California Union Official Pleads Guilty To Destroying and Concealing Financial Records

While acting as the Financial Secretary for a Long Beach United Steelworkers, Tatia Clark destroyed union financial records.

According to a Long Beach Post article, “Dutton and Clark were charged in July 2016 in a four-count felony indictment, which alleged conspiracy, aiding and abetting, embezzlement, and concealment of records, followed by an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.â€

Tatia Clark’s name does not appear on a US DOL union financial disclosure form (Form LM-2) after the United Steelworkers (USW) union’s 2010 filed disclosure report.  (Click here to download the USW 2801’s LM-2 reports for 2009-2018.) Clark reported earning about $20,000 per year from her part time activities for the union.  Both Clark and union president Joan R. Dutton signed the 2009 Form LM-2.

Indicating that the union was likely put in trusteeship, International USW President Leo W. Gerard and Secretary-Treasurer Stanley W. Johnson signed the 2010, 2011, and 2012 USW 2801’s LM-2 reports. 

No officers were listed on the USW 2801’s LM-2 reports for the years 2011-2012.  The 2011 LM-2 indicated that at least a $51,689 loss or shortage of funds; and the previous year, the 2010 LM-2 disclosed a $41,615 similar loss. 

USDOL Official Notice:  On June 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Tatia Clark, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2801 (located in Long Beach, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of withholding and destruction of labor records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Clark was then sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.