U.S. DOL Criminal and Civil Enforcement Actions

 

On October 5, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Fred T. Lee, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 4071 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to one day of imprisonment (time served) and one year of supervised release. Lee was also ordered to pay $126,872 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On April 10, 2023, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for embezzling $126,872 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On October 5, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Tamlyn Leigh Ulin-Gilson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1273 (located in Boise, Idaho), was charged with one count of wire fraud for embezzling over $42,674 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. Ulin-Gilson then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 27, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Felix Luciano, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2805 (located in San Diego, Calif.), was sentenced to four months in prison. Luciano was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Luciano previously made restitution in the amount of $36,000. On June 15, 2023, Luciano pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On September 26, 2023, in the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Eric Baxter, President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4385 (located in New Philadelphia, Ohio), pleaded guilty to petty theft in the first degree, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(B)(2). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 26, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, Denise Kovacs, former bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 803 (located in Orlando, Fla.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $304,903. On February 23, 2023, Kovacs pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On September 25, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Carlos Sanchez-Ortiz, President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), Puerto Rico ILA Council President, and ILA International Vice President pleaded guilty to labor racketeering (RICO Act), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On September 25, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jorge Batista-Maldonado, a Puerto Rico Ports Authority employee, pleaded guilty to labor racketeering (RICO Act), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On September 25, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Victor Torres-Barroso, member of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully convert funds and falsify records in an employee benefits plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On September 25, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Carlos Hernandez-Laguer, member of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully convert funds and falsify records in an employee benefits plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On September 20, 2023, in the Court of Montgomery County, Texas, Johnny Craig Alston, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 139 (located in Caldwell, Tex.), was charged with tampering with governmental records, in violation of Texas Penal Code 37.10(a)(1)(2). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 20, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Brian Gerald, former Financial Secretary of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-189 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and 60 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $112,594 in restitution ($60,000 due within 60 days of the judgment) and a $100 special assessment. On April 24, 2023, Gerald pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 20, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Brock A. Willson, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary of Roofers Local 182 (located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa), was indicted for four counts of bank fraud and six counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 13, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Western Division, Erin Allen, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9-1384 (located in Summit, Miss.), was charged with embezzling $5,901 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 6, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Frank Loconte, former President of NER Construction Management Corporation, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and failure to pay taxes, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341 and 26 U.S.C. 7202. NER is a Wilmington-based construction company that employed union workers, including members of Bricklayers Local 3 and various local unions affiliated with the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council. From approximately January 2014 and May 2022, Loconte engaged in a scheme to defraud the union benefit funds and the IRS by paying certain of its union workers for overtime hours worked without reporting these hours to the union benefit funds and without making the required payroll tax withholdings and payments. The guilty plea follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 6, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Andrea Anderson, former employee of the Brotherhood of Shoe and Allied Craftsmen (located in Lakeville, Mass.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization in the approximate amount of $39,169, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 21, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jose A. Fernandez-Cruz, member of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert funds and falsify the records of an ILA 1740 benefit fund, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 16, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pastrana-Gonzalez, member of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), pleaded guilty to labor racketeering (RICO Act), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 16, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Iara I. Clemente-Rivera, member of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 (located in San Juan, P.R.), pleaded guilty to labor racketeering (RICO Act), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 10, 2023, in the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, Vanessa Brown, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3570 (located in Helena, Mont.), was charged in a two-count information with theft and deceptive practices, in violation of MCA Section 45-6-301(1) and Section 45-6- 317(1). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 9, 2023, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Patrick Doherty, former plan administrator for Ironworkers Local 580 (located in New York, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to one count of grand larceny in the third degree, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.35. Doherty was then sentenced to three years of conditional release. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $24,131. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 2, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Byron Clemons, Sr., former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 124 (located in Alton, Ill.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $202,100 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On April 11, 2023, Clemons pleaded guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 2, 2023, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, Wareham District Court, Brian Simmons, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 18 (located in Middleboro, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts and was sentenced for one count of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, 30. A continuance without a finding was issued on condition of three months of supervised release and payment of $902 in restitution. Simmons previously made restitution in the amount of $1,209. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 1, 2023, in the State of Montana County Court for Yellowstone County, Larry Burk, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 327 (located in Billings, Mont.), pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft/embezzlement, in violation of MCA 45-6- 301(6)[1]. He was sentenced on the same day and was ordered to pay $6,175 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 1, 2023, in the Steubenville (Ohio) Municipal Court, Cynthia M. Johnston, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2934 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to 180 days in the Jefferson County Jail (suspended) and placed on unsupervised community control for a minimum of one year, not to exceed five years. She was also ordered to pay $772 in restitution and a $500 fine, and to complete 80 hours of community service. On July 13, 2023, Johnston pleaded no contest to a charge of petty theft, in violation of Steubenville Codified Ordinance 545.05A1. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 26, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Phelton Woods, former Treasurer of the Columbus School Employees Association (CSEA), located in Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud for embezzling $60,685 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 20, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Brian Ahakuelo, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to 140 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Ahakuelo also was ordered to pay restitution of $209,391, forfeiture judgment of $60,212, and a special assessment of $6,800. On November 21, 2022, following a 16-day jury trial, Ahakuelo was found guilty of 42 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of embezzlement of union funds, 19 counts of money laundering, and 1 count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 1957, and 18 U.S.C. 371. He and his wife, Marilyn Ahakuelo, the former IBEW Local 1260 community services director, along with four union employees, were found guilty of rigging a vote to increase membership dues after largely depleting the union’s coffers. The fraudulent election caused members to pay an additional $3.7 million in dues over 18 months. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On July 18, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Jacob Wilkins, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1836 (located in Scottsbluff, Neb.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $23,698 and two counts of false records and destruction of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On July 17, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Benton Ryals, Jr., former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1437 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of probation. He also was ordered to pay $32,936 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On October 3, 2022, Ryals pleaded guilty to one count of false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 14, 2023, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Charles Farris, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3975, New Castle Federation of Teachers (located in New Castle, Pa.), pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking-movable property, in violation of Pennsylvania Criminal Code 3921A. He was then sentenced to four years of probation and was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office.

