Oregon woman who stole nearly $2M from VFW tells judge: ‘I lost my way’

A judge Thursday sentenced the former quartermaster of Oregon’s Veterans of Foreign Wars to more than two years in federal prison and ordered her to write a 10-page letter of apology for stealing nearly $2 million from the nonprofit and spending most of it on crystals.

U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio urged Cheryl Campos, 62, to explain exactly what drove her to pillage her longtime employer and perpetrate the “egregious abuse of trust.” The letter is due Oct. 31.

“She alone ruined the reputation of this very fine organization,” Baggio said.

Some of the victims -- other veterans including some who were supposed to receive benefits -- shared written statements with the judge expressing their sense of betrayal, depression and even thoughts of suicide after learning of Campos’ multi-ye