearly $93K from Geneva American Legion

GENEVA, NY — Things just didn’t add up. That’s what prompted Geneva American Legion Winnek Post 396 Commander A.J. Fratto and others in the volunteer veterans organization to conduct an internal financial audit and approach the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office with concerns of alleged impropriety of the former commander.

“What I did, what our team did, what our Legion family did was what any family would do — try to protect itself,” Fratto said Tuesday. “We saw things that didn’t add up.”

After a 10-month investigation, Dale Henry Mosher, 63, of Geneva, was charged Monday with second-degree grand larceny, a class C felony, according to Sheriff David Cirencione.

Mosher, who Cirencione said was commander off and on for 20 years, was released on his own recognizance pending further court action.

Mosher is accused of stealing $92,698 from the organization from December 2015 through May 2023.

Cirencione declined to detail specifically how the money was allegedly stolen and where it was going but said it is disturbing when a member betrays the organization’s mission and understands the anger and frustration felt by members.

“It certainly wasn’t used for the benefit of the Legion,” Cirencione said.

Cirencione commended the Legion’s new leadership for coming forward.

Fratto said the American Legion is not just about a bar and a banquet hall. It’s about legislation. It’s about veterans, their families, the community, the children and being a proud American, he said.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Former commander accused of stealing nearly $93K from Geneva American Legion