An indictment is a formal accusation or charge based on a finding by a Grand Jury that it is likely that the person charged committed the criminal offense described in the indictment and is the means by which an accused person (defendant) is brought to trial. An indictment raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
An information is a formal accusation of a crime by a government attorney rather than a Grand Jury. An information raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A charge is an accusation of criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Each count is a separate and distinct offense charged in an indictment or information.
A guilty plea is a defendant’s admission to the court that he or she committed the offense charged and an agreement to waive the right to a trial.
A conviction is a judgment based on a jury’s verdict, judge’s finding, or the defendant’s admission that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.
A sentence is a judicial determination of the punishment to be imposed on an individual who has plead guilty or has been convicted by a jury or judge of a criminal offense.
On December 29, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Union Local # 2013, was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and Local 2013. The agreement purportedly allowed Emel to borrow approximately $7000 of her USPS salary from the local and required her to repay the loan by the end of her term in office. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the United States Postal Service Inspector General's Office.
On December 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Lisa Webb, former Financial Secretary for Glass Molders Plastics Local 48, was sentenced to 60 months probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,601.30 and to pay a $100 special assessment. On August 2, 2006, Webb pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,871. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On December 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Walter Fisher, former Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 1949, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The charges are the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On December 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis P. Harper, former Branch President and advocate for National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was convicted of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,543.10. On May 30, 2006, Harper was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $4,851.00. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On December 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary for UAW Local 651, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution to the bonding company, Zurich North America, in the amount of $20,401.46 and to pay a $100 special assessment. On September 13, 2006, Winchester pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office and the Detroit Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David E. Hlavacek, Secretary Treasurer for American Postal Workers' Union Local 7065 and the Missouri State Postal Workers' Union, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,383. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jackie Uptegrove, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge M-146, was charged with one count of making false entries in union records in the amount of $16,628. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni Segura, former clerk/secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18, was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to make restitution to the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland in the amount of $5,548.98 immediately. On August 8, 2006, Segura pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,729. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez Gonzales, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1662, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $27,405. On June 8, 2005, Gonzales pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of the Industrial Division of IUE-CWA Local 84101, was sentenced to three years probations and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,684.23 and pay a special assessment of $100. On September 21, 2006, Robinson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On December 14, 2006, in the Superior Court of California-County of Los Angeles, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by six months of electronic monitoring, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of over $36,000 on state charges for making illegal contributions to former Secretary-Treasurer Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Council. On November 13, 2006, Humphries pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of embezzling union funds. Humphries is set to be sentenced under federal guidelines on February 18, 2007. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement.
On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Tammara Schultz, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers Local 4101, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records in order to conceal her embezzlement of approximately $22,500 in union funds. On November 20, 2006, an information was filed against Schultz charging her with one count of making false entries in the union's financial records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On December 11, 2006, in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania- Philadelphia Courts, Patricia Sweeney, former administrative assistant for Service Employees Local 36, was charged with theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receipt of stolen property, and five counts of forgery in the amount of $5,935 in union funds. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On December 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was found guilty of mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the local union members' right to honest services by using the mail during an October 2002 union officer election. Crawley was also convicted of embezzling union property in the form of a ballot and address labels in connection with the election. In addition, he was convicted of arranging and accepting a $20,000 kickback from the installer of a telephone system into the union's hall and of falsifying the voucher for the telephone installation. On June 8, 2006, Crawley was charged with one count each of mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,000. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On December 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $5,409.27 within 30 days. On August 3, 2006, Peterson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309.27. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On December 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Dowdell and Tom Honold, former President and Secretary-Treasurer , respectively, for Communications Workers, Local 23 each pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records. Dowdell agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $3,200. Honold agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,458.56 . On November 16, 2005, Dowdell was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. On November 29, 2006, Honold was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal his embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On December 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Marie Clayton, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Glass Molders Local 236A, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,126.00. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On November 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Obzut, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications (GCIU) Local 735, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount $21,099. Following his plea, Obzut made full restitution to the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On November 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Kostelac, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Local Lodge 906, was charged with 16 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,748.22. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On November 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Carroll L. Phillips, former Treasurer for the University of Pittsburgh Police Association, was charged with four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,300 and one count of falsifying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On November 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark Jones, former President of Musicians Local 92 and former Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State Conference of Musicians, was sentenced to two years probation and six months community service. On July 26, 2006, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,738.17 from Local 92 and $34,672.00 from the State Conference. Prior to sentencing, Jones made full restitution to the unions. During the period of the investigation, Jones also served as a board member of the Musicians International Union and for one year as President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On November 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Catherine Crosier, former assistant to the controller for the Maine Teachers Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $30,000 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
On November 21, 2006, in Albany County, New York, Court, John Daley, former chief financial officer for the New York State Nurses Association, was indicted on one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree for embezzling over $1,000,000 from his former union between January 2002 and May 2006. On June 7, 2006, Daley was arrested by the Town of Colonie Police Department and charged with grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.
On November 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Lois A. Carter, former Treasurer of the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 84101, was sentenced to one year probation, 30 hours community service, and a $25 special assessment for willful failure to maintain union records. On August 10, 2006, Carter pled guilty to the same charge. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On November 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Preston Nelson, former Treasurer for Postal Mail Handlers Local 305, was sentenced to one day imprisonment to be followed by three years probation, 120 days of which must be served in home detention. Nelson was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution to the union in the amount of $5,363.98. On August 16, 2006, Nelson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On November 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against William Dowdell, former President of Communications Workers Local 23, charging him with one count of making false entries in union records in order to conceal his embezzlement of approximately $3,200 from his union. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On November 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Kenneth Howell Mays, former Treasurer for IBEW Local 1053, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,197.50 for writing unauthorized checks to himself from union accounts. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.