On July 13, 2023, in the Steubenville (Ohio) Municipal Court, Cynthia M. Johnston, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2934 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded no contest to a charge of petty theft, in violation of Steubenville Codified Ordinance 545.05A1. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 27, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ray La Vondie Williams, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-2140S (located in Birmingham, Ala.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $68,325, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On June 22, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wilbert Barnes, former Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1362 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was sentenced to two years of probation. On March 16, 2023, Barnes pleaded guilty to one count of false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 20, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Daniel Easterling, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 563 (located in Gardendale, Ala.), was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $9,796 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. Prior to sentencing, Easterling made restitution of $43,285. On February 21, 2023, Easterling pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 15, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Felix Luciano, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2805 (located in San Diego, Calif), pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On June 12, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Lisa Bennett, former Business Agent/Secretary Treasurer of Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 204 (located in Pascagoula, Miss.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $33,236 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 12, 2023, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky 46th Judicial Circuit, Division II, Meade Circuit Court, Kari Shelman, former Treasurer of Guards Local 15 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition of property for embezzling $7,842 in union funds, in violation of KRS 514.030. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 6, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, Brent Toppert, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 238 (located in Morrison, Ill.), was sentenced to five months in prison followed by six months of home detention and two years of supervised release. Toppert was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Toppert made full restitution of $55,140 before sentencing. On February 9, 2023, Toppert pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee and Chicago District Offices.

On May 31, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Andra Parker, former Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) Labor Committee (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 30, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kenneth Wynder Jr., former President of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., and Andrew Brown, former LEEBA Benefits Coordinator, were found guilty following a five-day jury trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 1343. Wynder was also convicted of conspiracy to evade federal taxes and federal tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201. The guilty verdicts follow an investigation by OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations.

On May 19, 2023, in the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Eric Baxter, President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4385 (located in New Philadelphia, Ohio), was charged with two counts of theft, both felonies of the fifth degree, of $1,000 or more and less than $7,500, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(1) and 2913.02(B)(2), and 2913.02(A)(3) and 2913.02(B)(2), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On May 11, 2023, in the State of New York County Court for Broome County, Khyle Sherman, former member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 325 (located in Binghamton, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony, in violation of NYS Penal Law Section 155.35. On March 6, 2023, Sherman, was indicted on four counts including grand larceny in the third degree, health care fraud in the third degree, forgery, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.35, 177.15, 170.10, and 170.25, respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston- Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Broome County District Attorney’s Office.

On May 10, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Dawn Munoz, former outside bookkeeper for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1929 (located in El Paso, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in the preparation and presentation of a false return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(2). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 10, 2023, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Patrick Doherty, former plan administrator for Iron Workers Local 580 (located in New York, N.Y.), was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the third degree having a value of over $3,000 and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree having a value of over $3,000, and two counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.35, 165.50, and 175.10, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 10, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Gary F. Fridley II, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8621 (located in Nitro, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 8, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Terry Bean, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2401 (located in Prescott, Ariz.), was sentenced to 60 months of probation. Bean was also ordered to pay $80,351 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 14, 2022, Bean pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 3, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Charles Kimo Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 Longshore Division (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by one of year supervised release. Brown was also ordered to pay a $96,000 fine, $1,425 in forfeiture, and $250 in assessments. On November 1, 2022, Brown was found guilty following a non-jury trial of two counts of embezzling union funds and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office.

