Dayton Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.7 Million VFW Embezzlement

By Rebecca Wallis
Dayton, OR – September 26, 2025

A Dayton woman has been sentenced to just over two years in federal prison after admitting she embezzled more than $1.7 million from the Department of Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), including approximately $170,000 directly from Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015.

Cheryl Elizabeth Campos, 62, was sentenced Thursday to 25 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud in April.

Misuse of Position

Court records show Campos misused her position as Quartermaster of the state VFW between January 2022 and June 2024 to transfer funds into her personal accounts. To conceal the theft, she falsified transactions in QuickBooks, the accounting system used by the state organization, and also manipulated Excel spreadsheets used by Post 4015. She further altered bank statements with Adobe Pro before handing them to Post 4015’s three-member audit committee.

For months, the falsifications went unnoticed, until the current Post Commander, then an audit committee member, spotted a discrepancy. He went directly to the bank to obtain original copies of account records, only then discovering that the paperwork Campos had supplied had been altered.

Investigators later determined Campos spent the stolen money on crystals, semi-precious stones, marbles, statues, and personal expenses including credit card bills and a vehicle for a family member.

Campos’s Statement in Court

At her sentencing hearing, Campos addressed the court and the veterans she betrayed.

“What would cause a good person to do something so horrible?” she said, admitting she had been overwhelmed in her duties but refusing to make excuses. “There will always be a hole in my heart. I hope the ones that I hurt can find it in their heart to forgive me.”

Campos’s sentence also requires her to:

• Write a 10-page apology letter by October 31, 2025

• Participate in a mental health treatment program and comply with prescribed medication

• Have no direct contact with the VFW or its representatives

• Pay restitution while incarcerated, including 50% of wages earned and quarterly contributions when unemployed

• Waive all rights to appeal

She must report to begin serving her sentence on November 20, 2025.

Local Impact: “A Lifeline Lost”

The theft has shaken Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015, which serves veterans from World War II through the modern era. Campos stole about $170,000 from the Post, but only $100,000 was recovered through insurance.

For many of the Post’s older members, including Korean War and Vietnam veterans, the loss has been devastating. The stolen money had been set aside from the sale of the Post’s former building in Newberg, which they were forced to part with after asbestos contamination made repairs too costly. That nest egg was meant to help secure a new building for the Post.

Now, with most members elderly and the community already strained, the prospect of raising tens of thousands of dollars again feels out of reach.

“Many of our members feel as if the dream of a new post home is gone forever,” the Post wrote in a victim impact statement. “For veterans who served their country with courage and integrity, this betrayal by one of our own is deeply personal. It has left many of us feeling disillusioned and humiliated.”

The theft also forced the Post to:

• Temporarily suspend its bingo program, a major fundraiser and popular community event.

• Step back from helping fund Dayton’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display, shifting the burden onto the city.

• Cancel participation in its annual cemetery wreath-laying ceremony, a sacred tradition to honor fallen comrades.

Federal Investigation

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Moving Forward

In the wake of the theft, Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015 has adopted more stringent financial oversight policies with legal guidance from the Center for Nonprofit Law in Eugene. Post leaders say their goal is not only to safeguard against future misconduct but also to reassure donors that every contribution will be managed with integrity.

“We want our community to know that their generosity is being honored with good stewardship,” Post leaders emphasized. “Our mission to serve veterans and their families remains unchanged — and stronger than ever.”

Photo Credit: Yamhill County News File