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 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Northern Division, Graven Leevon Townsend, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-462 (located in Prattville, Ala.), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement in the amount of $98,970.76, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office. 

On December 16, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Joseph Ray Gonzales, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Guards Independent Local 106 (located in Socorro, N.M.), was sentenced to two months in prison, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $13,800 in restitution of which $4,000 was outstanding.  On September 1, 2011, Gonzales pled guilty to one count of willful concealment and withholding of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Vicki Guynn, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1612 (located in Springfield, Mo.), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. 

On December 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rodney Richerson, former Financial Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union (GMP) Local 238 (located in Kokomo, Ind.), pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzlement in the amount of $100,195, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Richerson was then sentenced to four months incarceration, eight months home detention, two years supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $100,195 and a $100 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 14, 2011, in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, Ohio, Helen Stupka, former office secretary for the Ohio State Plumbers Association (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling $13,372.91.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 13, 2011, in the Ilion Village Court, Raymond Watson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Mine Workers Local 717 (located in Ilion, N.Y.),  pled guilty to Petit Larceny.  Watson was previously arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the fourth degree on November 5, 2009.  Upon entering the plea, Watson was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,968.82 and a $500 fine.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On December 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Amy Pullen, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1106 (located in Mayfield, Ky.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $4,876, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robert Cole, former Financial Secretary of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 124 (located in Irons, Mich.), was sentenced to two years probation with the first six months on home detention without electronic monitoring.  Cole was also ordered to pay $11,605.59 in restitution and a $150 special assessment.  On August 11, 2011, Cole pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,605.59, one count of filing a false report, and one count of making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On December 12, 2011, in the Cerro Gordo County, Iowa District Court, Kenneth Schmidt, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 656 (located in Mason City, Iowa), was sentenced to up to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections, with execution of the sentence suspended and was placed on probation for three years.  Schmidt was also ordered to pay $1,373 in restitution and a $750 fine.  On November 29, 2011, Schmidt pled guilty to one count of Theft in the 2nd Degree, in violation of Iowa Statute 714.2.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Federck C. Petro, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2094 (located in New York, N.Y.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $112,477 in union funds in a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.  

On December 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Stephen Koski, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1027 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine for embezzling union funds.  On the day of sentencing, Koski paid full restitution of $1,517.04.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 8, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Joyce Wheeler, former Secretary-Treasurer of Independent Store Employees Union (located in O’Fallon, Mo.), was sentenced to six months home confinement, four years probation and was ordered to pay $24,865 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On September 1, 2011, Wheeler pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. 

On December 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Western District, William Kiddell, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 592 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $7,152.18 in restitution.  On August 29, 2011, Kiddell pled guilty to making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, an information was filed against Joseph Meizlik, former President of Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 454 (located in Fort Lee, Va.), charging him with one count of embezzling $9,122.44 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. 

On December 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Peggy Bolen, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 898 (located in Redfield, Ark.), was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $61,541.28 in restitution and a $100 fine.  On August 17, 2011, Bolen pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $61,541.28.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On December 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Thomas M. Chavez, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 12-659 (located in Questa, N.M.), pled guilty to one charge of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,965.54, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, an information and plea agreement were filed against Kenneth Aurecchia, Plumbers International Vice President and former business manager of Plumbers Local 51 (located in East Providence, R.I.), charging him with one count of Wire Fraud totaling $107,514, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and one count of Making and Subscribing a False Return totaling $17,886, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206.  The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigative Division.

On November 28, 2011, in the State of Florida, the 13th Circuit in Polk County, Alfred Jenkins, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-475 (located in Eaton Park, Fla.), was charged with Grand Theft in the 3rd Degree.  The State of Florida charged Jenkins with unlawfully and temporarily depriving Local 9-475 of 17 checks valued at $4,737.45.  Jenkins is currently on supervised probation for kidnapping and robbery with a weapon.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office. 

On November 29, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Kotouch, former President and Business Agent for Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1738 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation including six months home detention and was ordered to pay restitution of $18,806.27 in increments of no less than 10% of gross monthly income, but at least $50 a month.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.  
On November 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Sherry Thompson, former Financial Secretary for Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 121 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $17,578.62 in union funds, filing a false financial report, and making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.  

On November 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Charles Kenney, former President of Independent Store Employees Union (located in O’Fallon, Mo.), was sentenced to six months home confinement, four years probation, and was ordered to pay $24,865.65 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On June 1, 2011, Kenney pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. 

On November 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Michael Williams, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,826 and a $100 special assessment.  On March 23, 2011, Williams was indicted on 10 counts of embezzlement totaling $4,906, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and four counts of making a false entry in a record required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). On June 8, 2011, Williams pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Tommy Harris, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1230 (located in Griffin, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $24,646.82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Kevin McKnight, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1390 (located in Laurence Harbor, N.J.), was charged in a one-count information with  embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $68,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  McKnight then pled guilty to the charge.  While Secretary-Treasurer, he withdrew approximately $68,000 from the union’s bank account for his personal use.  The sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2012.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 16, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Ann Kelly, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2814 (located in Council Bluffs, Iowa), was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation.  Kelly was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  She paid $33,296.28 in restitution prior to sentencing.  On August 11, 2011, Kelly pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Peoria), Mary Lynn Otten, former Secretary-Treasurer of Musicians Local 26 (located in Peoria, Ill.), pled guilty to filing a false LM report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  On November 10, 2011, a one-count information was filed charging Otten with filing a false LM-3 report for fiscal year 2008.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Charles McDaniel, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 341 (located in St. Joseph, Mo.), was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $68,365.62 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On April 12, 2011, McDaniel pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. 

On November 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Perry Taylor, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,897.60 and a special assessment of $25.  On July 26, 2011, Taylor pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate union records of lost time claims made by him and others.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, James Kearney, former Secretary-Treasurer for Ironworkers Local 45 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $561,365, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Kearney then pled guilty to the charge.  While Secretary-Treasurer, Kearney withdrew approximately $471,400 from the union’s bank account for his personal use.  In addition, Kearney failed to deposit approximately $89,965 in dues money and dinner dance receipts into the union’s bank account.  Kearney also used this money for his personal use.  The sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2012.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office. 

On November 9, 2011, in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, William J. Geisler, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 45 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in the amount of $4,295, a felony in the fifth degree.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Pennsylvania, Derek Klingman, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1006 (located in Monongahela, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $9,354.84 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 4, 2011, in the Polk County, Minnesota Circuit Court, Michelle Jean Nelson, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7272 (located in Erskine, Minn.), entered an Alford plea for felony theft by false representation (between $1,000 and $5,000), in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(3).  An Alford plea is a guilty plea where the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. 