On April 28, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Donald Fox, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1836 (located in Scottsbluff, Neb.), pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 25, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Muriel Newman, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2779 (located in Gainesville, Fla.), was charged in a nine-count indictment with eight counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1519, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On April 25, 2023, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Crystal Mathis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1812 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 12 months in prison (all suspended) and three years of supervised probation. Mathis was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $10,782. On February 15, 2023, Mathis pleaded guilty to one count of theft in the first degree for embezzling $11,574 from the union, in violation of 22 D.C. Code Sections 3211 and 3212(a). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 24, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Brian Gerald, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-189 (located in Bogalusa, La.), pleaded guilty to one count embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $143,977, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 20, 2023, in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Doris Johnson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 65 (located in Greenbelt, Md.), was charged with one count of theft having a value of at least $1,500 but less than $25,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code Section 7-104. Johnson was previously charged on April 6, 2023, with one count of embezzlement, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code Section 7-113. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 12, 2023, in the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit, County of Will, State of Illinois, Patrick King, former President of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, Division of International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) Lodge 2401 (located in Cicero, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of continuing financial crimes enterprise, in violation of Illinois Compiled Statutes Chapter 720, Section 5/17-10.6(h). He was then sentenced to two days in jail (credited with one day served) and 24 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $31,383 in restitution and a $1,059 fine. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 11, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, James Darin Boatman, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 (located in Fort Madison, Iowa), was sentenced to two years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $74,231. On November 14, 2022, Boatman pleaded 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 Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 11, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Byron Clemons, Sr., former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 124 (located in Alton, Ill.), was charged in a one-count information with interstate transportation of stolen money totaling $202,100, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314. He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 10 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Fred T. Lee, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 4071 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for embezzling $126,872 from a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On April 10, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), was sentenced to 36 months of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Adcock previously paid $28,213 in restitution. On November 14, 2022, Adcock pleaded guilty to one count of forging a security of an organization affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 7, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Roger Harris, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3048 (located in Lompoc, Calif.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years of supervised release. Harris was also ordered to pay $20,250 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 17, 2020, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration.

On April 6, 2023, in the District Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Doris Johnson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 65 (located in Greenbelt, Md.), was charged with one count of embezzlement, in violation of Section 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 5, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Richard DiArenzo, former Treasurer of Independent Spectrum Workers Union (ISWU), located in Philadelphia, Pa., was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 75 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. On December 28, 2022, DiArenzo pleaded guilty to one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On April 5, 2023, in the Concord District Court, Eric Carbonneau, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R1-32 (located in Bedford, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts and was sentenced for one count of larceny over $1,200, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, 30. A continuance without a finding was issued on condition of one year of probation and payment of $2,984 in restitution. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On March 28, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Marilyn Ahakuelo, former community services director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Ahakuelo was also ordered to pay $7,967 in restitution, a $10,000 fine, $4,692 in forfeiture, and a $4,600 special assessment. On November 21, 2022, Ahakuelo was found guilty following a 16-day jury trial of one count of conspiracy, 42 counts of wire fraud, and three counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. Ahakuelo and her husband, Brian Ahakuelo, former IBEW Local 1260 Business Manager/Financial Secretary, rigged a vote to increase membership dues after largely depleting the union’s coffers. The fraudulent vote caused members to pay an additional $3.7 million in dues over 18 months. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On March 21, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Fred T. Lee, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 4071 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud for embezzling $126,872 from a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On March 16, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wilbert Barnes, former Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1362 (located in Bogalusa, La.), pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas- New Orleans District Office.

On March 14, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Laura Suzanna Wilson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3694 (located in Waddell, Ariz.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $10,019 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On December 14, 2022, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 10, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Attia Little, former property services division operations manager for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), located in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised probation. Little also was ordered to pay $399,450 in restitution. On July 1, 2022, Little pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively, for embezzling $503,600. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 9, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lashawn Denise Richardson, former Secretary Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 777 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. She also was ordered to pay $51,657 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 2, 2022, Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 6, 2023, in the State of New York County Court for Broome County, Khyle Sherman, former member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 325 (located in Binghamton, N.Y.), was indicted on four counts including grand larceny in the third degree, health care fraud in the third degree, forgery, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.35, 177.15, 170.10, and 170.25, respectively. On October 2, 2022, Sherman was previously charged in a criminal complaint with one count grand larceny in the third degree in excess of $3,000, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.35. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Broome County District Attorney’s Office.

On March 6, 2023, in the Montgomery County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Jesse Kehler, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84758 (located in Dayton, Ohio), pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft for embezzling $54,354 in union funds, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(3). Kehler entered the Intervention in Lieu of Conviction program and was ordered to complete one to five years of supervision. He was also ordered to pay $24,359 in restitution and to enter a drug treatment facility. All criminal proceedings are stayed during the period of supervision. The resolution follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Dayton, Ohio Police Department’s Financial Crime Unit.

