Cape man accused of bilking thousands from veterans charity held on $5K bail

EAST SANDWICH, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A man accused of stealing nearly $125,000 from the Cape Cod chapter of Disabled American Veterans was ordered held on $5,000 bail Tuesday.

Richard Trott, Sr., 62, of East Sandwich, appeared in court following his Dec. 9 indictment on a charge of larceny over $250.

Trott, the former president of Disabled American Veterans of the Cape and Islands, is accused of transferring money to personal accounts and withdrawing DAV money for his own personal use. He was the president of Cape Cod Chapter 96.

Last May, the Attorney General's office launched an investigation into Trott after being alerted by the Cape and Islands District Attorney's office.  Investigators also found Trott had created several organizations with names similar to the DAV to trick people into thinking they were donating to help disabled veterans. The 62-year-old is accused of then moving money from the DAV account into the accounts of the other organizations.

Trott created companies with names like United Veterans Council of Cape Cod, and the Disabled Veterans Association of Cape Cod. He then reportedly transferred money into personal accounts.

Trott's fellow veterans are shocked that he would do something like this.

"He stole funding that could've gone to the benefit of others," James St. Amand of Disabled American Veterans said.

Cox Media Group