On May 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Steve Pfeiffer, former Secretary/Treasurer of IATSE Local 60 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. (CWA) Local 88667 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), was sentenced to 5 years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,001.86 and a special assessment of $100. On June 8, 2009, George Ortiz, a former New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspector, was sentenced to two and a half years incarceration to be followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution of $5,000. On August 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael R. Rhoades, former Secretary Treasurer of the Communications Workers Local 88667 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds. On February 25, 2009, Stefanik was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,808.29 between February 2004 and November 2007. Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday his office filed charges against Hernandez and her husband, Jose Moscoso, on Oct. 4. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. Getzen had previously made restitution in the amount of $7,012. Its just access to money., He added, "These people view themselves as overworked and underpaid. And law enforcement warned of a growing trend at the time. He said the team has implemented as many safeguards as possible, with multiple signatures required on all financial paperwork with real-time bank account reviews. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. On April 9, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Robert L. Carr, Business Manager of Plumbers Local 228 (located in Yuba City, Calif.), and his wife Theresa A. Carr, were charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and the embezzlement of over $45,000 in union funds, from at least January 2000 through March 2007. Watson is alleged to have made personal charges totaling $1,759 on the union credit card. On March 25, 2009, Dallas pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. On April 28, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christine S. Throckmorton, former office secretary/bookkeeper for Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees Local 57 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,674.95. While the vast majority of union officials do their work diligently and without incident, OLMS will continue to work with unions to hold accountable anyone that unlawfully exploits their union position to enrich themselves without regard to the best interests of union members, said Office of Labor-Management Standards District Director Michelle Hussar in Dallas, Texas. Drawdy agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,900. 2300 Ann Walters, headmaster at Union Academy Charter School for the past six years, spoke at the school's Class of 2019 graduation ceremony on Thursday night, but the next day she The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office. The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office. On June 30, 2009, Tidwell had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount and one count of forfeiture. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the U.S. ), was charged with one count of larceny over $250, relating to the taking of union funds in the amount of $24,795.The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the Massachusetts State Police. Also, in addition to previously paying $5,057, Decker was also ordered to pay an additional $5,684 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Usually, its the treasurer, bookkeeper or president actions that come to light. On September 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Don C. Padgett, former secretary treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1304 (located in Greenville, Ill.), was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of mail fraud relating to an embezzlement of $185,042. The case follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office. On October 29, 2009, in the County Court of Hale County, Texas, Rudy Villa Jr., former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2771 (located in Plainview, Texas), was indicted on felony theft charges. On May 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Wendy Bentzen, former information/financial manager for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 72 (located in Jefferson City, Mo. UAW Local Official Accused of Embezzling $2M, Using Union Debit Card at Greektown. Theplea and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A former executive director of the Hawaii Painting & Decorating Contractors Association pleaded guilty in May 2016 to embezzling approximately $1,483,800 from the Hawaii Painters Trade Promotion & Charity Fund, which comes out of the hourly wages of Painters District Council 50 in Honolulu. Clark was then sentenced to three years probation and six months home confinement, and ordered to pay full restitution, a $2000 fine and a $125 special assessment. The final of four charged in connection with the theft of $200,000 from a bank in Houston and allegedly transferred to New York has turned herself in to authorities, A 38-year-old resident of Richmond has been charged for operating as a money mule as part of her involvement in a nationwide romance fraud scheme, A 61-year-old man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of money laundering as well as conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud, Southern District of Texas On May 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Joseph Michael Johnson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Union Lodge 687 (located in Charleston Heights, S.C.), was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment, three years supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 fine. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quincy L. Ollison is prosecuting the case. In this case, two contractors were given prison time and restitution fines. ), was sentenced to five years probation, with a special condition of home detention for the first six months, and ordered to pay restitution of $16,228.38 and a special assessment of $100. On October 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Norman Joseph Stefanik, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1450 (located in Watertown, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year and one day imprisonment and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $46,013. The Detroit Free Press report said individual cases compiled by the OLMS last year cite theft and fraud ranging from $1,051 to a staggering $6.5 million. Embezzlement is an action where a person takes in money for a business or other entity, and instead of putting it into the correct account, keeps it for themselves. My office will continue to work with the Office of Labor-Management Standards to ensure corrupt union leaders like Burkhart are held accountable for their crimes.. ), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,731.54. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. We have also at times withstood investigations that have tested our goodwill," he said. If I would mail my dues to her, my receipt would come back with a little note saying she hoped all is good and maybe it had stickers on it. ), was sentenced to five years of probation, which included six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,085.56 for the charge of embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. Now hes in prison, said Michael Galetti, a carpenterwho works in Detroit. It oversees more than a dozen local unions representing state workers, education workers, healthcare workers and others. On August 26, 2008, Simpson was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. ), with one count of larceny over $250 for embezzling $7,696 from the two locals. On April 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Norma Fanning, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 503 (located in Ogdensburg, N.Y.) pled guilty to falsifying union records by submitting $6,342.15 in fraudulent expense claims. On September 28, 2009, Pawlowski pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. On December 11, 2009, in the Criminal District Court Number 6, Dallas County, Texas, Bobby Earl Williams, former President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1635 (formerly located in Dallas, Texas), pled guilty to check forgery. On August 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Herman Peoples, former Financial Secretary of Security Police and Fire Professionals, Ind. On August 10, 2009, Tungett was charged in an information with one count of destruction of union records. The Maddalones pled guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion for their participation in a scheme, along with other union officials, to use their union positions and the fear of economic harm to obtain cash bribes from employers. On January 5, 2009, Johnson had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $102,519. Federal prosecutors say UAW leader Vance Pearson conspired with other union officials to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars in union money. On October 22, 2008, Huss pled guilty to two counts of falsification of union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMSNew OrleansDistrict Office. Any negative publicity is a tremendous blow to a union. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Like Jimmy the Bull, the crimes dont stop with On November 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200. On May 13, 2009, Pfeiffer pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. On February 17, 2009, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Larry Ramsey, former secretary-treasurer of the Representatives and Organizers Union (located in St. Louisville, Ohio), with embezzling $163,222. Embezzlement plagues union offices around U.S., records show On August 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Alejandro Stephens, former President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was charged in an information with three counts of mail fraud and filing a false tax return. On March 24, 2009, in the District Court of Brockton, Massachusetts, Susan Elliott, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1162 (located in Brockton, Mass. An audit revealed Garza paid three checks totaling approximately $252,757 to Hot Rod Systems before it completed any work. On September 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tarris D. Dallas, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-415 (located in Fernandina Beach, Fla.), was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $104,713.45 and pay a special court fee of $100. On August 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Terry Hacker, former Secretary-Treasurer of Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 12 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $38,146. (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of willful concealment and destruction of required union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office. The plea and sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. Assistant U.S. The sentencing follows an investigation by div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} Bokaiyan, 58, Houston, had also pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and was ordered to pay $156,595 in restitution. Jones was sentenced to one year probation. 2021 Criminal Enforcement Actions | U.S. Department of Labor The admission follows an investigation bythe OLMS Boston District Office and the Massachusetts State Police. On November 3, 2009, in the Village of Ilion (New York) Court, Raymond Watson, former Financial Secretary of Mine Workers Local 717 (located in Ilion, N.Y.), was charged with grand larceny. No trial dates havebeen set. If so, you need a seasoned attorney in your corner. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. On February 5, 2009, Harris had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. On October 31, 2008, Novak pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,780.89 which he repaid prior to sentencing. The defendant is now a convicted felon and will pay back Steelworkers Local 145 for the funds he embezzled. HOUSTON The former superintendent of Houston Gateway Academy has been ordered to federal prison after taking more than a million dollars, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. In the other multimillion-dollar case, charges were filed on Jan. 9, 2017, againsta former UAW president in New Jersey accused of hatching a scheme with a health insurance broker tosteal $1 million from the unions self-insured health planand defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of approximately $5.5million. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI. On August 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Linda Tickle, former employee of Machinist Local 56 and Machinists Local 1458 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $30,173.27. Just to clarify, that is restitution of more than $102 million. Union Academy is in great shape and poised to continue down the path of excellence. /*-->*/. Dr. Ann Walters, headmaster at - The Enquirer-Journal | Facebook His trial is scheduled for March 19. Fonti was then sentenced to two years supervised probation and fined $1,000. The founder of Prim Capital Corp., who managed as much as $250 million for the National Basketball Players Association, was sentenced in June 2014 to 18 months in prison for trying to defraud the union of $3 million. Brown was then sentenced to three years probation and 30 days of electronic home monitoring and ordered to make restitution in an amount yet to be determined. According to an investigation by the Detroit Free Press, federal records reveal embezzling from union offices is endemic around the country. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. We are upset and outraged with this notification (the day after school ends). The criminal charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Frequently, money goes to buy luxury items. On December 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Kathleen Fonti, former President of Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) Local 5030 (located in Emerson, N.J.), pled guilty to one count of receipt of improper loans from a labor organization. They allegedly owe the state more than $140,000 and could face state prison time. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. On August 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.