On March 1, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Robert Henon, a former employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) and a Philadelphia City Councilman, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $207,948 in forfeiture, a $50,000 fine, and a $1,000 assessment. On November 15, 2021, Henon was found guilty following a five-week trial of one count of conspiracy, eight counts of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346, and 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On February 23, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Bradley, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) national union (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 36 months of probation, and 200 hours of community service. Bradley was also ordered to pay restitution of $205,421. On November 7, 2022, Bradley pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 22, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Israel Valdivia, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 2198 (located in Houston, Tex.), was charged with one count of embezzlement in the approximate amount of $85,863, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 22, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Matthew Archer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1325 (formerly located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud for embezzling $91,951 in union funds and filing false LM reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. He was then sentenced to five years of probation and 50 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay $84,462 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. Archer previously paid $9,489 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 17, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Lisa Bennett, former Business Agent/Secretary Treasurer of Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 204 (located in Pascagoula, Miss.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $33,236 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 15, 2023, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Crystal Mathis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1812 (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft in the first degree for embezzling $11,574 from the union, in violation of 22 D.C. Code Sections 3211 and 3212(a). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 14, 2023, in the State of Montana County Court for Yellowstone County, Larry Burk, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 327 (located in Billings, Mont.), was charged with felony theft/embezzlement exceeding $5,000, in violation of MCA 45-6-301(6)[5]. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 14, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Byers, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 287 (located in Ashville, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $45,373 in union funds and one count of falsification of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 9, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, Brent Toppert, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 238 (located in Morrison, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The government contends in the plea agreement that Toppert converted SPFPA money and assets with a total approximate value of $63,713 to his personal use. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee and Chicago District Offices.

On February 7, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Anthony Landin, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6110 (located in Laredo, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 30, 2023, in the Providence Superior Court in Providence, Rhode Island, Dennis Stone, former President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local Lodge 13 (located in North Providence, R.I.), was indicted with three counts of embezzlement over $100, in violation of R.I. General Laws 11-41-3, and six counts of filing a false tax return, in violation of R.I. General Laws 44-30-51(a) and 44-30-94(a)(1). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 30, 2023, in the Providence Superior Court in Providence, Rhode Island, Christopher Petteruti, former Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local Lodge 13 (located in North Providence, R.I.), was indicted with two counts of embezzlement over $100, in violation of R.I. General Laws 11-41-3. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 25, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Crystal Mathis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1812 (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged with one count of theft in the first degree, in violation of D.C. Code 22-3211 and 22-3212(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 18, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Donald Fox, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1836 (located in Scottsbluff, Neb.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $24,620 and four counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 17, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Albert Jennings Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union (TCU) Lodge 6061 (located in Roanoke, Va.), was sentenced to six months in prison, three months of home detention, one year of probation, and 300 hours of community service. Jennings was also ordered to pay a $500 fine. Jennings made full restitution of $39,331 prior to sentencing. On September 29, 2022, Jennings pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 17, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, Brent Toppert, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 238 (located in Morrison, Ill.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee and Chicago District Offices.

On January 10, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Manuel Anaya, former Financial Secretary of United Mine Workers for America (UMWA) Local 3106 (located in Socorro, N.M.), was indicted for 21 counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

 

Last Updated: 11-02-23

On November 30, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Daniel Rose, business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $25 special assessment.

On September 4, 2019, Rose pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On November 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Michael Brittain, former assistant business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $25 special assessment.

On September 6, 2019, Brittain pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On November 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Douglas Kelley, former Secretary Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 7750 (located in Gardendale, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $18,011 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On July 25, 2022, Kelley pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Brian Ahakuelo, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a 16-day jury trial of 1 count of conspiracy, 42 counts of wire fraud, 19 counts of money laundering, and 6 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1957, and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively.

Ahakuelo engaged in a conspiracy to divert union funds and property by hiring family members at inflated salaries (some of whom did little or no actual work for the union) and authorized the use of union funds for personal travel, a vehicle, and dining expenditures.

After largely depleting the union’s coffers, Ahakuelo, with the help of his wife, Marilyn Ahakuelo, and other union employees, rigged a vote to increase membership dues.

The fraudulent election caused members to pay an additional $3.7 million in dues over about 18 months.

The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Marilyn Ahakuelo, former community services director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a 16-day jury trial of 1 count of conspiracy, 42 counts of wire fraud, and 3 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 1343, and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively.

