Employee Benefits Security Administration

Fred Brunoli and Sons, Inc., of Avon, Connecticut, and John F. Brunoli as president of the company and trustee of the company’s employee pension plan, have agreed to a federal court order which prohibits them from future violations of the federal law which protects employee pension plans.

February 14, 2000

Department Of Labor And Certified Financial Planner Board Of Standards Launch New Savings Fitness Tool For Consumers

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - To help Americans strengthen their retirement savings, the Department of Labor and the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) are introducing a new guideline for savings fitness, a comprehensive, free booklet entitled Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future.

February 11, 2000

Labor Department Releases New Form M-1 For Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The U. S. Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration published today a new Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs).

February 4, 2000

Former Ohio Executive Sentenced For Embezzling 401(K) Assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

An Ohio federal court today sentenced an executive of Columbus-based Buckeye Technical Services, Inc. to two years of probation and 80 hours of community service.

February 3, 2000

Labor Department Announces Final New Computer Scannable Form 5500

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Today the Labor Department’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published in the Federal Register a notice announcing the final computer scannable formats of the 1999 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan along with instructions.

January 31, 2000

Webster, Texas Businessman Indicted For Misappropriating Health Care Premiums

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The owner of Webster, Texas-based Reliance Healthcare Services, Inc. was indicted today by a Harris County grand jury for misappropriating $2,700 in employee contributions owed to the company's health plan.

Reliance Healthcare Services is a defunct home health care agency which provided home health care services to local clients. The health plan was governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

January 31, 2000

Labor Department Obtains Final Judgment over Misuse Of Houston-Based Pension Plan Assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The U. S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring the trustees and administrator of the Houston-based Superior Engine Rebuilding Co. Profit Sharing Plan to repay $222,578 to the plan. The court order also appointed an independent manager to oversee the plan.

January 27, 2000

Canadian Businessman Sentenced To Jail For Embezzling From Massena, New York Nursing Home Retirement Fund

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Allan Huppe, a Canadian businessman, was sentenced on January 25 in Federal District Court, Northern District of New York, to serve three years in jail, followed by another three years of supervised release, for fraud and embezzlement from the pension fund of the Highland Nursing Home in Massena, New York.

January 20, 2000

Georgian Art Lighting Design Chair To Repay 401(K) Plan And To Settle With Health Plan Service Providers And Participant

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The U.S. Department of Labor has settled its lawsuit with Georgian Art Lighting Designs, Inc., of Lawrenceville, Ga. and its owner for failing to deposit employee contributions into the company’s 401(k) pension and medical plan accounts.

January 14, 2000

Labor Department Posts ERISA Advisory Committee Reports On Its Website

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The three reports prepared by the Labor Department’s Advisory Committee on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans have been released via the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration’s internet website at www.dol.gov/dol/pwba . The reports also are available in hard copy through the agency’s public disclosure office at (202) 219-8771.

January 14, 2000

Labor Department Sues Texas Company Executives For Violating Employee Benefit Rights

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Today the U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against Houston-based Donovan Business Systems, Inc. and its president and former executive vice president for allegedly firing two employees when one of them questioned administration of the company’s health plan.

January 13, 2000

Labor Department Sues Franklin Park, Ill., Plan Administrator For Using Fund Money To Pay Personal Salaries

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Kent Sarius, an administrator of an employee benefit plan in Franklin Park, Ill., was sued by the Labor Department on Jan. 13 for allegedly using the plan’s money to pay himself and his wife a monthly salary for more than seven years.