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 22, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Glenn Lovelace, former Financial Secretary/Business Manager of Insulators Local 114 (located in Brandon, Miss.), was sentenced to 18 months of confinement at a Bureau of Prisons facility followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $63,710 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 11, 2022, Lovelace pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District office.
On December 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael Neill, former Apprentice Training Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzlement of union funds, one count of theft from an employee benefit plan, and one count of filing false federal income tax returns, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 26 U.S.C 7206(1), respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
On December 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Fiocca, former employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to five counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
On December 20, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Richard DiArenzo, former Secretary-Treasurer of Independent Spectrum Workers Union (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On December 19, 2022, in the Montgomery County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Jesse Kehler, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84758 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was charged in a two-count indictment with grand theft for embezzling $54,354 in union funds, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(3). The indictment follows an investigation the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Financial Crime Unit of the Dayton, Ohio Police Department.
On December 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Marita Crawford, former Business Agent and Political Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On December 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Niko Rodriguez, former employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to six counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On December 16, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stacy Staples, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) national union (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $44,748 in restitution. On August 29, 2022, Staples pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle labor union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 15, 2022, in the Springfield District Court, Christian Leeds, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1370 (located in Springfield, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts and was sentenced for one count of larceny under $1,200 by a single scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, 30. A continuance without a finding was issued on condition of payment of $5,000 in restitution. Leeds was sentenced to one year of probation during which he may not hold a leadership position in a union. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston- Buffalo District Office.
On December 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Laura Wilson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3694 (located Waddell, Ariz.), was charged in an information with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. She then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On December 9, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Lee Ann Miyamura, former Executive Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. On September 19, 2019, Miyamura pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On December 2, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Russell Yamanoha, former Communications Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. On September 3, 2019, Yamanoha pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On November 30, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Daniel Rose, business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. On September 4, 2019, Rose pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On November 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Michael Brittain, former assistant business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. On September 6, 2019, Brittain pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On November 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Douglas Kelley, former Secretary Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 7750 (located in Gardendale, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $18,011 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On July 25, 2022, Kelley pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Brian Ahakuelo, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a 16-day jury trial of 1 count of conspiracy, 42 counts of wire fraud, 19 counts of money laundering, and 6 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1957, and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. Ahakuelo engaged in a conspiracy to divert union funds and property by hiring family members at inflated salaries (some of whom did little or no actual work for the union) and authorized the use of union funds for personal travel, a vehicle, and dining expenditures. After largely depleting the union’s coffers, Ahakuelo, with the help of his wife, Marilyn Ahakuelo, and other union employees, rigged a vote to increase membership dues. The fraudulent election caused members to pay an additional $3.7 million in dues over about 18 months. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Marilyn Ahakuelo, former community services director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a 16-day jury trial of 1 count of conspiracy, 42 counts of wire fraud, and 3 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), pleaded guilty to one count of forging a security of an organization affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, James Darin Boatman, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 (located in Fort Madison, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $74,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Terry Bean, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2401 (located in Prescott, Ariz.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud resulting in a loss amount of $80,351, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On November 10, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Matthew Archer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1325 (formerly located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a two-count information with wire fraud for embezzling approximately $82,462 in union funds and filing false LM-3 reports for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On November 8, 2022, in the Steubenville (Ohio) Municipal Court, Cynthia M. Johnston, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2934 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged with petty theft, in violation of Steubenville Codified Ordinance 545.05A1. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.On November 7, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Bradley, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) national union (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle $205,421 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On November 2, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lashawn Denise Richardson, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 777 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On November 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Charles Kimo Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 Longshore Division (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a non-jury trial of two counts of embezzling union funds and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office.
On October 27, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to one day in prison and one year of supervised release. McKale was ordered to pay $92,913 in restitution and a $10,000 fine. On July 11, 2022, McKale pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax return, in violation 26 U.S.C. 7206(2)). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On October 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli, Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), was sentenced to 19 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and a $200 assessment. Coli previously paid $300,000 in restitution. On July 30, 2019, Coli pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS.
