The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested a woman who worked as a post commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars for lying about her veteran status.
Gabrielle Beutler, 31, of Bowersville, GA, was charged by the GBI with one count of forgery, two counts of distributing false IDs, and two counts of misrepresentation of veteran status.
On Aug. 11, the Lavonia, Georgia Police Department asked the GBI to investigate the suspected criminal misconduct of Beutler, who was employed as the Post Commander at the VFW Post 5897 in Lavonia, GA.
“The investigation revealed that Beutler represented herself as a veteran and altered a U.S. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty form and presented it to the VFW for association and promotion,” the Aug. 17 release from the GBI reads.
She also allegedly used false identification documents to obtain Purple Heart license plates for her vehicles.
“These egregious allegations are in no way representative of the other members of VFW Post 5897 or the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Georgia,” a spokesperson for the VFW Department of Georgia told McClatchy News said in a statement. “The men and women of our organization are proud of our service and remain committed to performing the mission of serving the veterans, military families, and our communities in the great state of Georgia.”
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Beutler was arrested at the Lavonia VFW without incident.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Athens Field Office at 706-552-2309. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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