IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR
THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CR No. 04-311
v.
INDICTMENT
JOY TORRANCE, 29 U.S.C.
§ 501(c)
[Embezzlement of Labor Union
Defendant. Assets]
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
A. Introduction
1. Joy Torrance, defendant
herein, while an employee of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners,
Local 1094, engaged in an ongoing scheme where she embezzled, stole, and
unlawfully and willfully abstracted and converted to her own use approximately
$39,881 in moneys and funds of said labor organization by:
A. Taking and converting to her own personal use union members
monthly membership dues, initiation fees, and funds union members used to
purchase Local 1094 merchandise;
B. Creating and distributing to herself unauthorized pay checks
from Local 1094 checking account ;
C. Creating and issuing unauthorized checks from Local 1094’s
checking, savings, and money marketing accounts to herself and third parties to
satisfy personal debts; and
D. Using Local 1094’s business credit card to make personal
purchases.
2. Joy Torrance worked as the
Secretary for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 1094,
from March 1998 through October 2003. When defendant began her position as
Secretary in 1998, the job was a full-time paid position. In 2002 the job was
converted to a part-time paid position.
3. In an effort to conceal her
embezzlement, theft, abstraction, and conversion of labor organization monies,
defendant falsified Local 1094 financial records, failed to maintain necessary
records, and also knowingly and willfully falsified information on the United
States Department of Labor’s annual financial disclosure reports, LM-3 for the
fiscal year ending 1999.
4. At all times material to
this indictment, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 1094,
was a labor organization engaged in an industry affecting commerce within the
meaning of Title 29, United States Code, Sections 402(i) and 402(j). Local 1094
represents carpenters and dry-wallers from Corvallis, Oregon south to Eugene, Oregon, along the I-5 corridor and west to the Pacific Ocean. Local 1094 is governed by the
UBCJ International Constitution as well as their own local by-laws. The
Executive Board of Local 1094 is comprised of the President, Vice President,
Financial Secretary, and Recording Secretary. Local 1094 has approximately 197
members.
B. The Offense
5. On or between August 1, 1998 through October 31. 2003, in the
District of Oregon, Joy Torrance, defendant, while employed as the secretary of
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 1094, a labor
organization engaged in an industry affecting commerce, did embezzle, steal,
and unlawfully and willfully abstract and convert to her own use moneys and
funds of said labor organization; all in violation of Title 29, United States
Code, Section 501(c).
Sentencing Allegations:
1. The loss was more than $30,000,
but less than $70,000; and,
2. The defendant abused a
position of public or private trust or used a special skill, in a manner that
significantly facilitated the commission or concealment of the offense.
DATED this 27th day of July
2004.
A TRUE BILL
/SIGNED/___________
FOREPERSON
KARIN J. IMMERGUT, OSB #96314
United States Attorney
District of Oregon
/SIGNED/___________
SCOTT M. KERN, OSB #96512
Assistant United States Attorney