On November 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Bobby Harrison, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 979 (located in Gainesville, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $21,737.11, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Harrison was then sentenced to six months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,159.77 and a $100 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed against John Gianonne, former Vice President of Teamsters Local 706 (located in Chicago, Ill.), charging him with one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $11,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, David Daugette, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 2766 (located in Madison, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $6,740.03, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Juan P. Rios, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Musicians Local 23 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), pled guilty to one charge of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $15,407, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office. 

On October 25, 2011, in the Circuit Court for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, Leonard Carman, former Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1142 (located in Virginia Beach, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of less than $200, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111.  Carman was then sentenced to one year in prison, all of which was suspended, two years of supervision, and 50 hours of community service.  Carman had previously made restitution of $3,118.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 24, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ephram Pascall, former President/Business Manager of Painters Local 1422 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $34,199, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Pascall was then sentenced to six months home confinement (on weekends), three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay $34,199 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 24, 2011, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Victor Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3283 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in excess of $500 but less than $5,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

On October 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John McMahon, former President of Workers United, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 335-T (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to two years probation including six months of home confinement.  McMahon was also ordered to pay $12,460 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On June 9, 2011, McMahon pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 19, 2011, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Joseph Pavone, former President of Laborers Local 560 (located in Waltham, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of receiving unlawful labor payments in the amount of $6,466.80, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and (d)(2).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Freda Hensley, former President of Steelworkers Local 8-14505 (located in West Logan, W.Va.), pled guilty to a one count indictment of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for embezzling $38,539.68 in union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Dennis Lee McGee, Jr., former President of Steelworkers Local 9-9506 (located in Bynum, Ala.), pled guilty to three counts of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for embezzling union funds totaling $1,950.  McGee was then sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $7,600 in restitution and a $300 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Wagner, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 897 (located in Cheektowaga, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and was ordered to make restitution of $5,526.  On June 26, 2011, Wagner pled guilty to falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Patricia Moore, former employee and Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union of Protective Services Associations (NUPSA), located in Washington, D.C., with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for obtaining $109,866.17 from NUPSA and the National Union of Law Enforcement Associations (NULEA) for her personal use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On October 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Max Messamore, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 2039 (located in Somerset, Ky.), was sentenced to two years probation, fined $500, and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,293.77.  He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $25.  On May 19, 2011, Messamore pled guilty to failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 12, 2011, in the County of Westmoreland in the state of Pennsylvania, Lesa Major, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14821 (located in Monessen, Pa.), was sentenced for Theft by Unlawful Taking which had been reduced to a misdemeanor at sentencing.  Major paid restitution of $2,500 prior to sentencing and as stated in the plea agreement, probation was terminated when restitution was paid.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Nichelle Alstatt, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Office Personnel Alliance (POPA), located in Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced to five years probation, with a series of special conditions which included the successful completion of substance abuse and mental health treatment and the completion of 40 hours of community service.  Alstatt was also ordered to pay $51,613.37 in restitution through a garnishment of her wages and a lump sum court assessment of $150.  On June 8, 2011, Alstatt pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $51,636.37, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making false entries in required records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c); and one count of making false entries in reports required to be filed under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mark Winston, former business manager for Laborers Local 509 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to five months home confinement, five years probation, and 100 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,557 and a $100 fine.  On June 30, 2011, Winston pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. 

On October 4, 2011, in the United States District Court of Northern Oklahoma, Jackie Darrell Whitehouse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4430 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.  On June 10, 2011, Whitehouse pled guilty to embezzling $6,350 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. 

On October 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Derrick George, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way, Employes (BMWE), IBT, Sub-Lodge 76 (located in Leon, W.Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds.  The plea agreement requires payment of restitution in the amount of $19,287.42.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Frank Rago, former Representative of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and former President of ILA Local 1604 (located in Stoneham, Mass.), was sentenced to one year and one day incarceration followed by three years supervised release.  Rago was also ordered to pay $216,384.57 in restitution, $10,000 in forfeiture, and a $200 special assessment.  After a 13 day trial in January 2010, Rago was convicted of two violations of 29 U.S.C. 186 (Employer Payment to Labor Union/Taft-Hartley) and one violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027 (False Statement – ERISA).  At Rago’s sentencing, the court dismissed one of the 29 U.S.C. 186 convictions.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.  

On October 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Christy Riggs, former office secretary for Iron Workers Local 70 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution on the amount of $13,937.80 and a $25 special assessment.  On June 30, 2011, Riggs pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a) and (c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. 


On September 30, 2011, in the Fountain County Circuit Court in Indiana, Brianna Gates, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 975 (located in Catlin, Ill.), was charged with 13 counts of forgery and two counts of theft totaling $3,975 in union funds, in violation of the Indiana State Code.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, James Q. Hunter, former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1542 (located in Newark, Del.), was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,048.04 and a $25 special assessment.  On June 7, 2011, Hunter pled guilty to a one count of making a false statement in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 29, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Harry Dane Small, Jr., former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-9506 (located in Bynum, Ala.), pled guilty to three counts of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for embezzling union funds totaling $13,100.  Small was then sentenced to three years probation including one year home detention.  He was also ordered to pay $25,420 in restitution and a $300 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Christopher Burnett, former President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), was sentenced to two years probation for making false entries in union records.  Burnett was also ordered to pay $410 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to two years probation with the first 12 months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring.  She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,293.14 and a $100 special assessment.  On June 21, 2011, Peoples pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $39,019.67.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 28, 2011, in the St. Louis County District Court of Minnesota, James Michael Hill, former Treasurer of Graphic Communication Conference International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC-IBT) Local 76-C (located in Duluth, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft of over $5,000 and one felony count of theft by swindle of over $5,000.  Hill is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $6,553.28.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. 

On September 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Colin T. Rehrig, former bookkeeper for United Carpenters and Joiners of America (CJA) Local 600 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement followed by two years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and a $1,500 fine.  Rehrig previously made restitution in the amount of $69,749.11.  On June 13, 2011, Rehrig pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $30,483.71, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.  

On September 23, 2011, in the Northern District Court of New York, Alyson Harmon, former office employee for Carpenters Local 281 (located in Binghamton, N.Y.),  pled guilty to embezzling union funds.  On June 15, 2011, Harmon was indicted for having embezzled $20,482 between July 2006 and June 2008.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. 