On November 15, 2006, in the County Court of Sarpy County, Nebraska, an information was filed against Nancy Stanek, charging her with four counts of second degree forgery for drawing unauthorized checks on an account belonging to Roofers Local 85. Her husband, who has not been charged, is President of the local. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On November 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love, former President of AFGE Local 96, was convicted on two counts of filing false reports and three counts of felony theft for filing false Form LM-3 reports and embezzling from the union. In a related case, Danna France, former Financial Secretary for AFGE Local 96, pled guilty to filing a false report. The trial, conviction, and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On November 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, an information was filed against Penny Suddith, former Secretary Treasurer for Communications Workers of America Local 14426, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records in order to conceal her embezzlement of approximately $31, 527 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On November 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of embezzlement for conspiring to finance Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Council with Local 99 funds, and for using union funds to pay for a trip to the Virgin Islands for her daughters and a family friend. Humphries also pled guilty to an additional count of embezzlement from a superseding indictment for using union funds to pay cell phone charges for a personal friend. As part of the plea agreement, Humphries waived all appeal rights and will be subject to the Section 504 bar. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On November 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary for PACE Local 02-74, was convicted of one count of embezzling union funds and sentenced to two years probation, fined $1,000, and barred from union office for 13 years. McGown was also required to make full restitution in the amount of $7,041.95 and pay a special assessment of $100. The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On November 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Kathryn Stark, former office manager for IBEW Local 31, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,377. On September 7, 2006, Stark was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On November 8, 2006, in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, an information was filed against Keith Himel, former President of American Federation of Government Workers Local 498, charging him with one count of theft in the second degree for willfully filing fraudulent expense claims. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On November 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrea Stack, former Business Manager for IUE-CWA Local 1199, was sentenced to five years probation with six months home detention and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $66,405. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On November 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Timothy J. Pulvermacher, former Financial Secretary for USWA Local 9444, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,062. On September 7, 2006, Pulvermacher was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On November 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Bernard Johnson, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 297, charging him with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On November 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Anthony Price, former Business Agent and Recording Secretary for International Longshoreman's Association Local 1316, was charged with 15 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,301. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On October 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael Kennedy, former Financial Secretary for Painters Local 720, pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds. In a previously sealed indictment, Kennedy was charged with embezzling $15,612 by writing 84 unauthorized checks to himself, for cash, and to third parties. He was also charged with forging signatures and with making false entries in union books and records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On October 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Allison Cole, former office secretary for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 30, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On October 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chiquita Durr, former Vice President of PACE Local 5-832, was convicted on one count of embezzling union funds and sentenced to six months home detention and three years probation. Durr was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,744.39 and to pay court costs of $100. On July 3, 2006, Durr pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,244. The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $20,000 in union funds. On September 20, 2006, Hollis was indicted on the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Cheryl Martin, daughter of former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Executive Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill, was sentenced to four years probation, which includes six months community confinement to be followed by one year of home detention, for her role in an embezzlement scheme which defrauded the union of approximately $4.6 million. Martin was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $650,000. On February 10, 2004, Martin pled guilty to conspiracy to launder money for assisting her husband, Michael Martin, in laundering more than $500,000 in WTU funds, most of which was then funneled back to Hemphill and then-WTU President Barbara Bullock. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On October 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kenneth E. Hilbish, former President of Teamsters Local 528, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,305 and agreed to pay full restitution to the local as well as a $100 special assessment. On May 17, 2006, Hilbish was indicted for embezzling $21,305 in union funds by making unauthorized expense payments to himself and others. The agreement was reached just days before trial was set to begin on Monday, October 23, 2006. The indictment and plea are the result of a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District and Tampa Resident Investigator Offices and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On October 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas P. Ubzut, former Secretary-Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), Local 735S, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,099.17 and two counts of making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On October 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Leroy Holmes, chauffeur for former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) President Barbara Bullock, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years probation. Holmes was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $955,000. On February 6, 2003, Holmes pled guilty to conspiracy to launder proceeds of an unlawful activity for cashing more than $1 million in WTU checks and giving most of the proceeds to Bullock and Hemphill. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On October 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Richard Takacs, former Financial Secretary for Plasters and Cement Masons, Local 9, was fined $1,000 for falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On October 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Michael Martin, son-in-law of former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Executive Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three years probation, one of which must be served in home detention, for his role in an embezzlement scheme which defrauded the union of approximately $4.6 million. Martin was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $650,000. On April 11, 2003, Martin pled guilty to money laundering for conspiring to launder more than $500,000 in WTU funds by creating a sham third-party business, Expressions Unlimited, at the request of the WTU President and the WTU Executive Assistant. WTU funds were paid to Expressions Unlimited, which never in fact provided any services to the union, and were then funneled to the WTU President and Executive Assistant. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office
On October 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Richard V. Weber, former Treasurer for Painters Local 1164, pled guilty to filing a false report in order to conceal the embezzlement and misapplication of union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On October 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Robin Klein, an outside accountant employed by WTU, was sentenced to four years probation, 270 days of which must be served in home detention, and 500 hours of community service. On June 2, 2005, Klein pled guilty to two counts of failing to disclose material facts in an accounting report prepared for the union, which was then used by a union officer to file a false Form LM-2 report. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On October 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, David Taylor, former Financial Secretary for Carpenters Local 1402, pled guilty to one count of making false statements on an LM report as part of a scheme to cover up his embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $72,422. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On October 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jerieka Ward, former Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, Local 998, was sentenced to three years probation with six months home detention and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $24,118.97. On July 6, 2006, Ward pled guilty to embezzling $46,708.97 from the union and filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On October 4, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #8330, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012 and five counts of falsification of union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On October 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager and Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. Liming, falsely representing to the bank to be acting on behalf of the local, obtained a loan from Franklin Savings & Loan Company which he used for personal expenses. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On October 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Elizabeth Fiske, former office bookkeeper for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 38, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,793. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On September 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kay Joy Andrews, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1780, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $55,765.00. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On September 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew Konspore, former Treasurer of Northeast Emergency Services Union, an independent union representing EMT's and Paramedics employed at American Medical Response in New Haven, Connecticut, waived indictment and pled guilty to one count of embezzling between $70,000 and $120,000 in union funds from January 2001 through December 2004. Sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Dianne Sampson, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge No. 1 - FPS Labor Committee, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make full restitution to the union in the amount of $23,000. On May 3, 2006, Sampson pled guilty to embezzling $23,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, was sentenced to five years probation, six months of which must be served in home detention, and 360 hours of community service. Garner was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $11,959.35. On June 26, 2006, Garner pled guilty to embezzling $12,194 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence Marable and Deborah Powell, former President and Treasurer, respectively, of AFGE 1793 were each charged with five counts of theft of property in the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, one count of making false statements in labor organization annual reports, and one count of conspiracy to steal property in the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $187,000. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General.
