VFW Post 4107 comments after former official charged

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4107 released a statement on the organization’s ongoing course-correction efforts in the aftermath of a former quartermaster being charged with fraudulent credit/debit device use. In the statement, given to the Record on Thursday with the VFW planning to release it publicly later this week, Post Commander Jamie Folsom explained the Post’s recent financial struggles and its efforts to revamp the organization. In the Record’s article on the charges against the former quartermaster, Jacob Ross, the paper wrote that Ross’s charges were related to suspected fraudulent transactions during his tenure as quartermaster. According to the statement, Post officials discovered financial irregularities in bill payments last June, later finding that the organization’s officer in charge had not filed tax returns in the past four years. Ross was previously confirmed to be the quartermaster, which position oversees the group’s finances, and the failure to file said tax returns resulted in the organization’s loss of non-profit status. After replacing the officer, the statement notes that the Post had a forensic accountant review the organization’s finances and file the outstanding tax returns. The returns for the outstanding years and this year now filed, the Post is working with the Internal Revenue Service to reinstate its non-profit status. Regarding the criminal investigation, the statement said the account found suspected fraudulent transactions, which led to the Post contacting the Lebanon Police Department to investigate. At the time the statement was sent to the Record, the investigation resulted in charges being filed against the former officer (Ross), the specifics of which can be found in the Record’s previous article or on Case.net. Later in the statement, Folsom noted Post leadership has since instituted changes to the organization that have led to a “significant” increase in membership, with the statement also highlighting the Post’s direct assistance to veterans, partnership with local nonprofits, and Honor Guard funeral services in the past nine months. For more on this story, see Wednesday's LCR.