On September 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michael Thompson, former business manager for United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Local 49 (located in Portland, Ore.), was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  On June 20, 2011, Thompson pled guilty to a single count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b) for filing of a false report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Grace Isley, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2051 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment and restitution in the amount of $11,943.82.  On June 20, 2011, Isley pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On September 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Brandon Borders, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 997 (located in Camp Hill, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $12,551.16.  Borders was indicted for the same charge on July 11, 2011.  The sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rebecca Mercer, former Treasurer of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 284 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was charged with 10 counts of wire fraud in the amount of $4,403.11, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.  

On September 19, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Toni Lancaster, former office manager for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Millwrights & Machine Erectors Local 711 (located in Portland, Ore.), pled guilty to a single count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for embezzling union funds.  Lancaster is scheduled to be sentenced on January 4, 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.  

On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division, Teresa Wilson, former office manager for Plumbers Local 41 (located in Missoula, Mont.) and former President of the Southwestern Montana Central Labor Council (CLC), was convicted of one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), Embezzlement from a Labor Union, one count of 18 U.S.C. 1344, Bank Fraud, and one count of 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), Aggravated Identity Theft.  Wilson was sentenced to three years and one day of imprisonment, five years of supervised release after imprisonment, and was ordered to pay an assessment of $300 and restitution of $124,599.  Wilson previously made restitution in the amount of $63,519.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office. 

On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Vance Valentine, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), was indicted on one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 531, and four counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Sheila Valentine, wife of the former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), was indicted on one count of conspiracy to embezzle assets of UTU Local 524 by writing unauthorized checks, making unauthorized debit card purchases, and making unauthorized cash withdrawals, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 531.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, William Edwards, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation, substance abuse counseling, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. Edwards previously made restitution in the amount of $4,929.49.  On May 2, 2011, Edwards pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jeannine Prince, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Iron Workers Local 3 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to embezzling $418,070.96 in union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.  

On September 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,081.51.  Wyda was then sentenced to two years probation, a substance abuse evaluation, and was ordered to pay a $250 fine, a $100 special assessment, and restitution in the amount $316.51 for remaining funds owed.  Additionally, the court ordered that Wyda is prohibited from incurring any credit card charges until all payments are received by the court.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 2, 2011, in the United States District Court, for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), pled guilty to embezzling $174,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and making a false statement in a financial report required to be filed, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  Ford was indicted on February 10, 2011 and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.



On August 31, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Donald Kister, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Kister previously made restitution in the amount of $4,137.35.  On March 14, 2011, Kister pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount between August 2006 and October 2007.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Grand Rapids Resident Investigator Office.

On August 29, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Guy Masocco, President of Steelworkers Local 897 (located in Cheektowaga, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Masocco admitted that he embezzled $31,701 from his union between December 2004 and December 2009 by making unauthorized charges on the union’s credit card and by receiving improper lost time payments from the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, William R. Kiddell, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 592 (located in Rockford, Ill.), pled guilty to making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Kiddell agreed to pay restitution of $7,152.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. 

On August 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Stephen Koski, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1027 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), pled guilty to embezzling approximately $1,500 in union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. 

On August 22, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, two former officers of Steelworkers Local 982 (located in Wapakoneta, Ohio) were sentenced for their crimes.  Tim Fisher, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 982, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,618.60.  On April 19, 2011, Fisher pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  Following Fisher’s sentencing, Stacy Sacks, former Local 982 President, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $18,399.36.  On May 4, 2011, Sacks pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of falsification of union records.  The sentencings follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 18, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Robert L. Carr, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 228 (located in Yuba City, Calif.), and his wife Theresa Carr were charged in a superseding indictment with three additional counts of embezzlement and the conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of $13,497, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 2, and 18 U.S.C. 371.  With the initial indictment that was filed on April 9, 2009, charges total $59,157.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. 

On August 18, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, John T. Parisi, former business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 682 (located in St. Petersburg, Fla.), was sentenced to one year of probation and 25 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment fee and restitution of $13,053.  On May 18, 2011, Parisi pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in, or willfully concealing, withholding, or destroying any book, record, report or statement required to be kept, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On August 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Peggy Bolen, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 898 (located in Redfield, Ark.), pled guilty to embezzling $61,541 in union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Royce Austin, former President of Progressive Organization of Worker Representatives (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $26,330.80, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Austin’s sentencing is scheduled for November 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Bobby Harrison, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 979 (located in Gainesville, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,737.11.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. 

On August 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Juan P. Rios, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 23 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling approximately $15,407 and one count of possession of forged securities, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On August 16, 2011, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, a complaint was filed against Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), charging her with felony theft of $1,240, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 16, 2011, in the County of Westmoreland in the state of Pennsylvania, a complaint was filed charging Lesa Major, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14821 (located in Monessen, Pa.), with access device fraud and theft by unlawful taking when she used the union’s ATM card to make unauthorized withdrawals from the union’s account totaling $3,068.94.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.  

On August 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robert Cole, former Financial Secretary of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 124 (located in Irons, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,605.59, one count of filing a false report, and one count of making false entries in union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 11, 2011, in the State of Florida, Circuit Court of Nassau County, Dakota Wilson, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-802 (located in Yulee, Fla.), pled guilty to grand theft and was adjudicated guilty.  She was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $20,157.98 in restitution, $498 in fines, and a teen court service surcharge. On June 7, 2011, Wilson was charged with grand theft of $19,472.53 in union funds and was formally arrested on June 8, 2011.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office.

On August 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Ernest Milewski, former President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Northeast District Council (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of embezzling assets of a health care benefit program.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 5, 2011, in the Morgan Circuit/Superior Court (Indiana), Cynthia Collier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Carpenters Local 2177 (located in Scottsburg, Ind.), was charged with theft under Indiana Code 35-43-4-2(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 5, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Michael J. Curry, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Lodge 1127 (located in Texarkana, Ark.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and was ordered to pay $6,996.55 in restitution.  On April 15, 2011, Curry pled guilty to an information charging him with knowingly and willfully embezzling funds belonging to Lodge 1127 in the amount of $6,996.55.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 5, 2011, in the Chesapeake, Virginia Circuit Court, Larry Brooks, former President of Steelworkers Local 8-543 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to 12 months in prison, all of which was suspended, and 12 months of unsupervised probation.  Brooks made full restitution of $5,500 at his sentencing, which resulted in his conviction being reduced from a felony to misdemeanor embezzlement.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 4, 2011, in the 187th District Court for Bexar County, Texas, Eddie De Hoyos, former District Vice President for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Texas State Association (located in McAllen, Tex.), was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and a probation period of five years.  De Hoyos was also ordered to pay an administrative fee of $60 per month, each month, court costs/fine of $1,793, restitution of $15,761.21, and a crime stoppers fee of $50.  De Hoyos is to serve a term of imprisonment in the Bexar County Jail for 180 days, or until restitution is paid in full.  The order of deferred adjudication follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office. 