On September 22, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Rachetta Johnson and Charlene Monroe were each sentenced to five years probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to IBEW Local 212 in the amount of $26,448 for their roles in defrauding the local through a market recovery agreement. Monroe and Johnson were co-owners of Electrical Innovations, an electrical contracting firm employing members of IBEW Local 212 under a market recovery agreement which entitled the firm to receive disbursements from the union's dues-funded market recovery fund, which is used to assist union contractors in bidding for jobs against non-union contractors by offsetting the difference between typical union and non-union wages. From July 2002 through December 2003, Electrical Innovations billed the local for hours its members had not worked, resulting in overpayments to Electrical Innovations in the approximate amount of $30,000. On September 8, 2006, and on September 12, 2006, respectively, Johnson and Monroe pled guilty to theft by deception. The sentencings follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On September 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Marc Green, former President of AFGE Local 2562, was charged with three counts of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $54,000 and three counts of filing false reports. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.
On September 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA), Local 84101, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,684.23. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On September 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Ann E. Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2140, pled guilty to one count of filing a false report in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds and was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $12,899.18, and to pay a $25.00 special assessment. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On September 20, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Ann Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds of more than $20,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On September 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Michael Iasevoli, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers (formerly PACE) Local 745, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $138,000 and a special assessment of $100. On June 19, 2006, Iasevoli pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $138,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
On September 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary for United Automobile Workers Local 651, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,401.46. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On September 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Janice McKamey, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications International Union Local 88-N, was sentenced to three years probation, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay full restitution to the local in the amount of $2,680.94. On July 19, 2006, McKamey pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On September 8, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Rachetta Johnson, co-owner of Electrical Innovations, pled guilty to theft by deception for her role in defrauding the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 212, through a market recovery fund. On March 30, 2006, Johnson was charged with theft of property or services worth $5,000, tampering with market recovery forms, and forging market recovery fund forms. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Kathryn Stark, former Office Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 31, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $50,376.89. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cathy Bronson, former Business Representative for Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 21, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $35,675. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Timothy Pulvermacher, former Financial Secretary for the United Steelworkers of America, Local 9444, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,062.10. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed against Ann E. Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2140, charging her with one count of filing a false report in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On September 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, was sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine and a $50.00 special assessment. Upon payment of the fine and special assessment, Mullenix's probation will terminate. On June 29, 2006, Mullenix pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records and one count of aiding and abetting on two separate occasions. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
On August 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judy Cary, former bookkeeper for the Communication Workers of America, Local 6127, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,000. On June 28, 2006, Cary was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On August 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Linda Holden, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Steelworkers Local 639 (formerly PACE Local 6-639), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $74,090. On June 28, 2006, Holden was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $74,090. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On August 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Preston Nelson, former Treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 305, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On August 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Lynn Lanphear, former President of Graphic Communications Local 503M, was sentenced to five years supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. Lanphear was also ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $8,441.29 and to pay a $1,000 fine. On June 12, 2006, Lanphear pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,441.29. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On August 14, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Court, a criminal complaint was filed against Derek Baldwin, former President of the Workers Independent Union, charging him with theft by deception, tampering with records, forgery, and receipt of stolen property for his theft of $12,700 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On August 10, 2006 Lois Carter, former treasurer of CWA-IUE Local 84101, signed an agreement to plead guilty to willfully failing to maintain records providing the necessary basic information and data to verify, explain, clarify, and check the accuracy and completeness of the local's Form LM-3 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003. On the same date, an information was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin charging Carter. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On August 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Lorraine Payton, former President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Veterans Administration Council, was indicted on two counts of making false reports. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On August 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed against Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary of United Automobile Workers Local 651, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,401.46. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On August 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni L. Segura, former Secretary for Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $5,729. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On August 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary for PACE Local 02-74, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,472.73. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On August 4, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Peggy Sue Carnes, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-621, was sentenced to two years probation, three months home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $8,019.73. On May 12, 2006, Carnes pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,019.73 and making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On August 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On August 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Lisa Webb, former Financial Secretary for Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers Local 48, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $24,911. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On August 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Brian Druckemiller, former President of Carpenters Local 1936, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $1,151. On May 31, 2006, Druckemiller pled guilty to making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On July 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Mark A. Carroll, former Treasurer for PACE Local 5-962, was sentenced to three years probation, eight months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $3,555.05. On March 24, 2006, Carroll pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,380.45. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Anthony DeGennaro, former representative for Elevator Constructors, Local 1, and primary witness in the trial against Local 1 Executive Vice President Charles Novak, and Susan DeGennaro, wife of Anthony DeGennaro, were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors and employee benefit plans affiliated with the local for their roles in the no-show job scheme concerning the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's building at 2 Broadway. Anthony DeGennaro was ordered to pay $924,428 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $398,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $400 special assessment. Additionally, Anthony DeGennaro was barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years. Susan DeGennaro was ordered to pay $44,694 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $189,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Lynch and Richard Brady, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors and employee benefit plans affiliated with the local for their roles in the no-show job scheme. Lynch was ordered to pay $197,256 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $65,401 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. Brady was ordered to pay $67,165 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $19,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. Both Lynch and Brady were barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love and Danna France, former President and Financial Secretary, respectively, of AFGE Local 96, were each indicted on three counts of theft on federal property, one count of making a false report, and one count of creating false records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a criminal information was filed against Preston Nelson, former Treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 305, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On July 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark R. Jones, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 92, and Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State Conference of Musicians, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,738.17 from Local 92 and $34,672.00 from the State Conference. Jones also served from 2001 through March 2006 as an executive board member of the American Federation of Musicians International Union and in 2005 as the President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On July 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Dunbar, member of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, was sentenced to three years probation for making false statements in the course of the investigation of the no-show job scheme. The sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