On October 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, Connie Deal, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), was sentenced to 12 months of probation. Deal was also ordered to pay $22,982 in restitution. On May 11, 2022, Deal pleaded guilty to one count of making false entries, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On October 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Frank Loconte, former NER Construction Management President, was indicted with four counts of mail fraud, one count of theft from an employee benefit plan, and four counts of false ERISA statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, 664, and 1027, respectively, which resulted in a total loss of $1,094,504 to the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council of the Laborers International Union of North America and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3. Additionally, Loconte was charged with four counts of failure to collect or pay over taxes totaling $3,096,931, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7202. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On October 10, 2022, in the Bexar County Judicial District Court, Jeannette Simmons, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council (located in San Antonio, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication of fiduciary property in the amount greater than $30,000 and less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On October 6, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wilbert Barnes, former Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1362 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was charged in an information with making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On October 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to six months in prison followed by 24 months of probation. Norris was also ordered to pay $37,007 in restitution. On May 5, 2022, Norris pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On October 4, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), John DeFalco, former Vice President of Carpenters Local 157 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $148,213 in restitution as well as $149,735 in forfeiture. On June 25, 2019, DeFalco and Salvatore Tagliaferro, former President of Carpenters Local 926 (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a New York City District Council of Carpenters Representative, were indicted as co-conspirators on multiple charges for a scheme to sell union “books” or membership cards (union property) in exchange for cash bribes. On October 27, 2020, DeFalco pleaded guilty to conspiracy, conversion of union assets, honest services wire fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, false statements, and distribution of oxycodone, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2; 18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346 and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1512 (b)(1) and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(2)(A) and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1001; and 21 U.S.C. 812, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). In 2021, following a jury trial, Tagliaferro was found guilty of conspiracy, conversion of union assets, and honest services wire fraud, sentenced to five years in prison, and was ordered to pay $145,065 in restitution and $296,400 in forfeiture. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Public Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation.
On September 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division, Albert Jennings, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union (TCU) Lodge 6061 (located in Roanoke, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $39,331 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On September 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Bradley, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle $205,421 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Anthony Landin, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6110 (located in Laredo, Tex.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $18,328, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Dusty Diffey, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $33,678 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, David Mason, former President of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $24,398 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Daniel Hinton, former Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $4,051 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Jay A. Garnsey, former Financial Secretary of United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local 717 (located in Ilion, N.Y.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $38,173, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Tina Metrolis, former office manager for International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 6 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,946. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On September 27, 2022, in the Concord District Court in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Eric Carbonneau, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R1-32 (located at the Veterans Center in Bedford, Mass.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of larceny over $1,200, in violation of Massachusetts Law Chapter 266, 30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On September 23, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Felix Luciano, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2805 (located in San Diego, Calif.), was charged with one count of making false statements and five counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
On September 21, 2022, in Onondaga County, New York, Willie Green, former President of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 435 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was arrested and charged through a criminal complaint with one count of grand larceny in the second degree in the amount of $101,713, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.40. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the New York State Police.
On September 16, 2022, in the Southern District of Mississippi, Benton Ryals, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1437 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 14, 2022, in the County Court of Buffalo County, Nebraska, Rodney Schuller, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3749 (located in Grand Island, Neb.), was sentenced to 270 days in jail and 24 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. On April 28, 2022, Schuller pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted theft, in violation of Nebraska Code 28-201 and 28-511. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On September 14, 2022, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), was sentenced to jail time served, nine months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release. Oldham was also ordered to pay $35,900 in restitution and a $3,000 fine. On April 13, 2022, Oldham pleaded guilty to 26 counts of wire fraud, one count of false statements, and three counts of filing false tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On September 13, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Richard DiArenzo, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Independent Spectrum Workers Union (ISWU) (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On September 8, 2022, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, VA), was sentenced to six months of home detention and 24 months of probation, and was fined $4,000. Jordan had previously paid full restitution of $30,519. On May 11, 2022, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On August 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stacy Staples, an associate of a former employee of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle $44,748 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 26, 2022, in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Alabama in Autauga County, Lawrence Ford, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-1978 (located in Milbrook, Ala.), was charged with one count of theft of property in excess of $2,500, in violation of Alabama Code 13A-8-3. The indictment follows an investigation by the Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On August 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Bruno, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation and 80 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a special monetary assessment of $300. Restitution will be determined at a future hearing. On April 1, 2022, Ortino was found guilty by a jury on three counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements on Form LM-3, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
On August 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), was charged with forgery of a security, the falsification of annual financial disclosure reports, and the embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,725, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513, 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco Seattle District Office.