On August 3, 2011, in the Circuit Court for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, Leonard Carman, former Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1142 (located in Norfolk, Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code, Section 18.2-111.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. 

On August 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Terri Dunkelberger, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1356 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was sentenced to two years probation for embezzling union funds.  Dunkelberger was also ordered to pay $11,848.98 in restitution and a $100 special assessment fee.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and Milwaukee District Office.

On August 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Grace Rathke, former office manager for Laborers Local 32 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was indicted on 10 counts of embezzling approximately $200,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.


On July 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Perry Taylor, former Vice President of American, Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, April Franklin, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 333 (located in Lansing, Mich.) and former bookkeeper for Local 333's Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by 36 months of supervised release and 300 hours of community service.  She was also ordered to pay restitution of $411,979.37 and a $200 special assessment.  On April 7, 2011, Franklin pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,886 and one count of theft from an employee benefit plan totaling $234,331.33.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Diana Frey, former President of the Cincinnati Organized and Dedicated Employees (CODE) union (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was indicted on one count of wire fraud for embezzling $757,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Charles Fleming, former President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), was sentenced to two years probation for making false entries in union records.  Fleming was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment fee, a $3,000 fine, and $1,190.83 in restitution, plus interest until the restitution is paid off in full.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 13, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $41,246.95, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for New Jersey, Jose Rivera, former President/Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 710, a union representing Coach bus drivers in Orange, Newark, and Elizabeth, New Jersey, pled guilty to an information to taking unauthorized loans in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503(a) and (c).  Rivera’s sentencing is scheduled for October 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Derrick George, the former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Sub-Lodge 76 (located in Leon, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $19,287.42 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Brandon S. Borders, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 997 (located in Camp Hill, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $12,551.16, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On July 8, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, an indictment was unsealed upon the arrest of Ronald Wayne Witt, former Business Manager of Operating Engineers Local 450 (located in Houston, Tex.) and a former Trustee of Local 450’s Apprenticeship Committee (located in Alvin, Tex.), and Anita Witt, former Financial Secretary of Local 450 and Coordinator of Local 450’s Apprenticeship Committee.  They were indicted for conspiracy and theft of labor union funds and apprenticeship funds from May 2007 until April 2009, totaling no less than $150,273.36.  The charges and arrests follow a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mechelle Busse (aka Mechelle Singleton), former office manager for United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 568 (located in Gulfport, Miss.), was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home confinement, for embezzling union funds.  Busse was also ordered to pay $51,169.65 in restitution, the cost of the electronic monitoring, and a $100 special assessment fee.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 7, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit of DuPage County, Illinois, Larry F. Shelton, former Steward of Teamsters Local 754 (located in Elmhurst, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 25 months probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $600.  A criminal complaint filed on June 7, 2010 charged Shelton with one count of deception (bad check) over $150.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Leonard Leibowitz, former attorney for the Independent Artists of America (IAA), a union representing ballet dancers in Manhattan, pled guilty to filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  On March 3, 2011, Leibowitz was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds of $350,000 and filing false reports with DOL.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Ernest Milewski, former President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Northeast District Council (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzling union funds by way of unauthorized checks, unauthorized expense reimbursements, and double billing from on or about January 1, 2005 through May 15, 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Milewski was also charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 669 by knowingly and willfully embezzling, stealing, or otherwise without authority converting to the use of any person, other than the rightful owner, or did intentionally misapply any of the moneys, funds, securities, premiums, credits, property, and other assets of a health care benefit program, exceeding the sum of $100, of the Northeast District Council Health and Welfare Fund, a health care benefit program.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. 

On July 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ephram Pascall, former President/Business Manager of Painters Local 1422 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $34,199, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office. 

On July 6, 2011, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts District Court Department, Stephen Andros, President of Steelworkers Local 2936 (located in Auburn, Mass.), pled to sufficient facts for Larceny Over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266, Section 30.  Andros was placed on Administrative Supervision until January 10, 2012, and was ordered to make restitution of $2,430.  Andros previously made restitution of $4,045. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On July 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Christopher Burnett, President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), pled guilty to a one count Bill of Information for making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for October 4, 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 1, 2011, in the Franklin County Court within the State of Ohio, Helen Stupka, former office secretary for the Plumbers State Association (located in Columbus, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft exceeding $5,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. 


On June 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, a federal jury convicted Gloria Porter, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local 2049 and former Secretary-Treasurer of the NFFE IAM Army Materiel Command (AMC) District Council (both located in Las Cruces, N.M.), of 105 counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.  Evidence at trial established that Porter executed a scheme to defraud Local 2049 and the AMC of $134,026.  The jury deliberated for three hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts.  The trial and conviction follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Christy Riggs, former office secretary for Iron Workers Local 70 (located in Louisville, Ky.), pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in records that were required to be maintained, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439 (a) and (c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. 

On June 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Wagner, Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 897 (located in Cheektowaga, N.Y.), pled guilty to falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Wagner admitted to making personal charges on the union credit card amounting to a loss of $5,526 in union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 23, 2011, in Anoka County (Minnesota) District Court, Brenda Olson, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 851 (located in Anoka, Minn.), was sentenced to 60 days in jail with the option of home electronic monitoring and work release, five years probation, and was ordered to pay $7,310 in restitution.  On May 5, 2011, Olson pled guilty to one count of felony theft over $5,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On June 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, an information was filed against Rebecca Mercer, former Treasurer of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 284 (located in Chamblee, Ga.), charging her with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On June 23, 2011, in the Lynn District Court of Essex County, Massachusetts, a criminal complaint was filed against Lynda Nordyke, President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1302 (located in Lynn, Mass.), charging her with one count of larceny over $250 for the amount of $58,404, in violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 266, Section 30.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.  