On July 24, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Dianna Rushing, former President of Flight Attendants Association LEC 8, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $2,500 for embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,452. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On July 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Ryan L. Butterfield, former Secretary Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 135, was sentenced to three years probation. Butterfield previously made restitution to the local in the amount of $31,097.39. On March 16, 2006, Butterfield pled guilty to filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On July 20, 2006, and on July 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, James Bates and Jean Paul Grennay, former Vice President and President, respectively, of PACE Local 5-712, were each sentenced to two years probation. On May 25, 2006, Bates pled guilty to embezzling $4,412 in union funds. On April 11, 2006, Grennay pled guilty to embezzling $4,412 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On July 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Bull, Edward Connelly, John Quinn, and John Mills, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced for their parts in an operator no-show scheme concerning numerous contractors throughout New York City. The four defendants were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment. Additionally, Mills and Connelly were barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years following the date of sentencing or release from imprisonment, whichever is later. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
On July 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Janice McKamey, former Secretary Treasurer for Graphic Communication Local 88N, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On July 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Richard Takacs, former Financial Secretary for Plasters and Cement Masons, Local 9, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. Takacs admitted to falsifying union records in order to conceal advance salary payments that he made to himself. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On July 17, 2006, and on July 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Timothy Grimm and Thomas Harrington, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced for their parts in an operator no-show job scheme involving the local. On July 17, 2006, Grimm, who previously pled guilty to conspiracy, making false ERISA statements, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors affiliated with the project in the amount of $44,694.97, pay an order of forfeiture to benefit plans affiliated with the local in the amount of $26,829, pay a $200 assessment, and provide 200 hours of community service. On July 6, 2006, Thomas Harrington, who previously pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to extort, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors in the amount of $50,000. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
On July 13, 2006, in the Arizona Superior Court in Yuma County, Janalyn Buseck, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFGE Local 2595, was charged with one count of theft greater than $3,000 but less than $25,000 by converting services or property of another entrusted to her and one count of theft greater than $3,000 but less than $25,000 by obtaining property of another through misrepresentation with the intent to deprive. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On July 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Linda Logan, former President of Glass, Molders, and Plastics Local 325, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $13,600 in restitution to the local. On April 12, 2006, Logan pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,550. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On July 11, 2006, in Fulton County, Alabama, District Court, Suzanne Green, former bookkeeper for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 613, was indicted on one count of theft by taking in the amount of $11,203.00. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
On June 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Roy Jones, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 3450, was sentenced to three years probation, including ten months home detention with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay $64,021 in restitution to the local. On March 31, 2006, Jones pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $66,222.30. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On June 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records and one count of aiding and abetting. As part of the plea agreement, Mullenix must complete one year of supervised probation as well as pay a $1,000 fine and a $50.00 special assessment. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
On June 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judy Cary, former Secretary for CWA Local 6127 was arrested and charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On June 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President of Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months house arrest with electronic monitoring. Kulp was also ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. On March 29, 2006, Kulp pled guilty to embezzling $21,888 from an employee benefit plan. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office.
On June 27, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Barbara Turner, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Council of Carpenters, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution of $29,307.46 to the local and to pay a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manger/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution of $73,291 to the local. On April 10, 2006, Matthews pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the union of $12,194.78. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Bricklayers Local 1, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $1,000. On March 30, 2006, Pirrung pled guilty to concealing union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On June 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Kimberly Solheim, former bookkeeper for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Local 402, was sentenced to fourteen days in prison to be followed by one year of supervised probation. Solheim was also ordered to make restitution to the union's bonding company in the amount of $6,658. On March 7, 2006, Solheim pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On June 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, was charged with bank fraud. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Deann Schnepple, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming (OIWDC), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, six months of which must be served in home confinement. She also must make restitution of $44,758 to the union. On April 14, 2006, Schnepple pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling $44,758 in OIWDC funds. Schnepple issued herself 26 unauthorized checks totaling $37,862 from the union's bank account and used three union credit cards to make personal purchases totaling $6,896. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry T. LeBlanc, former President of AFGE Local 2250, was sentenced to five years probation, with conditions including six months home detention. He was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $46,151.51. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans' Affairs Office of Inspector General.
On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles Douglas Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, and required to make restitution to the union in the amount of $34,123.41. Additionally, Douglas was assessed $75 and is barred from possessing a firearm during his period of supervision. Davis previously pled guilty to one count of filing a false report and two counts of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, an information was filed against Michael A. Iasevoli, former Financial Secretary of PACE Local 745, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $138,000. The information follows an investigation by the New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
On June 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Edward Dupree, former President of the Independent Guards Union of North America, Local 138, was sentenced to 65 days imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,391.12 in restitution to the local and a $25.00 special assessment. Dupree previously pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On June 12, 2006, in the Tuscaloosa County Prosecutorial District of Alabama, Peter Bush, former bookkeeper for Steelworkers Local 09-1071L, pled guilty to six counts of forgery, six counts of possession of a forged instrument, and one count of theft of property. Bush was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to pay $2,061 in restitution to the local and a $50 fine. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On June 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Lynn R. Lanphear, former President of Graphic Communications International Union Local 503-M, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,441. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On June 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was charged with one count each of mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,000 in connection with a 2002 election of Local 988 officers. Crawley allegedly replicated official ballots and marked them in his favor, in addition to embezzling $20,000 from the union and falsifying union records relating to the installation of telephone equipment in Local 988's union hall. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On June 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez, former President of AFGE Local 1662 pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On October 27, 2004, Suarez was indicted on 67 counts of embezzlement. As part of the plea agreement, Suarez must make restitution of up to $27,400. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On June 7, 2006, in Albany County Court, John T. Daley, former Chief Financial Officer for the New York State Nurses Association was arrested by local police and charged in an 11-count indictment with embezzling $1,012,570.08 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.