On August 15, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Marie LeClair, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement concurrent with three years of probation. LeClair was also ordered to pay $29,050 in restitution for items including bonus bucks payments and personal phone and debit card charges. On June 1, 2022, LeClair pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $3,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General.
On August 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 President Carlos C. Sanchez-Ortiz, union members Pedro Pastrana-Gonzalez and Iara I. Clemente-Rivera, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority employee Jorge I. Batista-Maldonado were indicted with racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. 1951, and 18 U.S.C. 1349, respectively. In addition, Sanchez-Ortiz, Pastrana-Gonzalez, and Clemente-Rivera were charged with conspiracy to violate the Taft Hartley Act and money laundering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1956(h), respectively. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $1,184,524 plus other property in connection with the RICO and money laundering charges. Finally, Pastrana-Gonzalez, Clemente-Rivera and three other union members (Victor F. Torres-Barroso, Jose A. Fernandez- Cruz, and Carlos A. Hernandez-Laguer) were charged with conspiracy to willfully convert funds and falsify records in an employee benefit plan and health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1347, respectively. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On August 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Glenn Lovelace, former business manager for Insulators Local 114 (located in Brandon, Miss.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On August 4, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stacy Staples, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor organization for conspiring to embezzle $44,748, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 3, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, Denise Kovacs, former bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 803 (located in Orlando, Fla.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $304,903, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta- Nashville District Office.
On July 26, 2022, in the Niagara Falls City Court for the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to attempted petit larceny, in violation of NYS Penal Code 110-155.25. He was then sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. Newton previously paid $2,421 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On July 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Timothy Edmunds, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 412 (located in Warren, Mich.), was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was ordered to pay $1,963,740 in restitution, and a $1,000,000 fine. Edmunds previously paid $260,715 in restitution. On March 25, 2022, Edmunds pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $2,224,455 in union funds and one count of money laundering, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1957, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit- Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On July 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Douglas Kelley, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 7750 (located in Gardendale, Ala.), was charged with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $18,011 from his union. He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), was sentenced to one day in jail (with credit for time served) and one year of probation. Garrow was also ordered to pay a $300 fine and a $25 special assessment fee. She previously paid $6,953 in restitution before the sentencing. On April 28, 2022, Garrow pleaded guilty to one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On July 14, 2022, in United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Jesus Jose Mendez, a Woonsocket, Rhode Island businessman and employer/owner of two construction industry companies (one unionized and one non-union) was sentenced to three years of probation, the first 52 weekends to be served in detention. On April 7, 2022, Mendez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 1343, respectively. Mendez was ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,821,463 to the Internal Revenue Service and $62,730 to the Massachusetts Department of Labor. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.
On July 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Gary F. Fridley II, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 8621 (located in Nitro, WVa.), was indicted on five counts of bank fraud, one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively, for embezzling $19,732 from his union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On July 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(2). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On July 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Attia Little, former Property Services Division Operations Manager for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. Little pleaded guilty to embezzling $503,600 from the union by using the union credit card to purchase personal items, to pay several shell companies created by Little and her co-conspirator, to purchase more than $200,000 in gift cards that she used for personal purchases, and booking personal travel costs for family, friends, and associates through the union’s travel booking platform and then keeping the money that they paid to a fake company that she created. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Attia Little, former Property Services Division Operations Manager for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $503,600 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Dorothy Ferguson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2516 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $16,604 in restitution. On March 29, 2022, Ferguson pleaded guilty to one count of theft within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation. Rodgers was also ordered to pay $78,765 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Rodgers previously paid $2,000 in restitution prior to sentencing. On January 26, 2022, Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On June 27, 2022, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Joshua Fernandes, former Treasurer of the New Bedford Police Union (NBPU) (located in New Bedford, Mass.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, the first six months of which will consist of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $47,851 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On October 13, 2021, Fernandes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On June 16, 2022, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, Wareham District Court, Brian Simmons, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 18 (located in Middleboro, Mass.), was charged with one count of larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c.266, §30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On June 9, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, George Bindas Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1295 (located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and two years of probation. Bindas was also ordered to pay $219,999 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. On January 21, 2022, Bindas pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds and one count of theft from an employee welfare benefit plan, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 664. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On June 7, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lashawn Richardson, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 777 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted for wire fraud, using false documents, aggravated identity theft, and criminal forfeiture, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3), 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively. The indictment notes that Richardson embezzled at least $51,657 as part of her fraudulent scheme. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On June 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Marie LeClair, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 (located in Boston, Mass.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $3,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General.