On June 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Mark Winfield Tracy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and restitution of $87,119.  On December 6, 2010, Tracy pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  On March 3, 2010, Tracy was indicted on one count of embezzling $125,000 in union funds, one count of filing false Form LM-2 reports, one count of falsifying union records, and one count of willfully concealing and/or destroying union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $39,019.67.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Kotouch, former President and Business Agent of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1738 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,806.27 and one count of  falsifying union records.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 21, 2011, in the United Stated District Court, District of Kansas, Lanny Pauley, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1412 (located in Garden City, Kans.), was indicted on 23 counts of embezzlement for embezzling $6,515, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On June 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Grace Isley, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2051 (located in Newton, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement with a loss amount of $11,943, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On June 17, 2011, in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, Michelle Facciolli, former President/Field Representative of Painters District Council 711 (located in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), pled guilty to receiving a loan in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503(a) and (c).  Facciolli's sentencing is scheduled for September 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On June 17, 2011, in United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Kimberly Hirschkorn, former Financial Secretary of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 709 (located in Bellingham, Wash.), pled guilty to willful embezzlement of union funds, in violation of one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Hirschkorn was then sentenced to two years probation, 90 days of electronic monitoring, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment penalty.  Restitution was made prior to the sentencing.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 15, 2011, in the State of Iowa, Cerro Gordo County District Court, Ken Schmidt, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 656 (located in Mason City, Iowa), was charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree in the amount of $9,467, in violation of Iowa Statutory Code 714.21.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 15, 2011, in the Northern District of New York, Alyson Harmon, former office employee for Carpenters Local 281 (located in Binghamton, N.Y.), was indicted for embezzling $20,482 between July 2006 and June 2008 from Local 281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 14, 2011, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, Gary Weightman, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), was sentenced to one year of home confinement followed by 48 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for a violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201 (Tax Evasion).  Weightman received a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines as a result of his cooperation with the government which assisted in the conviction of John McGovern, former Local 190 Secretary-Treasurer.  McGovern previously pled guilty to and was sentenced for one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 371 by conspiring with Weightman to embezzle $200,000 of Local 190 funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On June 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Amar Ali, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sub-Lodge 695 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to two years of probation.  Ali was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment fee and a $500 fine.  Ali previously made restitution in the amount of $1,986.29.  On January 4, 2011, Ali pled guilty to a one-count information for failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a)(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 13, 2011, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Colin Rehrig, the former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 600 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds totaling $30,483.71, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Rehrig was charged on March 30, 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 10, 2011, in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Darrell Whitehouse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4430 and the Tulsa Joint Building Committee (located in Tulsa, Okla.), pled guilty to embezzling $6,350 in union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Sylvester Knight, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 7-2154 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay the remaining amount of $1,837 of the total $6,207 of restitution.  He was also ordered to complete 20 hours a week of community service, but only if he experiences unemployment that lasts for over 30 days.  On February 28, 2011, Knight pled guilty to one count of false union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Joseph Chester, former President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Albuquerque Local (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), pled guilty to an information charging him with a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (Wire Fraud) and was sentenced.  Chester was placed on probation for one year, prohibited from possessing fire arms and explosives, ordered to participate in and complete a substance abuse treatment program and mental health treatment program, prohibited from incurring new lines of credit and entering into financial contracts, and was ordered not to frequent gambling establishments.  Chester was also ordered to make the remaining restitution of $799.50 and pay a court assessment of $100 and a fine of $600.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 8, 2011, in the United States District Court, District of Nevada, Nichelle Alstatt, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Office Personnel Alliance (POPA), Professional Nurses Alliance (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $51,636.37, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making false entries in required records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c); and one count of making false entries in reports required to be filed under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  Sentencing and disposition are scheduled for September 26, 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 8, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Cleo Wilson, the former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1856 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $30,206.19 in union funds and falsifying union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 7, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit of DuPage County, Illinois, a criminal complaint was filed against Larry F. Shelton, former Steward of Teamsters Local 754 (located in Elmhurst, Ill.), citing deceptive practices, in violation of Illinois Compiled Statute 720- 5/17-1B(d).  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Investigation Office. 

On June 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, James Q. Hunter, former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1542 (located in Newark, Del.), pled guilty to a one-count information for making a false statement in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. 

On June 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Stephen Koski, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1027 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling approximately $1,500 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 7, 2011, in the State of Florida, 4th Judicial District, Dakota Wilson, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 9-802 (located in Yulee, Fla.), was charged with Grand Theft of $19,472.53 in union funds.  Wilson was formally arrested on June 8, 2011.  The charge and arrest follow an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office.

On June 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Garold Lawson, former President for National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R14-139 (located in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.), was sentenced to six months confinement, four months home confinement, and three years probation.  Lawson pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $67,566 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 4, 2011, in the State of Texas, 248th District Court, Harris County, Texas, Donald Ray Pierce, Secretary-Treasurer of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 163 (located in Houston, Tex.), was charged with one count of credit/debit card abuse of $683 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office. 

On June 2, 2011, in the 54th District Court of Ingham County, Michigan, Joseph Darby, former Service Representative of Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 459 (located in Lansing, Mich.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, but less than $1,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. 

On June 1, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit of Will County, Illinois, Tamika Dukes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3492 (located in Addison, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of supervision and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,600.  A criminal complaint filed on December 1, 2010 charged Dukes with one count of theft of no more than $300.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.  

On June 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Charles Kenney, President of Independent Store Employees Union (located in O’Fallon, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement with a loss amount of $15,596, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On the same date, Joyce Wheeler, Treasurer of Independent Store Employees Union, was also indicted on one count of embezzlement with a loss amount of $30,544, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. 


On May 25, 2011, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, John McGovern, the former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), was sentenced to 20 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $783,931.  McGovern previously pled guilty to a one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, by conspiring with former Local 190 President Gary Weightman to embezzle, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), $200,000 of Local 190 funds.  Weightman is scheduled to be sentenced in June 2011.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office in conjunction with the Office of the U.S. Attorney, DNJ, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On May 25, 2011, in the Fayette County (Indiana) Superior Court, Jeff Napier, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 151 (located in Connersville, Ind.), pled guilty to theft, a Class D felony, in violation of Indiana State Code 35-43-4-2.  As a result of his guilty plea, Napier was sentenced to three years probation, fined $164, was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $3,470, and was barred from holding union office for 13 years.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 19, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Tyson Pedigo, former General Secretary-Treasurer of Railroad Signalmen General Committee 12 (located in Meridian, Tex.), pled guilty to a charge of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 19, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Max Messamore, former President of Letter Carriers Branch 2309 (located in Somerset, Ky.), pled guilty to an information charging him with failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. 

On May 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Christopher Burnett, President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), was charged in a one count Bill of Information for making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Royce Austin, former President of Progressive Organization of Worker Representatives (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $26,330.80.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 16, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Charles Owens, former Financial Secretary of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBCJA) Local 2791 (located in Lebanon, Ore.), was sentenced to three years supervised release and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment penalty.  On February 23, 2011, Owens pled guilty to one count of willful failure to maintain records in the interest of concealing the embezzlement of over $65,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On May 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Heather Hill, former office secretary for Iron Workers Local 321 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $59,142.12 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 6, 2011, Hill pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling and willfully converting employee welfare benefit plan funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Michael Dewayne Doggett, former Business Manager of United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 502 (located in Nederland, Tex.), was sentenced to five months in prison, 150 days home detention, three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay $39,324 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 31, 2011, Doggett pled guilty to embezzlement of employee benefit funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Christy Riggs, former office secretary for Iron Workers Local 70 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $18,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin, Shari Birch, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1760-A (located in Superior, Wis.), was sentenced to two years of probation (with six months to be served in home detention) and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,737.54.  On February 25, 2011, Birch pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior Wisconsin Police Department. 

