Two-Year Federal Sentence
A former quartermaster for the Oregon Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015 has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a sweeping embezzlement scheme.
Cheryl Elizabeth Campos, a 19-year veteran employee of the state VFW, was sentenced to two years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. She must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by November 20 and submit a letter of apology to the VFW by October 31.
Campos pleaded guilty on April 15 to wire fraud, admitting to stealing over $1.7 million between January 2022 and June 2024.
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How the Scheme Worked
Federal prosecutors said Campos misused her role as quartermaster to access VFW bank accounts and transfer money into her personal accounts. To cover her tracks, she falsified financial documents, bank statements, and accounting records.
Investigators determined that the stolen money funded lavish personal purchases, including:
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Hundreds of crystals, semi-precious stones, marbles, and statues
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Payments on personal credit cards
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A vehicle for a family member
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto prosecuted the case following an investigation led by the FBI and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.
Restitution and Forfeiture
U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio ordered Campos to repay $1.78 million in restitution. She must also forfeit any additional property or proceeds obtained through her crimes.
As part of a negotiated resolution, Yamhill County prosecutors dropped local charges after federal sentencing.
“Our case was dismissed pursuant to a negotiated resolution with the federal case,” said Yamhill County District Attorney Kate Lynch.
Local Impact on Veterans’ Post
Campos’ theft had a direct and devastating impact on Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015, where she also served as quartermaster.
Post members had raised concerns in 2024 after realizing the group could not pay its modest $600 monthly rent for storage space at a local church. Suspicious deficits prompted leaders to review audit reports dating back to 2023.
When questioned, Campos offered no explanation and failed to follow up as promised. A subsequent audit uncovered enough irregularities that the bank threatened to shut down the account.
The post — which had merged with other area VFW groups in 2021 following membership declines — had earlier sold its Newberg hall for $180,000. Those funds were meant to sustain activities and support local veterans but instead were largely stolen.
Local and State Charges
Campos’ actions triggered both local and federal investigations.
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A Yamhill County grand jury indicted her in September 2024 on 11 counts of aggravated theft and three counts of first-degree theft, alleging she stole more than $114,000 from local post accounts between June 2022 and August 2024.
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She was later detained after a Circuit Court judge issued an arrest warrant.
Ultimately, the federal case took precedence, consolidating charges into one plea agreement.
A Longtime Insider Turned Fraudster
Campos had worked with the VFW for nearly two decades before her arrest. Federal prosecutors said she exploited the trust of both the state and local organizations for personal gain.
“The misuse of authority in this case was extensive and deeply harmful to veterans’ organizations that relied on these funds,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in its statement.
Moving Forward
Though Campos’ prison sentence is relatively short compared to the scale of the theft, the financial damage remains staggering. Local veterans’ groups, already struggling with declining membership, have lost vital resources meant to serve their communities.
With restitution ordered and federal oversight in place, officials hope to restore some of the funds and rebuild confidence. But for many in Yamhill County, the betrayal lingers.
As one post member put it: “This money was supposed to go to veterans who need it most. Instead, it was stolen by someone we trusted.”