On June 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of IUE-CWA Local 84101, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,684. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On June 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Baxter, former Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation and 900 hours of community service. Baxter was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 120 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Baxter was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, making false statements on annual labor organization reports, and maintaining false union records. Baxter is the latest individual to be convicted and sentenced for involvement with the embezzlement of approximately $4.6 million from the WTU. Along with Baxter, former WTU President Barbara Bullock and former WTU Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of over 362 months in prison for their roles in the scheme. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
On June 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was sentenced to five years probation, 2000 hours of community service, and was ordered to make restitution of $36,400 to SEIU Local 99. On March 28, 2006, Ludlow pled guilty to conspiring to use funds embezzled from SEIU Local 99 for his 2003 campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. Ludlow admitted to using union money to pay six people who were put on the union payroll but who actually worked on his campaign. Ludlow also used union funds for a cell phone used in the campaign. The sentence follows a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement.
On May 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Loretta Schween, former clerical employee of UAW Region 4, was sentenced to three years probation, with conditions including six months home confinement wearing an electronic monitoring device. She was also ordered to make restitution of $32,040 and to pay a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On May 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Sharon Ann Burt, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Bakery Workers Local 611, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $76,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On May 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis Harper, former Branch President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,851. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On May 30, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Collette White Caldwell, former President of Plant Protection Local 118, was charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On May 30, 2006, in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Darnell Smith, former bookkeeper for SEIU Local 36 was sentenced to one to two years in prison followed by five years probation. Smith was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $70,400.00 and to pay a court fee of $237.00. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On May 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vernon Keith Reed, former Fund Administrator for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and Richard M. Taylor, owner of Deramus Street Properties, Brothers Mechanical Corporation, International Fabricators and Erectors Inc., and Woodley-Griggs Boiler Repair, were charged with nine counts of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. The indictment alleges that Reed and Taylor conspired to embezzle approximately $800,000 from the Boilermakers Health and Welfare Fund. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On May 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Linda Hoselton, former Recording Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 282, was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to pay $1,296.03 in restitution to the local, and assessed a $500 fine. On March 3, 2006, Hoselton pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On May 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, was convicted on two counts of embezzling union funds and sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised probation. Barnett was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $17,710. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Georgia McNish, former Financial Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 1853, was sentenced to two years probation, assessed a fine of $5,000 and a special assessment of $25, and was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. McNish previously made restitution of $10,000 to the local. On November 29, 2005, McNish was charged with knowingly making a false statement in a labor organization annual report in order to conceal her embezzlement of $10,000 in local union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gwendolyn Hemphill, former Executive Assistant to the President of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. Hemphill was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 132 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Hemphill was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, false statements on LM reports and false union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Tina Buracker, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 82174, was sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by five months home detention and three years probation. Buracker was also ordered to pay restitution to the union in the amount of $51,554.15. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On May 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Shirley Weber, former Treasurer for AFGE Local 3973, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay approximately $7,000 in remaining restitution to the local. Weber previously made partial restitution of approximately $21,000. On November 30, 2005, Weber pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On May 12, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Joseph J. Brady, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 1693, was sentenced to five years probation for theft by unlawful taking. He was ordered to pay restitution of $10,982.15 and a fine of $1,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On May 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Chiquita Durr, former Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 832, was charged with one count of embezzling $2,244 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On May 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Marie-Elena Clayton, former Financial Secretary of the Glass Molders, Local 236A, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,126.00 and one count of obstruction for not turning over union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On May 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary of PACE Local 02-74, was charged in a two count indictment with embezzling $5,472.73 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On May 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 99-G, was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to make restitution of $4,946.36 to the local, and assessed $200. On March 13, 2006, Lammers pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, businessman Guillermo Rivera pled guilty to money laundering for his role in a scheme to defraud International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740) and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA. According to the plea, Rivera laundered over $600,000 in union dues embezzled from UTM 1740 through his San Juan convenience store, El Grillon Cash & Carry. Rivera's corporation, RRO, Inc., is also expected to enter a guilty plea. The terms of the plea agreement have been sealed. The guilty plea follows an on-going joint investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office.
On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Diane Sampson, former Treasurer for the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge No. 1 - Federal Protective Service Committee, pled guilty to embezzling over $23,000 in union funds and submitting false reports. As part of the plea agreement, Sampson is required to resign from her employer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is not allowed to apply for any positions with DHS, and is to make full restitution to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni Segura, former bookkeeper for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,729.20. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On April 26, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jerieka Ward, former Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,Local 998, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $46,708.97 and one count of filing a false report with the Department of Labor. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On April 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, James Shannon, former President of the United Transportation Union, Local 1715, was sentenced to three years probation and required to make restitution of $1,100 for making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On April 25, 2006, and on April 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, guilty pleas were obtained, respectively, from Eduardo Sanchez-Bencon and Rafael Garcia-Perez for their roles in an embezzlement scheme to defraud International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740) and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA (Plan), of $10 million. On April 25, Sanchez-Bencon pled guilty to cashing union dues checks in excess of $900,000 through his personal accounts and through a convenience store in San Juan owned by Guillermo Rivera, who previously pled not guilty to charges alleging a role in the scheme. Sanchez-Bencon, who has agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants, could serve 30 to 37 months in prison, and be required to make restitution of $46,750. Garcia-Perez pled guilty to six counts of embezzlement and money laundering of more than $8,000,000 from the Plan through shell companies. Garcia-Perez, who will cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants, could serve 14 to 17 years in prison, and be required to forfeit $1,500,000. Depending on his cooperation, the United States Attorney's Office can recommend a downward departure of the sentence. The guilty pleas follow an on-going joint investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office.
On April 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, an information was filed against Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, charging him with two counts of making false entries in union records and one count of making false statements. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, James G. Russell, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for Stage and Picture Operators Local 9 was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $54,776.65. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kay Joy Andrews, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1780, was indicted on one count of embezzling $55,765.75 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.