On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a one-count information was filed against Perry Taylor, former Vice President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), charging him with aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others, thereby resulting in him receiving $4,624.13 in union funds to which he was not entitled.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Joseph Ray Gonzales, Jr., former Treasurer of International Guards Union of America (IGUA) Local 106 (located in Socorro, N.M.), was charged in an indictment with eight counts of embezzlement, in the amount of $13,800, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Florence Division, Robin A. Mills, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1591 (located in Conway, S.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $49,287.88, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 9, 2011, in the Syracuse City Court, Delores Jennings, former President of the now defunct Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81321 (Syracuse, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to make restitution of $2,479.  On February 28, 2011, Jennings pled guilty to falsifying business records in the second degree.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Syracuse Police Department.  

On May 5, 2011, in Anoka County (Minnesota) District Court, Brenda Olson, former office secretary of Carpenters Local 851 (located in Anoka, Minn.), pled guilty to a charge of felony theft over $5,000.  On December 15, 2010, Olson was charged with the same crime.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 4, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Stacy Sacks, former President of Steelworkers Local 982 (located in Wapakoneta, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of falsification of union records.  On March 16, 2011, an information was filed charging Sacks with embezzling $9,261 and falsification of union records.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Darrell Whitehouse, Former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4430 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $6,350, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Frankie L. Sanders, former Southern Regional Coordinator of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), was sentenced to 18 months custody of the Bureau of Prisons, a three-year supervised release term, and was ordered to pay $10,078.40 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On November 17, 2010, a jury found Sanders guilty of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On May 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, William Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  On March 1, 2011, an information was filed charging Edwards with the same crime.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.


On April 28, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, an information was filed charging John P. McMahon, former President of Workers United, SEIU, Local 335-T (located in Chicago, Ill.), with making false entries in union records.   The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.  

On April 28, 2011, in Chesapeake, Virginia Circuit Court, Larry Brooks, former President of Steelworkers Local 08-543 (located in Norfolk, Va.), pled guilty to embezzlement of a value of $200 or more, in violation of 18.2-111 of the Code of Virginia.  Brooks embezzled $5,500 from the union by making withdrawals from the union’s bank account.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. 

On April 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rodney Richerson, former Financial-Secretary of Glass Molders Plastics (GMP) Local 238 (located in Kokomo, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds totaling $100,195.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Eastern Division, Dennis McGee, former President of United Steelworkers Association (USWA) Local 9506 (located in Bynum, Ala.), was charged with 15 counts of embezzlement in the amount of $8,200, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and forfeiture in the same amount.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Eastern Division, Harry Small, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Association (USWA) Local 9506 (located in Bynum, Ala.), was charged with 12 counts of embezzlement in the amount of $25,820, in violation of  29 U.S.C. 501(c) and forfeiture in the same amount.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office. 

On April 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michael Thompson, former Business Manager of United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 49 (located in Portland, Ore.), was indicted on a single count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b) for knowingly making a false statement and representation of material fact, knowing it to be false, in a report or document required to be filed by a labor organization.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a one-count information was filed against Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), charging her with engaging in an ongoing scheme to embezzle labor union assets in the amount of $39,019.67 by writing herself or members of her family checks drawn on the labor union’s account, by receiving improper lost time payments, and by using union checks and electronic bank deposits to pay her personal expenses, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jeannine Prince, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Iron Workers Local 3 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $418,070.96 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ephram Pascall, former President/Business Manager of Painters Local 1422 (located in New York, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $34,199, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On April 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Terri Dunkelberger, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1356 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of a superseding indictment and admitted to embezzling $11,648.98 from Local 1356.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and Milwaukee District Office.

On April 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Christy Nicole Freeman, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (locate in Eufaula, Ala.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $9,512.91 in restitution and a $25 assessment.  On January 10, 2011, Freeman pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 19, 2011, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts District Court Department, Richard Dean, former Treasurer of Carpenters Local 275 (located in Newton, Mass.), pled guilty to five counts of Association Officer Embezzlement and to a Continuance Without a Finding (CWOF) on nine counts of Larceny Over $250 by False Pretense.  Dean was sentenced to one year probation, was required to write a letter of apology to the local union, and was ordered to make restitution of $15,374.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On April 19, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Timothy Fisher, former Vice President of Steelworkers Local 982 (located in Wapakoneta, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $6,378.98.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 15, 2011, in the Western District of Arkansas, an information was filed against Michael Curry, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) Lodge 1127 (located in Texarkana, Ark.), charging him with knowingly and willfully embezzling funds belonging to Lodge 1127 in the amount of $6,996.55, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Curry pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Connie Ball, former Secretary-Treasurer of Bakery Workers Local 531 (formerly located in London, Ky.), was sentenced to 60 months probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,354 and an assessment of $100.  On December 17, 2010, Ball pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,754.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend, former President Loren Hanson and former Financial Secretary Jesse Daniels of Steelworkers Local 07-1011S (located in East Chicago, Ind.), were each charged in a superseding indictment with one count of embezzlement, in the amounts of $21,500 and $19,500 respectively, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2; and one count of conspiracy in the embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371.  Daniels was previously indicted on a single count of embezzlement of $19,500 on January 12, 2011.  The superseding indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.  

On April 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Thomas M. Chavez, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 12-659 (located in Questa, N.M.), was indicted on 13 counts of embezzlement in the amount of $16,965.54, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by OLMS Denver District Office.

On April 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Charles E. McDaniel, former General Chairman of the United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 341, charging him with one count of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining $44,889.62 from UTU and $36,629.29 from Burlington Northern Santa Fe (employer), in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.