The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), pleaded guilty to one count of forging a security of an organization affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, James Darin Boatman, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 (located in Fort Madison, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $74,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Terry Bean, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2401 (located in Prescott, Ariz.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud resulting in a loss amount of $80,351, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 10, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Matthew Archer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1325 (formerly located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a two-count information with wire fraud for embezzling approximately $82,462 in union funds and filing false LM-3 reports for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 9, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Emmily Jane Henkle, former Treasurer of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 14-8 (located in Topeka, Kans.), was indicted on one count of theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for a total of $3,079, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 7, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Bradley, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) national union (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle $205,421 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 2, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lashawn Denise Richardson, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 777 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On November 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Charles Kimo Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 Longshore Division (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was found guilty following a non-jury trial of two counts of embezzling union funds and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively.

The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On October 27, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to one day in prison and one year of supervised release.

McKale was ordered to pay $92,913 in restitution and a $10,000 fine. On July 11, 2022, McKale pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax return, in violation 26 U.S.C. 7206(2)).

The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On October 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli, Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), was sentenced to 19 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and a $200 assessment. Coli previously paid $300,000 in restitution.

On July 30, 2019, Coli pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206.

The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS.

On October 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, Connie Deal, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

Deal was also ordered to pay $22,982 in restitution. On May 11, 2022, Deal pleaded guilty to one count of making false entries, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On October 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Frank Loconte, former NER Construction Management President, was indicted with four counts of mail fraud, one count of theft from an employee benefit plan, and four counts of false ERISA statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, 664, and 1027, respectively, which resulted in a total loss of $1,094,504 to the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council of the Laborers International Union of North America and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3.

Additionally, Loconte was charged with four counts of failure to collect or pay over taxes totaling $3,096,931, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7202.

The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On October 10, 2022, in the Bexar County Judicial District Court, Jeannette Simmons, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council (located in San Antonio, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication of fiduciary property in the amount greater than $30,000 and less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 6, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wilbert Barnes, former Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1362 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was charged in an information with making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to six months in prison followed by 24 months of probation.

Norris was also ordered to pay $37,007 in restitution. On May 5, 2022, Norris pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 4, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), John DeFalco, former Vice President of Carpenters Local 157 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

He was also ordered to pay $148,213 in restitution as well as $149,735 in forfeiture.

On June 25, 2019, DeFalco and Salvatore Tagliaferro, former President of Carpenters Local 926 (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a New York City District Council of Carpenters Representative, were indicted as co-conspirators on multiple charges for a scheme to sell union “books” or membership cards (union property) in exchange for cash bribes. On October 27, 2020, DeFalco pleaded guilty to conspiracy, conversion of union assets, honest services wire fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, false statements, and distribution of oxycodone, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2; 18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346 and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1512 (b)(1) and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(2)(A) and 2; 18 U.S.C. 1001; and 21 U.S.C. 812, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). In 2021, following a jury trial, Tagliaferro was found guilty of conspiracy, conversion of union assets, and honest services wire fraud, sentenced to five years in prison, and was ordered to pay $145,065 in restitution and $296,400 in forfeiture.

The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Public Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

On September 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division, Albert Jennings, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union (TCU) Lodge 6061 (located in Roanoke, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $39,331 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Bradley, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle $205,421 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Anthony Landin, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6110 (located in Laredo, Tex.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $18,328, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Dusty Diffey, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $33,678 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, David Mason, former President of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $24,398 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Daniel Hinton, former Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 253M (located in Simsboro, La.), was charged in a bill of information with embezzling $4,051 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Jay A. Garnsey, former Financial Secretary of United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local 717 (located in Ilion, N.Y.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $38,173, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). He then pleaded guilty to the charge.

The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Tina Metrolis, former office manager for International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 6 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,946.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 27, 2022, in the Concord District Court in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Eric Carbonneau, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R1-32 (located at the Veterans Center in Bedford, Mass.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of larceny over $1,200, in violation of Massachusetts Law Chapter 266, 30(1).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 23, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Felix Luciano, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2805 (located in San Diego, Calif.), was charged with one count of making false statements and five counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively.

The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On September 21, 2022, in Onondaga County, New York, Willie Green, former President of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 435 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was arrested and charged through a criminal complaint with one count of grand larceny in the second degree in the amount of $101,713, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.40.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the New York State Police.

On September 16, 2022, in the Southern District of Mississippi, Benton Ryals, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1437 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 14, 2022, in the County Court of Buffalo County, Nebraska, Rodney Schuller, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3749 (located in Grand Island, Neb.), was sentenced to 270 days in jail and 24 months of probation.

He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. On April 28, 2022, Schuller pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted theft, in violation of Nebraska Code 28-201 and 28-511.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 14, 2022, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), was sentenced to jail time served, nine months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.