On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Dennis Foster, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge S-60, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $5,680.27 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On April 17, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Christine Smith, former President of AFGE Local 2028, was charged with 53 counts of embezzling $64,299 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On April 17, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Lynda Holley, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 2028, was charged with eight counts of embezzling $4,404 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On April 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Deann Schnepple, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming (OIWDC), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $44,758 in OIWDC funds. Sentencing has been set for June 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On April 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, William Van Sickle, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 725, was sentenced to six months community confinement and five years probation. In addition, Van Sickle was ordered to pay $23,645 in restitution and a $100 assessment and is prohibited from opening new lines of credit or acting as a fiduciary without Federal Probation permission. Van Sickle previously paid approximately $40,000 in restitution prior to his conviction. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On April 13, 2006, in the Marion County, Indiana, Superior Court Criminal Division, an information was filed against Patrick Calhoon, former field representative of Painters Local 47, charging him with one count of felony theft for embezzling union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On April 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrea Stack, former Business Manager of IUE-CWA Local 1199, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $19,361. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On April 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, charging her with one count of mail fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the union of $12,194.78. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Kenneth Kruse, sole officer of Kruse Corporation, was sentenced to twelve months probation and fined $3,500 for aiding and abetting in making a false entry in the records of Sheet Metal Workers Local 29. As part of his probation, Kruse was ordered to make restitution of $38,057. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Leslie Bell, former bookkeeper for Laborers Local 1184, was sentenced to eighteen months incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. Bell was ordered to pay $156,423.41 in restitution to the union's bonding company, a $100 assessment, and to undergo periodic drug testing. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On April 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Mary Levan, former Financial Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 1224, was sentenced to three years probation and 50 hours of community service for embezzling $5,791.10 in union funds. Levan was also ordered to make full restitution to the local. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On April 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Gary W. Cope, former Business Manager for Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Lodge 196, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $56,672. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On April 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Lorenzo Kornegay, former President of Machinists Local Lodge 2, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $27,711.81 in restitution to the Local. On December 22, 2005, Kornegay pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with knowingly and willfully taking a loan from the union in excess of $2,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On April 4, 2006, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Darnell Smith, former bookkeeper for Service Employees (SEIU) Local 36, plead guilty to theft by deception for embezzling approximately $70,420.00 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On April 3, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the convictions of Charles Novak, former Executive Vice President of Elevator Constructors, Local One, for unlawful receipt of labor payments, RICO conspiracy, and substantive RICO violations. The court reversed Novak's convictions for mail fraud and for making false ERISA statements. Novak was convicted on December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and subsequently sentenced to nine years imprisonment for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. The conviction, as well as 37 additional related guilty pleas, followed a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.
On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Donald Hutchinson, former Financial Secretary for Chemical Workers Local 763-C, was sentenced to one year supervision and three years probation with the condition he serve the first eight months in community confinement and four months in home detention for embezzling union funds. Hutchinson was also ordered to pay $103,248 in restitution and a $100 assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Loretta Schwenn, former clerical employee of United Auto Workers Region 4, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,040. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Stanley James Kluss, former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA), was sentenced to 15 months in prison with no eligibility for early release or community confinement, followed by three years probation, for embezzling $95,048.95 from the WPPA. Kluss was also ordered to make full restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On March 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Financial-Secretary and Business Manager of Bricklayers Local 1, pled guilty to a one count superceding information charging him with having concealed union financial records. Pirrung had been indicted on January 3, 2006 on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $3,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On March 30, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Michael Griffie was charged with aggravated theft of property or services worth $100,000 or more from IBEW Local 212. Griffie was also charged with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding IBEW Local 212. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On March 30, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Charlene Monroe and Rachetta Johnson were charged with theft of property or services worth $5,000 or more from IBEW Local 212. Monroe and Johnson were also charged with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding IBEW Local 212. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On March 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President and benefits administrator for Iron Workers Local 61 pled guilty to embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $21,888. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office.
On March 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy for his role in using funds embezzled from SEIU Local 99 by its former president, Janett Humphries, for his 2003 campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and state and local law enforcement officials.
On March 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Phyllis Ann Pack, former Office Manager of the Kentucky District Council of Carpenters, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 assessment. On December 19, 2005, Pack pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,349. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On March 27, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Joseph J. Brady, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 1693, pled guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking and was ordered to pay restitution of $11,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, James Taylor Banks, Former Business Agent for Operating Engineers Local Union 369 in Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to two years probation and required to make restitution of $6,818.57 for embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 717, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three months in a community treatment center and three years probation. Bandt was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On January 13, 2006, Bandt pled guilty to embezzling more than $14,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Fernando Sanchez-Bencon and Francisco Consuegra-Lastayo each pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, and Consuegra-Lastayo entered a similar plea on behalf of his company, Consuegra, Inc., for their roles in a scheme to embezzle $10 million from the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740). Consuegra-Lastayo pled guilty to laundering more than $500,000 in union dues checks through his jewelry business funneled to him by Sanchez-Bencon in exchange for a two-percent commission on the total amount of the checks. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Consuegra is expected to serve four months on house arrest, two years probation, and to pay a $10,000 fine. His company is expected to pay a $25,000 fine. Sanchez-Bencon pled guilty to cashing union dues checks totaling $900,000. Under his plea agreement, Sanchez-Bencon is expected to serve 30 to 37 months in prison, depending on his health, and to make restitution of $90,000 to the union. He is also expected to cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants stemming from the on-going investigation of UTM 1740 and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA, which has yielded a total of thirteen indictments so far. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office.
