A Dodge Center man has been accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the Dodge Center American Legion according to a court document which was filed in Dodge County Court last Thursday. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office began to investigate the suspected fraud in August. The Dodge County American Legion Bookkeeper/commander, Rich Wilburt Klindworth, Jr is facing a felony charge, accused of using the Legion’s credit card for up to $75,000 in personal purchases over the last two years.
The Dodge Center Legion is still going through financial statements to determine the scope of the fraud at this time. It is alleged that 536 of the 600 purchases made through Amazon with the Legion’s card were for personal use. This amounts to approximately $35,000 and an additional $40,000 were made for personal purchases through other companies.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department also executed a search warrant at Klindworth Jr.’s home where they located numerous items which had been purchased with the Legion’s card. Klindworth Jr. is charged with one count of felony financial card transaction fraud. He was released without bail following his first court appearance and is due back in court early next year.