On April 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robert Cole, former Financial Secretary of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 124 (located in Irons, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,605.59, one count of filing a false report, and one count of making false entries in union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 11, 2011, in the First Judicial District for Jefferson and Gilpin County Court, Colorado, Heather Lynn Grover, former President and Treasurer of AFGE Local 1557 (located in Lakewood, Colo.), was charged with Felony Count 1 of Theft, Section 18-4-401(1), (2)(c), C.R.S. (F4) and added Misdemeanor Count 4 of Theft, Section 18-4-401(1), (2)(b.5), C.R.S. (M1) with a deferred judgment and sentence.  Grover pled guilty to the charge and then was ordered to make full restitution of $5,529.26 and to pay all required court fees and fines of $290.  The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On April 8, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 790C (located in Lena, Miss.), was sentenced to one year of probation.  She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee and a $1,000 fine.  Fontenot previously made restitution in the amount of $6,943.15.  On January 20, 2011, Fontenot pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, April Franklin, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 333 (located in Lansing, Mich.) and former bookkeeper for Local 333's Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,886 and one count of theft from an employee benefit plan totaling $234,331.33.  Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On April 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division, Robert K. Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds over $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Katherine Nannette Jones, former Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), was sentenced to 36 months probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $4,710.17 and a $25 assessment.  On January 12, 2011, Jones pled guilty to one count of making a false statement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office. 

On April 1, 2011, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a superseding indictment was returned charging Caleb Gray-Burriss, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (NASPSO), with four counts of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling more than $116,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); six counts of mail fraud totaling more than $102,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; one count of criminal contempt, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 401(3); one count of tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(1) and (2); one count of tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(2)(A) and (C); one count of failure to file reports required by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a); one count of falsification of reports required by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count of failure to maintain records in sufficient detail required by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General. 


On March 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Nichelle Alstatt, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Office Personnel Alliance (POPA), located in Las Vegas, Nevada, was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $51,637.37, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making false entries in required records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c); and one count of making false entries in reports required to be filed under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Colin Rehrig, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 600 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $30,483.71, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 29, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Nickolas Weihert, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4845 (located in Waukesha, Wis.), was sentenced to three years probation, eight months home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $350 special assessment.  Weihert previously made restitution in the amount of $17,316.62.  On November 23, 2010, Weihert pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, James Drury, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3121 (located in Hialeah, Fla.), was sentenced to 24 months incarceration followed by three years supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $186,757.53 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 11, 2011, Drury pled guilty to a one-charge information for embezzling union funds between December 2005 and March 2009 in the amount of $306,757.53. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 25, 2011, in the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno, Oklahoma, an information was filed against Robert A. Ramirez, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 973 (located in El Reno, Okla.), charging him with 17 counts of uttering a forged instrument, in violation of Oklahoma State Statue 21 O.S. 1577.  Ramirez pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.  The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On March 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Michael Williams, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), was indicted on 10 counts of embezzlement totaling $4,906, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and four counts of making a false entry in a record required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 21, 2011, in United States District Court for the Butte Division of the Montana District, Teresa M. Wilson, former office manager for Plumbers Local 41 (located in Butte, Mont.), was indicted on one count of Labor Union Embezzlement (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of Bank Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344), and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft (18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office

On March 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $14,081.51, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, an information was filed against Richard Barnes, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 517 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), charging him with theft by deception totaling $14,024 under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 16-8-3(a), as assimilated under Title 18, United States Code, Section 13.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Charles Fleming, former President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), pled guilty to a one count Bill of Information for making false entries in union records. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 16, 2011, in Polk County, Minnesota Circuit Court, a complaint was filed against Michelle Jean Nelson, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7272 (located in Erskine, Minn.), charging her with felony theft by false representation between $1,000 and $5,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(3) and 609.52.3(3)(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 16, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging two former officers of Steelworkers Local 982 (located in Wapakaneta, Ohio), with embezzlement of union funds.  The information charges former President Stacy Sacks with embezzling $7,739.76 in union funds as well falsifying union records.  Additionally, former Vice President Tim Fisher was charged with one count of embezzling $4,858.21.  Finally, both former officers were charged together with purchasing a 42” flat screen television and home theater system for their personal use, valued at $1,520.77.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Oscar Gatewood, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to three years probation with the first six months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,666.61 and a $25 special assessment.  On October 25, 2010, Gatewood pled guilty to one count of concealing union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.  

On March 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Donald Kister, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,137.35 between August 2006 and October 2007.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stanley Barringer, former Vice President and Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3707 (located in Chicopee, Mass.), was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.  In November 2010, Barringer pled guilty to one count of concealing a material fact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  Before pleading guilty, Barringer made restitution in the amount of $22,180.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office. 

On March 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mark A. Winston, former President of Laborers Local 509 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,057.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Leonard Leibowitz, former attorney for the Independent Artists of America (IAA), a union representing ballet dancers in Manhattan, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $350,000 and filing false reports with DOL.  On March 14, 2011, Leibowitz self-surrendered.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office. 

On March 3, 2011, in the Green Lake County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, a complaint was filed against Nancy Kumbier, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1144 (located in Berlin, Wis.), charging her with Theft in a Business Setting (between $2,500 and $5,000), in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf).  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata, Fund Administrator for United Craft and Industrial Workers Union Local 91 (a union that represents school bus drivers and matrons in New York City), was sentenced to 33 months in prison, two years supervised release, and was ordered to pay $250,000 in forfeiture and restitution.  On February 26, 2010, Annunziata was indicted for extorting cash payments from union employers totaling at least $500,000.  Annunziata further received tens of thousands of dollars from a union employer who placed money into a bank account controlled by Annunziata which Annunziata then used for personal expenses by utilizing a false identity and forged signatures.  On July 29, 2010, Annunziata pled guilty to 18 U.S.C. 1951.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Western Division), Ellsworth Williamson, former President of Steelworkers Local 1967 (located in Hamilton, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,293 and a $25 assessment.  On December 7, 2010, Williamson pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 2, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas, Peggy Bolen, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 898 (located in Redfield, Ark.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,541, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On March 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Terri Dunkelberger, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1356 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was indicted on three counts of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $4,148.98.  On June 3, 2010, Dunkelberger was also indicted for one count of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $24,148.98.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and Milwaukee District Office.

On March 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging William Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), with willfully failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others resulting in him receiving $3,656.02 in union funds to which he was not entitled.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.


On February 28, 2011, in the Syracuse City Court, Delores Jennings, former President of the now terminated CWA Local 81321 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), pled guilty to falsification of business records in the second degree.  Jennings was previously charged with Grand Larceny in the fourth degree and falsifying business records in the first degree in the same court on October 18, 2010.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation conducted by the Syracuse City Police and the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Sylvester Knight, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 2154 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in the union’s financial records.  On January 21, 2011, an information was filed charging Knight with the same crime.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 25, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin, Shari Birch, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1760-A (located in Superior, Wis.), pled guilty to count one of a 21-count indictment and admitted to embezzling $16,734.54 from AFSCME Local 1760-A.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior, Wisconsin Police Department.