On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard Lyter, former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $1,002.74 in unpaid restitution to the union and to notify his current employer of his conviction within 30 days. On December 13, 2005, Lyter pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records as part of his scheme to embezzle more than $14,100 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On March 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rosemary Zwetkof-Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, was sentenced to three years probation and six months home confinement with authorization to leave her home only to work. Zwetkof-Ryan was also ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $18,359.77. On December 12, 2005, Zwetkof-Ryan pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On March 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Debra M. Timko and Danny L. Iverson, former Presidents of Service Employees, Local 150, were charged in a 33-count indictment with mail and wire fraud and failure to maintain union records as part of a scheme to defraud the union of over $90,000. The indictment details an alleged scheme where Iverson and Timko eliminated any audit or review of the expense vouchers they submitted for reimbursement and used their positions to authorize fraudulent payments to themselves for unused vacation time and personal or otherwise non-reimbursable expenses. The indictment also alleges that upon Iverson's resignation as president, Timko became president, and in exchange, authorized payments to Iverson totaling $50,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On March 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Beverly Jackson, former Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 7901, pled guilty to a superseding information charging her with one count of concealing and withholding records required to be maintained by a labor organization. Jackson was then sentenced to five months of home confinement and five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution to the union in the amount of $33,457.65. On November 23, 2004, Jackson was indicted on three counts of embezzling union funds totaling $33,457.65. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On March 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Cathy Jacobsen, former Financial Secretary of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE), Local 69, was sentenced to one year of probation which includes six months of home detention. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On March 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Edward Johnson, former Treasurer for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 704, was indicted on seven counts of embezzling union funds totaling $4,790 between May 2001 and May 2002. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On March 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Tina Buracker, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 82174, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On October 5, 2005, Buracker was indicted for embezzling union funds totaling $54,679.38. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On March 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 99-g, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $4,946.36. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On March 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry LeBlanc, former President of AFGE Local 2250, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $46,151.51 in union funds. LeBlanc was indicted on November 8, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veteran Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.
On March 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against Brian Druckemiller, former President of Carpenters Local 1936, charging him with making false entries in labor union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On March 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Skursky, former Secretary-Treasurer of PACE Local 2-672 was sentenced to two years probation with 6 months electronic monitoring. Skursky was also ordered to pay $1,980 in outstanding restitution to the union and a $25.00 special assessment fee. On November 8, 2005, Skursky pled guilty to making false entries in union records in order to conceal his theft of $6,050.00 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On March 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cindy Wright, former President of AFGE Local 1298, was sentenced to twenty-four months in prison and was ordered to pay approximately $32,000 in restitution. On October 5, 2005, Wright pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with making false statements of material fact. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.
On March 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Linda Hoselton, former Recording Secretary of United Auto Workers Local 282, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,444.50. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On March 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, was indicted on one count of conspiracy and twelve counts of embezzling union funds. Humphries provided misappropriated funds and union "ghost employees" as workers for co-conspirator Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. Humphries was also charged with five counts of embezzling union funds for other unauthorized expenses not related to the Ludlow campaign. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On March 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, entered into a plea agreement for one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzling union funds for using money misappropriated from SEIU Local 99 by its President, Janett Humphries, during his campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On March 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jean Paul Grennay and James Bates, former President and Vice President, respectively, of PACE Local 5-712, were indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,411. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On March 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Mark A. Carroll, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-962, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,380.45. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On February 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Peggy Carnes, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-621, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,019.73, and one count of falsification of union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On February 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 349, was sentenced to three years probation, which includes six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and work release privileges. Dutchuk was also ordered to pay restitution of $18,812.18 to the local and a $125 assessment. The sentence follows an investigation by the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On February 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joseph Rocha, former Business-Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Laborers Local 1082, was sentenced to 3 years probation, which includes 6 months home confinement. He was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment, obtain mental health counseling, not take any employment involving his access to an employer's funds, and to submit to periodic drug testing, not to exceed eight random checks per month. Rocha was also ordered to pay $12 per day for his period of confinement to defray the cost of monitoring him. The probation report noted that the union agreed not to pursue restitution of the $29,656 that Rocha embezzled in exchange for his agreement not to sue the Local for retroactive vacation, sick, or severance pay, or over the forfeiture of his LIUNA pension. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On February 24, 2006, in the 81st Indiana Judicial Circuit in Lawrence County, Indiana, William F. Campbell, former President of Security, Police, & Fire Professionals of America, Local 10, pled guilty to theft in the amount of $3,894. He was sentenced to a suspended confinement of one year and six months, thirty days house arrest, fifteen days of working on a road crew, and one year and six months of probation. Campbell was also ordered to make full restitution to the local. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On February 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former Treasurer for Machinists Local Lodge 498, was sentenced to two years incarceration and three years probation. He was ordered to make full restitution of $63,082 in the appropriate amounts owed to the union and bonding company. On November 29, 2005, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On February 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Dennis Foster, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge S-60, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $5,680.20. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On February 21, 2006, in the United States District Court of the District of Wyoming, Richard Carlson, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union, Local 769, was sentenced to three months time served and three years probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $3,899.14 in addition to the $6,500 he has already repaid, plus a $100 special assessment. On December 9, 2005, Carlson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On February 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Janice Patterson, former Bookkeeper/Office Secretary for Teamsters Local 984, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $3,234 and one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
On February 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, John McGovern and Gary Weightman, former Secretary-Treasurer and President, respectively, for American Postal Workers Union, Local 190, were arrested and indicted on three counts each of conspiring to embezzle union funds totaling over $400,000. The indictment also charged that McGovern and Weightman obstructed investigations by the American Postal Workers International Union and the Department of Labor by destroying essential financial records. The arrests and indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
On February 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Marcia Huizenga, former bookkeeper and office manager for Teamsters Local 822, was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by five months of home detention and three years of supervised probation. Huizenga was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 4, 2005, Huizenga pled guilty to one count of embezzling $47,131 in union funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On February 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinists, National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 2058, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by two years supervised probation. Turner was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 14, 2005, Turner pled guilty to one count of making false statements, which were made to conceal his embezzlement of $40,474 from the union. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On February 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, James Jackson, former Treasurer for Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 200, Unit 62, pled guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced to one to three years probation. On September 12, 2005, Jackson was indicted for embezzling union funds totaling $12,934. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On February 9, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 2528, was sentenced to 5 years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make full restitution. Thompson previously pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $2,727.93 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On February 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laura Booth, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3129, was sentenced to two years probation and assessed $100. On March 15, 2005, Booth pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $18,749.41 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On February 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed against Dianna K. Rushing, former President of the Association of Flight Attendants, Local Executive Council 8, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,452. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On February 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE), Local 5, and former President of Unity House, a non-profit labor organization that provides benefits to about 20,000 members and retirees of HERE Local 5 and Teamsters Local 996, entered into a plea agreement in which Rutledge pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying a tax return and was sentenced to three years probation. Under terms of the plea agreement, Rutledge must permanently disassociate himself from Unity House, which his father, Art Rutledge, founded in 1951.