Oldham was also ordered to pay $35,900 in restitution and a $3,000 fine. On April 13, 2022, Oldham pleaded guilty to 26 counts of wire fraud, one count of false statements, and three counts of filing false tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 13, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Richard DiArenzo, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Independent Spectrum Workers Union (ISWU) (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 8, 2022, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, VA), was sentenced to six months of home detention and 24 months of probation, and was fined $4,000.

Jordan had previously paid full restitution of $30,519. On May 11, 2022, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stacy Staples, an associate of a former employee of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle $44,748 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 26, 2022, in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Alabama in Autauga County, Lawrence Ford, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-1978 (located in Milbrook, Ala.), was charged with one count of theft of property in excess of $2,500, in violation of Alabama Code 13A-8-3.

The indictment follows an investigation by the Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Bruno, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation and 80 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a special monetary assessment of $300. Restitution will be determined at a future hearing.

On April 1, 2022, Ortino was found guilty by a jury on three counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements on Form LM-3, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 24, 2022, in the Municipal Court of Franklin County, Ohio, Mary Wolff, former President of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 7 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged with one count of theft valued at $7,500 or more, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.

The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On August 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), was charged with forgery of a security, the falsification of annual financial disclosure reports, and the embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,725, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513, 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco Seattle District Office.

On August 15, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Marie LeClair, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement concurrent with three years of probation.

LeClair was also ordered to pay $29,050 in restitution for items including bonus bucks payments and personal phone and debit card charges.

On June 1, 2022, LeClair pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $3,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General.

On August 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1740 President Carlos C. Sanchez-Ortiz, union members Pedro Pastrana-Gonzalez and Iara I.

Clemente-Rivera, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority employee Jorge I. Batista-Maldonado were indicted with racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. 1951, and 18 U.S.C. 1349, respectively.

In addition, Sanchez-Ortiz, Pastrana-Gonzalez, and Clemente-Rivera were charged with conspiracy to violate the Taft Hartley Act and money laundering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1956(h), respectively.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of $1,184,524 plus other property in connection with the RICO and money laundering charges.

Finally, Pastrana-Gonzalez, Clemente-Rivera and three other union members (Victor F. Torres-Barroso, Jose A. Fernandez- Cruz, and Carlos A. Hernandez-Laguer) were charged with conspiracy to willfully convert funds and falsify records in an employee benefit plan and health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1347, respectively.

The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On August 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Glenn Lovelace, former business manager for Insulators Local 114 (located in Brandon, Miss.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 4, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stacy Staples, an associate of a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor organization for conspiring to embezzle $44,748, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 3, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, Denise Kovacs, former bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 803 (located in Orlando, Fla.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $304,903, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta- Nashville District Office.

On July 26, 2022, in the Niagara Falls City Court for the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to attempted petit larceny, in violation of NYS Penal Code 110-155.25.

He was then sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. Newton previously paid $2,421 in restitution.

The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On July 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Timothy Edmunds, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 412 (located in Warren, Mich.), was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was ordered to pay $1,963,740 in restitution, and a $1,000,000 fine. Edmunds previously paid $260,715 in restitution.

On March 25, 2022, Edmunds pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $2,224,455 in union funds and one count of money laundering, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1957, respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit- Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Douglas Kelley, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 7750 (located in Gardendale, Ala.), was charged with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $18,011 from his union.

He then pleaded guilty to the charge.

The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), was sentenced to one day in jail (with credit for time served) and one year of probation.

Garrow was also ordered to pay a $300 fine and a $25 special assessment fee. She previously paid $6,953 in restitution before the sentencing.

On April 28, 2022, Garrow pleaded guilty to one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 14, 2022, in United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Jesus Jose Mendez, a Woonsocket, Rhode Island businessman and employer/owner of two construction industry companies (one unionized and one non-union) was sentenced to three years of probation, the first 52 weekends to be served in detention.

On April 7, 2022, Mendez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 1343, respectively. Mendez was ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,821,463 to the Internal Revenue Service and $62,730 to the Massachusetts Department of Labor.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On July 12, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Gary F. Fridley II, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 8621 (located in Nitro, WVa.), was indicted on five counts of bank fraud, one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively, for embezzling $19,732 from his union.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(2).

The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Attia Little, former Property Services Division Operations Manager for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.

Little pleaded guilty to embezzling $503,600 from the union by using the union credit card to purchase personal items, to pay several shell companies created by Little and her co-conspirator, to purchase more than $200,000 in gift cards that she used for personal purchases, and booking personal travel costs for family, friends, and associates through the union’s travel booking platform and then keeping the money that they paid to a fake company that she created.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Attia Little, former Property Services Division Operations Manager for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $503,600 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Dorothy Ferguson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2516 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation.

She was also ordered to pay $16,604 in restitution. On March 29, 2022, Ferguson pleaded guilty to one count of theft within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation. Rodgers was also ordered to pay $78,765 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.

