Buckeye Reporter

A former quartermaster of a Columbus Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Guy A. Andonian, has been indicted by a grand jury on four felony counts for stealing over $35,000 from the post’s charitable accounts. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips made the announcement regarding the indictment.

Yost expressed his disapproval of Andonian's actions, stating, “Stealing from a VFW post isn’t just a theft of money – it’s a betrayal of the very values our veterans fought to uphold.”

Andonian is facing charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, telecommunications fraud, and grand theft. An arrest warrant has been issued for him in North Carolina.

The investigation revealed that Andonian, while serving as the quartermaster of VFW Post 4044 between October 2017 and September 2019, was involved in a check-writing scheme where checks were issued from the post’s charitable accounts with notes like “help veterans in need” and then cashed by co-conspirators in Union County. The co-conspirators handed over approximately 50% of the stolen money to Andonian.

The case was handled by the Charitable Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, with support from Phillips’ office. It is crucial to note that indictments are allegations, and the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.

Ohioans who suspect any misuse of charitable funds or fraudulent fundraising activities are encouraged to contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

For media inquiries, contact Kelly May at 614-813-7419.