Rutledge's son, Aaron, pled guilty to one count of witness harassment and was sentenced to one year probation. Under terms of his plea agreement, Aaron Rutledge must resign immediately as Executive Vice President of Unity House and must disassociate himself from the organization and its assets while on probation.
In August 2003, both Anthony and Aaron Rutledge were indicted for skimming $350,000 in earnings from the family's Waikiki Beach concession stand from 1992 to 1997 and using the money as a slush fund. A superseding indictment in December 2003 alleged that Anthony Rutledge had tried to divert a portion of Unity House's $42.2 million in assets to overseas investments in an apparent attempt to circumvent the ongoing criminal investigation. Twelve other fraud charges against him were dismissed as part of the agreement.
The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General.
On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tim Burke, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Roofers Local 42, was sentenced to 180 days of electronically monitored home detention and three years supervised probation for embezzling union funds. He was ordered to pay $21,340 in restitution in addition to $10,230 already paid and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing while on probation. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Stephen L. Bush, former Recording Secretary for Food and Commercial Workers Local 990 was sentenced to six months home detention with electronic monitoring and five years probation. Bush was also ordered to make restitution of $20,385.98 and to pay a special victims' fund assessment of $400. On October 6, 2005, Bush pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds. Bush is the son of former Local 990 President, Ronald A. Bush, who also pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald A. Bush, former President of Food and Commercial Workers Local 990, was sentenced to five years probation. Bush was also ordered to make restitution of $4,457 and to pay a special victims' fund assessment of $400. On June 29, 2005, Bush pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds. Bush is the father of former Local 990 Recording Secretary, Stephen L. Bush, who also pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On January 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Albert Moore, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 1-6992, was sentenced to six months home confinement, three years probation, and 400 hours of community service. Moore was also ordered to make full restitution of $36,327. Moore previously pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On January 30, 2006, Donald Dixon, former treasurer and bookkeeper for Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 623, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $100 fine. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $40,152. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.
On January 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Terrance Dolan, former Operations Manager for Windy City Maintenance, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release, ordered to pay restitution of $20,000 to the City of Chicago, and given a special assessment of $1,100 for his part in falsely maintaining to the City of Chicago that Windy City Maintenance, a Duff family owned business, was a woman-owned business. Dolan was the last of six defendants to be sentenced in the Federal probe. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
On January 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Michael C. Crogan, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 1382, was sentenced to five months imprisonment, 150 days home confinement, and three years supervised release. On November 2, 2005, Crogan pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $31,700, for which he had already made full restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On January 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, an information was filed against Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On January 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, William Van Sickle, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 725, pled guilty to embezzling union funds totaling $64,229.40. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On January 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Good, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for Machinists Local 821, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, 36 months of supervised release, and is required to make full restitution of $192,493.93. Good also received an assessment of $200 and was ordered to obtain and install, at his own expense, monitoring software on his computer to ensure that he does not visit gambling websites. On October 21, 2005, Good pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On January 20, 2006, in the United State District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Stanley James Kluss, former executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $201.50. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kluss acknowledged that the amount he embezzled is more than $70,000 but less than $120,000. Kluss was previously indicted on October 5, 2005, in a 32-count indictment charging him with 14 counts of embezzling union funds and 18 counts of mail fraud. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On January 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, George Strollo, former Financial Secretary for Communication Workers Local 81495, was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. Strollo was also ordered to make full restitution of $2,173 to his union, of which $1,773 is still outstanding. Strollo previously pled guilty to falsifying union financial records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
On January 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, James E. Miller, former Treasurer of Flint Glass Workers Local 144, was sentenced to 14 days incarceration, 8 months home confinement with monitoring to be paid for by the defendant, 36 months probation, and 100 hours of community service. Miller was also ordered to make full restitution and to submit to mandatory DNA testing and alcohol counseling. In a change of plea on July 5, 2005, Miller pled guilty to embezzlement of $7,765.81 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On January 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Robert Nolan Watson, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 8-748, was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $7,325. Watson previously pled guilty to one count of making false entries in and concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
On January 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Linda Y. Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Local Lodge 57, was sentenced to six months of home detention and five years of supervised probation. Brown was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On September 15, 2005, Brown pled guilty to mail fraud for executing a scheme to defraud the union of approximately $24,336 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 717, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,065. Bandt had previously been indicted on September 14, 2005, in a 14-count indictment consisting of five counts of embezzling union funds, five counts of falsifying union records, and four counts of making a false statement on a required report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
On January 13, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, McKean County Court, Richard D. Yovichin, II, former President of AFGE Local 3974, was charged in a criminal complaint with three counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,725.49. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Anthony Ward, former President of AFGE Local 1055, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $11,428. On October 11, 2005, Ward pled guilty to one count of uttering a forged security. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On January 13, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County Court, Brenda Berkhamer, former employee of United Mine Workers Local 1257, pled guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of forgery. She was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make full restitution to the union. Berkhamer was also ordered to attend weekly meetings of Gamblers Anonymous. On September 7, 2005, Berkhamer was charged with, in addition to other charges, 46 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,656.50. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On January 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, an information was filed against Kenneth Kruse, sole officer of Kruse Corporation, charging him with aiding and abetting in making a false entry in the union records of Sheet Metal Workers Local 29. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On January 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Milers Local 99-G, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $4,946.36. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On January 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Business Agent/Secretary-Treasurer for Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $3,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On January 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, former bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined $1,000. On October 5, 2005 Wituschek pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $5,745.41. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
Last Updated: 02/12/10