On January 26, 2022, Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 27, 2022, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Joshua Fernandes, former Treasurer of the New Bedford Police Union (NBPU) (located in New Bedford, Mass.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, the first six months of which will consist of home confinement.

He was also ordered to pay $47,851 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On October 13, 2021, Fernandes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 16, 2022, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, Wareham District Court, Brian Simmons, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 18 (located in Middleboro, Mass.), was charged with one count of larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c.266, §30(1).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On June 9, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, George Bindas Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1295 (located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and two years of probation.

Bindas was also ordered to pay $219,999 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. On January 21, 2022, Bindas pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds and one count of theft from an employee welfare benefit plan, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 664.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 7, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lashawn Richardson, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 777 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted for wire fraud, using false documents, aggravated identity theft, and criminal forfeiture, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3), 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively.

The indictment notes that Richardson embezzled at least $51,657 as part of her fraudulent scheme.

The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Verdine Day, former Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 344, Detroit Fire Fighters Association (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and 24 months of supervised release.

She was also ordered to pay $220,044 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On December 2, 2021, Day pleaded guilty to bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Donnell Owens, former secretary for the Communications Director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service.

Owens was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $273,745. On October 20, 2021, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Brian Gerald, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-189 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $112,594, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kenneth Vorlob, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 557 (located in Kenosha, Wisc.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Vorlob was also ordered to pay $6,373 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Vorlob previously paid $6,454 in restitution before being sentenced. On February 18, 2022, Vorlob pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $12,827, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On May 16, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2947 (located in Armona, Calif.), was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision.

Crownover was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,463 and a $200 special assessment. On November 10, 2021, Crownover was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial of one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, Connie Deal, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling $30,519, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), located in Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 29, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Donald Snyder, former President of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP), affiliated with National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R2-394 (located in Amherst, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation with the first 12 months as home confinement.

He was ordered to pay $94,649 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On July 20, 2021, Snyder pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office with the assistance of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth Baumgarner, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1147 (located in Grand Haven, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation.

He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Baumgarner previously made restitution totaling $6,600. On January 5, 2022, Baumgarner pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,600, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Phelton Woods, former Treasurer of the Columbus School Employee Association (CSEA), located in Columbus, Ohio, was indicted on 12 counts of bank fraud for approximately $60,685, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2).

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $30,519 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Marie LeClair, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 (located in Boston, Mass.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $3,000 for a scheme to defraud the union and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 2, respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 15, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Whitbeck, former Vice President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 274 (located in Allentown, Pa.), was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision.

Whitbeck was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, $32,600 in forfeiture, and a $2,000 special assessment. On November 3, 2021, Whitbeck pleaded guilty to 10 counts of honest services wire fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1346, and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 14, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Melba Norris, an associate of a former employee of the Service Employees International Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement and one count of one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371.

The criminal information states that Norris was part of a conspiracy to embezzle $503,600 from the union by using the union credit card to pay $60,000 in fraudulent invoices to fraudulent companies and purchasing $204,000 in gift cards for personal use, among other things.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 13, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), pleaded guilty to 26 counts of wire fraud totaling $35,900 for checks written from the union’s bank account, one count of false statements for filing a false LM-3 report, and three counts of filing false tax returns in the amount of $233,970, which resulted in fraudulent refunds totaling $18,237, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On April 7, 2022, in the United States District Court, District of Rhode Island, Jesus Jose Mendez, a Woonsocket, Rhode Island businessman (an employer/owner of two construction industry companies – one unionized and one non-union), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On April 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Peggy Garrow, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3496 (located in Marquette, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of willfully falsifying a labor organization annual report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 1, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Bruno, Calif.), was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial on three counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements (related to the LM-3 report), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), respectively.

The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 30, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Peter Burns, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 5632 (located in Fontana, Calif.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Burns was also ordered to pay $24,619 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.

On August 13, 2021, Burns pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 29, 2022, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Texas, Dorothy Ferguson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2516 (located in El Paso, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 28, 2022, in the Niagara County Court in the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), was charged in a felony complaint with one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree for unauthorized and personal usage of union funds in excess of $1,000, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.30.

The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston- Buffalo District Office with assistance from the Niagara Falls Police Department.

On March 25, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Timothy Edmunds, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 412 (located in Warren, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $2.2 million in union funds and one count of money laundering, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1957, respectively.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 23, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Dawn Munoz, former outside bookkeeper for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1929 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was indicted on four counts of making and subscribing a false return, nine counts of aiding and abetting in the preparation and presentation of a false return, and three counts of bank fraud, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), 26 U.S.C. 7206(2), and 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 22, 2022, in the 404th Judicial District Court of Cameron County, Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections; the sentence was suspended to 10 years of probation.