On May 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Verdine Day, former Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 344, Detroit Fire Fighters Association (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and 24 months of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $220,044 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On December 2, 2021, Day pleaded guilty to bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On May 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Donnell Owens, former secretary for the Communications Director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service. Owens was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $273,745. On October 20, 2021, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Brian Gerald, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-189 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $112,594, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On May 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kenneth Vorlob, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 557 (located in Kenosha, Wisc.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Vorlob was also ordered to pay $6,373 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Vorlob previously paid $6,454 in restitution before being sentenced. On February 18, 2022, Vorlob pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $12,827, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On May 17, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Lisa Bennett, former Business Agent/Secretary Treasurer of Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 204 (located in Pascagoula, Miss.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $33,236 and forgery, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 513(c)(3), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On May 16, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2947 (located in Armona, Calif.), was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision. Crownover was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,463 and a $200 special assessment. On November 10, 2021, Crownover was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial of one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, Connie Deal, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling $30,519, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On May 10, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, James Darin Boatman, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 (located in Fort Madison, Iowa), was indicted on one count of embezzling $74,231 from a labor union and one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On May 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), located in Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Donald Snyder, former President of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP), affiliated with National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R2-394 (located in Amherst, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation with the first 12 months as home confinement. He was ordered to pay $94,649 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On July 20, 2021, Snyder pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office with the assistance of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 28, 2022, in the County Court of Buffalo County, Nebraska, Rodney Schuller, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3749 (located in Grand Island, Neb.), was charged with two counts of attempted theft, value of $1,500 or more but not over $5,000, in violation of Nebraska Code 28-201 and 28-511. Schuller then pleaded no contest to the charges. The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On April 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On April 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth Baumgarner, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1147 (located in Grand Haven, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Baumgarner previously made restitution totaling $6,600. On January 5, 2022, Baumgarner pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,600, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Terry Lee Bean, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2401 (located in Prescott, Ariz.), was charged in a 50-count indictment for wire fraud in the amount of $43,879, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Phelton Woods, former Treasurer of the Columbus School Employee Association (CSEA), located in Columbus, Ohio, was indicted on 12 counts of bank fraud for approximately $60,685, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $30,519 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Marie LeClair, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 (located in Boston, Mass.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $3,000 for a scheme to defraud the union and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 2, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Emerald Keever, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal and Air Transportation Union (SMART) Local 16 (located Portland, Ore.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds and wire fraud in the amount of $189,119, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco Seattle District Office.
On April 15, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Whitbeck, former Vice President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 274 (located in Allentown, Pa.), was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision. Whitbeck was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, $32,600 in forfeiture, and a $2,000 special assessment. On November 3, 2021, Whitbeck pleaded guilty to 10 counts of honest services wire fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1346, and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement and one count of one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371. The criminal information states that Norris was part of a conspiracy to embezzle $503,600 from the union by using the union credit card to pay $60,000 in fraudulent invoices to fraudulent companies and purchasing $204,000 in gift cards for personal use, among other things. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On April 13, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), pleaded guilty to 26 counts of wire fraud totaling $35,900 for checks written from the union’s bank account, one count of false statements for filing a false LM-3 report, and three counts of filing false tax returns in the amount of $233,970, which resulted in fraudulent refunds totaling $18,237, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On April 7, 2022, in the United States District Court, District of Rhode Island, Jesus Jose Mendez, a Woonsocket, Rhode Island businessman (an employer/owner of two construction industry companies – one unionized and one non-union), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.
