Ex-leader of Boyertown Legion accused of turning post accounts into his personal bank

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A former president of the Boyertown American Legion post is accused of using the organization’s bank and credit cards to make more than $20,000 in personal purchases and taking small games of chance tickets from the bar, pocketing winnings for himself.
Eastern Berks Regional police charged Valentine K. Bartchak, 60, of Pottstown with two felony counts each of access device fraud and theft by unlawful taking along with one count of theft by deception. He was arraigned Tuesday night before District Judge Ann L. Young in Reading Central Court and released pending a hearing.
According to the probable cause affidavit:
Officials with American Legion Post 471 reported in early December that the organization had been the victim of theft and fraud. Board members discovered one bank account had been overdrawn and a credit card was nearly maxed out, with interest accumulating.
Both accounts were under Bartchak’s control during his tenure as post president, which began in early spring and ended with his resignation in November. The cards had been issued to him for purchases related to the operation of the bar.
Board members reviewed statements from the Truist Bank business cash account and found the debit and credit cards had been used far more frequently between April and November than under the previous administration. Investigators said Bartchak used the cards at retail and online stores for items clearly unrelated to the bar’s operations.
The debit card statement showed 61 ATM withdrawals totaling $19,781 in the King of Prussia and Pottstown areas. Several ATM cash deposits were also made at those locations. No board member could identify a legitimate reason for the transactions.
Between the debit and credit cards, police documented $2,590 in charges for men’s and women’s cologne, men’s clothing, Nike sneakers, WNBA trading cards, insurance premiums, cellphone service and a NewsMax streaming subscription.
Legion officials provided security footage showing what they said was Bartchak removing small games of chance tickets from the bar, playing them and pocketing the winnings. Bartchak oversaw the small games of chance operation at the post.
In addition, the board treasurer reported that cash totaling more than $17,000 was missing from the Legion’s safe deposit box at the Truist branch in Boyertown when he checked it in October. Entry records showed Bartchak accessed the box once in May, once in June, and twice in both July and August.
During a Jan. 9 interview at the Eastern Berks police station, Bartchak admitted using the Legion’s cards for personal purchases and playing small games of chance tickets he did not pay for. He told investigators he deposited his paychecks into the Legion’s account because he could not open a personal bank account due to poor credit.
Bartchak acknowledged visiting the safe deposit box several times in 2025, saying he was placing documents inside that he had found around the office. He denied seeing any cash in the box.