Evanston man accused of stealing $40,000 from VFW

EVANSTON — The former president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 4280 in Evanston has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of theft for allegedly embezzling nearly $40,000 from the organization. 

James R. Dean, 70, is facing up to 20 years behind bars and/or up to $20,000 in fines if convicted. 

The case began in April, when the Evanston Police Department responded to reports of possible larceny at the post. 

Board members said they inadvertently discovered an unknown checking account titled “VFW Auxiliary men’s account” from which several checks had been paid directly to Dean and/or James R. Dean cash. 

At the time of its discovery in late January, the account had a balance of $867.94, according to court documents. 

The funds were primarily deposited from the annual softball tournament fundraiser and bingo. 

According to a court affidavit, suspicions stirred in August 2024 when post members inquired how much money the tournament raised shortly after the event. 

“Dean said he did not know, and brushed everybody off who asked,” court documents state. 

By October, members were again inquiring about the funds. 

“They asked Dean again how much money was raised,” the affidavit states. “Dean seemed irritated, and said no one helped with the tournament, and he had money in his pocket and wasn’t ready to give it to the auxiliary yet.” 

The tournament was started by Dean and his brother, Paul Dean, in 2005 to raise money for the post. However, upon being confronted, “Dean told (Post 4280 Commander Roy) Wagstaff that the VFW softball tournament was never supposed to be an auxiliary fundraiser.” 

Dean was out of state in December and January, but post members ousted him from his position during an emergency meeting in early February. 

VFW District 4 President Karrie Hartley and VFW Auxiliary State Treasurer Christina Lambert also formally relieved Dean of his duties. Dean’s membership is currently in the process of revocation. 

The undisclosed bank account required designated cosigners but “they were people who have not been members for years,” according to the affidavit. “Dean (eventually) removed the names of the cosigners and just left himself on the account,” thus the bank statements were sent directly to Dean’s home. 

For reasons unknown, however, the bank began sending the statements directly to the auxiliary, which is how the discrepancies were discovered. 

Wagstaff closed the account and transferred the remaining funds to the auxiliary’s general account. 

He said the remaining balance was $367.94 — $500 less than the balance at its initial discovery in January. 

According to the affidavit, several active post members told board members that they had no knowledge of the secret account. 

Dean had served as board president since 2015. 

When board members finally met with an EPD investigator in May, they provided bank statements dating back to 2017, as most banking institutions only retain records for up to seven years. 

Further investigation uncovered that $54,848.63 was deposited into the account between April 2017 and December 2024, which included the annual deposits from the softball tournament and a number of proceeds from bingo, according to charging documents. 

The affidavit states that from that account, a “total amount paid to James R. Dean: approximately $39,637.55.” 

Dean was interviewed by law enforcement in June. He explained that he and his brother had joined the post together in 2005. After a decade of membership, Dean said that members “asked him to assume the role of auxiliary president to revitalize the organization,” after declining participation. 

He also said that he was in charge of bingo and “acknowledged that he took money from the bingo proceeds for himself, but claimed that there were other occasions where he personally covered shortfalls when attendance was low,” according to the affidavit. 

When further pressed, Dean allegedly told the investigator, “I just got in a bad way and I spent it.” 

The affidavit also states that Dean appeared remorseful and expressed a desire to replace the funds. 

“He repeatedly stated that he would not deny the allegations, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and offer[ed] to repay the funds,” seeking to extend restitution to the VFW post by paying for new flooring and furniture, court documents state. Dean will be arraigned in Circuit Court on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

This story was published on August 6, 2025.