On February 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Freida Carter-London, former office manager of Carpenters Local 1421 (located in Arlington, Tex.), was sentenced to 60 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution of $99,178 (due by the end of her probation).  On November 12, 2010, Carter-London pled guilty to embezzling $99,178 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 25, 2011, in the Guernsey County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Kandy Dunfee, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 3020 (located in Cambridge, Ohio), was sentenced to 11 months incarceration with each count running concurrently (suspended), placed on supervised release for three years, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $1,074.60.  On January 14, 2011, Dunfee pled guilty to one count of theft and one count of forgery.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 24, 2011, in the United States District Court, District of Maine, Bernadette Beal, former President of Teachers Local 5073, the Downeast Federation of Healthcare Professionals (located in Millbridge, Maine), was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and two years supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $24,131.32.  On August 27, 2010, Beal pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $25,536.91, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office. 

On February 23, 2011, in the United States District Court of Oregon, Charles Owens, former Financial Secretary for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2791 (located in Scio, Ore.), pled guilty to a one-count information for failing to maintain union records in an effort to conceal the embezzlement of union funds totaling $65,791.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 22, 2011, in the Magistrate Court for the State of New Mexico, a criminal complaint was filed against Kasey L. McCalmon, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1509 (located in Silver City, N.M.), for the crime of embezzlement in the amount of $5,330.24.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 16, 2011, in the Worcester County Massachusetts District Court, Stephen Andros, President of Steelworkers Local 2936 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was charged in a five-count criminal complaint with larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 266, Section 30, totaling $18,751.84.  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Deidra Lucas, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to time already served (one day) and three years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and pay restitution of $39,403 and a $100 special assessment.  On October 14, 2010, Lucas pled guilty to one count of embezzling $5,283.20 of union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. 

On February 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Frank Kmiec, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) Local 2857 (located in Genoa City, Wis.), was sentenced to one year probation with the first six months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring.  He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $25.  On November 22, 2010, Kmiec pled guilty to making false entries in the local’s cash record book, check register, and quarterly audit reports thereby misrepresenting the balance of the local’s bank account.  In pleading guilty, Kmiec admitted to embezzling approximately $19,461.39 in Local 2857 funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jose L. Caraballo-Figueroa, former President of Sindicato Obreros Unidos del Sur (SOUS) (located in Salinas, P.R.), pled guilty to embezzling in excess of $400,000 from SOUS under the guise of receiving medical reimbursements, payments for services rendered, and payment for meals and car expenses.  A sentencing date has not been scheduled.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office.

On February 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $174,891, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of filing a false financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joan Boucher, former Treasurer of Staff Union Local 399 (located in Montebello, Calif.), was sentenced to five years probation, including six months of home detention, for embezzling union funds.  Boucher was also ordered to pay full restitution of $26,990 and the cost of an electronic monitoring bracelet.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On February 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mechelle Busse (aka Mechelle Singleton), former office manager for United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 568 (located in Gulfport, Miss.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds between June 2005 and December 2007, in an amount ranging from $76,000 to $110,117.69.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. 

On February 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Kevin T. Hunt, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 198 (located in Peoria, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation.  He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a $25 special assessment.  On October 26, 2010, Hunt pled guilty to a one-count information for filing a false LM report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Karl L. Youngerman, former President of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), was sentenced to five years probation for conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of $18,218.91 and was ordered to pay restitution for the same amount to the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. On November 5, 2010, Youngerman pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle funds from a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.


On January 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Elizabeth George, the former Recording Secretary and Disaster Relief Benefits Committee Member of Steelworkers Local 9336 (located in Radford, Va.), was sentenced to time served in prison of five months and four days and three years probation. She was also ordered to pay $4,275.56 in restitution and a $125 court assessment. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Andrew Blackmon, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,055.78 and a $25 special assessment. Blackmon previously made restitution in the amount of $510. On July 20, 2010, Blackmon pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On January 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Southern Division, Max Messamore, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 2039 (located in Somerset, Ky.), was charged with embezzling union funds totaling $2,293.77. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, James Q. Hunter, former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1542 (located in Newark, Del.), was charged in a one-count information with making a false entry in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 439(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 21, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed charging Sylvester Knight, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 2154 (located in Chicago, Ill.), with making false entries in the union’s financial records in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 790C (located in Lena, Miss.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds between November 2002 and March 2006 in the amount of $6,943.15. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 20, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Rob Rybak, former Business Manager for Plumbers Local 55 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to 27 months incarceration followed by two years supervised release.  He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay a $500 special assessment.  On October 26, 2010, Rybak pled guilty to embezzlement from a labor union, embezzlement from an employee benefit fund, conspiracy to obstruct justice, Hobbs Act conspiracy, and tampering with a witness.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Donna Cooper, former Business Manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 888 (located in Tahlequah, Okla.), was sentenced to five months incarceration followed by 36 months of supervised release, with the first five months as home detention.  Cooper was ordered to pay over $59,000 in restitution.  On July 15, 2010, Cooper pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $69,322.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On January 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed charging April Franklin, former office secretary of Plumbers Local 333 (located in Lansing, Mich.) and former bookkeeper for Local 333's Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund, with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $40,886 and one count of theft from an employee benefit plan totaling $234,331.33.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 12, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jesse Daniels, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 7-1011S (located in East Chicago, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $19,500.   The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.  

On January 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, James Drury, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3121 (located in Hialeah, Fla.), pled guilty to a one-charge information for embezzling union funds between December 2005 and March 2009 in the amount of $306,757.53.  Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2011.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office (Atlanta District Office) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, an information was filed against Heather Hill, former office secretary of Iron Workers Local 321 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), charging her with embezzling and willfully converting employee welfare benefit plan funds to her own use, in violation of  18 U.S.C. 664.  Hill pled guilty to a loss of $59,653.12.  The information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. 

On January 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Garold Lawson, Sr., former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 14-139 (located in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of union funds in an aggregate amount of more than $50,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Lawson pled guilty to the charge. The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 5, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Wayne Mitchell, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14170 (located in New York, N.Y.), the union representing mail room employees in the New York newspaper industry, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Mitchell was also ordered to pay restitution of $373,555.  The sentencing brings to a conclusion an investigation in which the trustee, Larry DeAngelis, who was appointed to manage the union’s financial affairs in the aftermath of this embezzlement, was also convicted in a scheme to fraudulently obtain reimbursement for expenses that he, in fact, did not incur.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On January 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Amar Ali, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Sub-Lodge 695 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to a one count information for failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 439(a)(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

 

 

Last Updated: 2-15-12