On April 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On April 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Bruno, Calif.), was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial on three counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements (related to the LM-3 report), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), respectively. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
On March 30, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Peter Burns, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 5632 (located in Fontana, Calif.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Burns was also ordered to pay $24,619 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 13, 2021, Burns pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On March 29, 2022, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Texas, Dorothy Ferguson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2516 (located in El Paso, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 28, 2022, in the Niagara County Court in the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), was charged in a felony complaint with one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree for unauthorized and personal usage of union funds in excess of $1,000, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.30. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston- Buffalo District Office with assistance from the Niagara Falls Police Department.
On March 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Timothy Edmunds, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 412 (located in Warren, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $2.2 million in union funds and one count of money laundering, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1957, respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On March 23, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Dawn Munoz, former outside bookkeeper for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1929 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was indicted on four counts of making and subscribing a false return, nine counts of aiding and abetting in the preparation and presentation of a false return, and three counts of bank fraud, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), 26 U.S.C. 7206(2), and 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
On March 22, 2022, in the 404th Judicial District Court of Cameron County, Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections; the sentence was suspended to 10 years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $6,844 in restitution, a $1,000 fine, and various other court fees. Lastly, he was ordered to submit to random testing for alcohol and/or drugs at the defendant's expense, to be assessed and/or screened by the Community Supervision and Corrections Department to determine placement in any program and/or caseload deemed necessary by the Texas Risk Assessment System, and to submit to any other programs deemed necessary by the Community Supervision and Corrections Department. On February 15, 2022, Garza pleaded guilty to felony theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and felony theft enhancement, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(f)(1-3) and 31.03(f), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 22, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Earl Roberts, former President of Steelworkers Local 2-4 (formally located in Yale, Mich., now disbanded), was sentenced to 30 months of probation including six months of home confinement. Roberts was also ordered to pay $45,916 in restitution and a $300 special assessment. On November 30, 2021, Roberts pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On May 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Brian Gerald, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-189 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $112,594, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 18, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Arthur Penn, former Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Defense Protective Service Labor Committee (located in Arlington, Va.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $384,001 in restitution. On March 25, 2021, Penn pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.>
On March 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James Michael Foote, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-137 (located in Manchester, Tenn.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. Foote was also ordered to pay $86,268 in restitution and a $100 fine. On October 19, 2021, Foote pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On March 8, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Glenn Lovelace, former business manager for Insulators Local 114 (located in Brandon, Miss.), was indicted with one count of embezzling $12,360 from an employee benefit plan and one count of embezzling $51,350 from a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664 and 29 U.S.C 501(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 8, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Nintay Edwards, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 8-694 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to 12 months of home detention and five years of probation. Edwards was also ordered to pay $66,684 in restitution. On October 14, 2021, Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $66,684 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On March 3, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brian Walker, former Vice President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1504 (located in Galveston, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and five years of probation, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $38,237 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On December 3, 2021, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 1, 2022, in the District Court of Inglewood, California, Vida Sloan, former Treasurer of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 303 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft in the amount of $10,039, in violation of California Penal Code Section 487(A). Sloan was then sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $10,039 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
On February 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was sentenced to six months in a home detention program and three years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,078 in restitution and a $400 special assessment. Rooze previously paid $127,943 in restitution. On August 30, 2021, Rooze pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On February 18, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kenneth Vorlob, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 557 (located in Kenosha, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $12,827, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On February 15, 2022, in the 404th Judicial District Court of Cameron County, Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and one count of felony theft enhancement, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(f)(1-3) and 31.03(f), respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On February 2, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Linda Carter Shepherd, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 14637 (located in Hazard, Ky.), was sentenced to three months of home detention and five years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $39,491 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On June 21, 2021, Shepherd pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On February 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kenneth Vorlob, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 557 (located in Kenosha, Wisc.), was charged by information with one count of embezzling union funds totaling $12,827, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On January 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, President of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On January 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, George Bindas Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1295 (formerly located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $1,751 and one count of theft from an employee welfare benefit plan in the amount of $18,319, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 664, respectively. The plea agreement stipulates that $220,000 is a reasonable estimate of the actual and intended loss for both crimes. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On January 6, 2022, in the Jefferson Parish 24th Judicial District Court, Damion Young, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to inactive probation for six months. Young paid full restitution in the amount of $10,678, and further agreed to pay all judicial fines and fees. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On January 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth Baumgarner, President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1147 (located in Grand Haven, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $6,600, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.
Last Updated: 9-13-23