Veterans Affairs Union AFGE 331 Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Annette Jones, while serving as Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), embezzled at least $82,180 from the union by writing checks to herself, forging the signature of other union officers on 355 checks, and making personal purchases with the union credit card.

She recently pleaded guilty following an investigation by U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In August 2010, Jones was appointed AFGE 331 Union Treasurer and remained Treasurer until 2015.

While the Treasurer position does not provide a salary from the union’s coffers, it did provide Jones allowances of up to $8,000 a year.  In addition, the union did not specify on its LM report if Jones’ union time was paid for by U.S. taxpayers under the Veteran’s Administration’s program that pay union officials to do union work while being paid by the VA.

In 2017, AFGE 331 reported that it had 770 members.  Click here to download a zip file of the union’s 2010-2017 filed USDOL financial reports.

Fortunately, because federal employees have the Right To Work, members can end their membership in AFGE Local 331 or other unions representing federal employees without fear of reprisal or loss of their job.