He was also ordered to pay $6,844 in restitution, a $1,000 fine, and various other court fees. Lastly, he was ordered to submit to random testing for alcohol and/or drugs at the defendant’s expense, to be assessed and/or screened by the Community Supervision and Corrections Department to determine placement in any program and/or caseload deemed necessary by the Texas Risk Assessment System, and to submit to any other programs deemed necessary by the Community Supervision and Corrections Department.

On February 15, 2022, Garza pleaded guilty to felony theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and felony theft enhancement, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(f)(1-3) and 31.03(f), respectively.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 22, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Earl Roberts, former President of Steelworkers Local 2-4 (formally located in Yale, Mich., now disbanded), was sentenced to 30 months of probation including six months of home confinement. Roberts was also ordered to pay $45,916 in restitution and a $300 special assessment.

On November 30, 2021, Roberts pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 18, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Arthur Penn, former Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Defense Protective Service Labor Committee (located in Arlington, Va.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $384,001 in restitution.

On March 25, 2021, Penn pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James Michael Foote, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-137 (located in Manchester, Tenn.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.

Foote was also ordered to pay $86,268 in restitution and a $100 fine. On October 19, 2021, Foote pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 8, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Glenn Lovelace, former business manager for Insulators Local 114 (located in Brandon, Miss.), was indicted with one count of embezzling $12,360 from an employee benefit plan and one count of embezzling $51,350 from a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664 and 29 U.S.C 501(c), respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 8, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Nintay Edwards, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 8-694 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to 12 months of home detention and five years of probation. Edwards was also ordered to pay $66,684 in restitution.

On October 14, 2021, Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $66,684 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 3, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brian Walker, former Vice President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1504 (located in Galveston, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and five years of probation, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

He was also ordered to pay $38,237 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On December 3, 2021, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 1, 2022, in the District Court of Inglewood, California, Vida Sloan, former Treasurer of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 303 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft in the amount of $10,039, in violation of California Penal Code Section 487(A).

Sloan was then sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $10,039 in restitution.

The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

On February 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was sentenced to six months in a home detention program and three years of probation.

He was also ordered to pay $1,078 in restitution and a $400 special assessment. Rooze previously paid $127,943 in restitution.

On August 30, 2021, Rooze pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On February 18, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kenneth Vorlob, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 557 (located in Kenosha, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $12,827, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 15, 2022, in the 404th Judicial District Court of Cameron County, Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and one count of felony theft enhancement, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(f)(1-3) and 31.03(f), respectively.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 2, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Linda Carter Shepherd, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 14637 (located in Hazard, Ky.), was sentenced to three months of home detention and five years of probation.

She was also ordered to pay $39,491 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On June 21, 2021, Shepherd pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 2, 2022, in the State of Connecticut, Superior Court District of Hartford, Carey L. Mallach, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3949, West Hartford Dormitory Supervisors (located in West Hartford, Conn.), was charged in an information with one count of larceny in the second degree for embezzling $17,800 from the union and two counts of forgery in the second degree in connection with his signing and filing two LM-3 reports, both of which contained false financial information, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes 53a-123 and 531-139, respectively.

The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office with assistance from the State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.

On January 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, President of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, George Bindas Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1295 (formerly located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $1,751 and one count of theft from an employee welfare benefit plan in the amount of $18,319, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 664, respectively.

The plea agreement stipulates that $220,000 is a reasonable estimate of the actual and intended loss for both crimes.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 13, 2022, in Michigan’s 16th Circuit Court, Jonathan Suminski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2077 (located on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.), was charged in a one-count felony complaint for embezzling more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, in violation of MCL 750.174(4)(a).

The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 13, 2022, in Michigan’s 16th Circuit Court, Darold Hubbard, former Executive Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2077 (located on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.), was charged in a one-count felony complaint for embezzling more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, in violation of MCL 750.174(4)(a).

The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 5, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth Baumgarner, President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1147 (located in Grand Haven, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $6,600, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).

The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, KaSandra Hall, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 235 (located in Killeen, Tex.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $12,765 in restitution, a $100 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On May 18, 2021, Hall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 17, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US LLC (located in Detroit, Mich.) was sentenced to 36 months of probation, fined $30,000,000, and ordered to pay a $400 special assessment fee. On March 1, 2021, FCA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. FCA knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby it paid and delivered over $3.5 million in money and things of value to officers and employees of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., from 2009 through 2016. The prohibited payments and things of value included the payment of approximately $262,000 to satisfy the outstanding mortgage on the residence of former UAW Vice President General Holiefield; $25,000 for a party for former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell; and over $30,000 in meals for UAW officials at various restaurants in Palm Springs and Southern California. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 13, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Peter Burns, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 5632 (located in Fontana, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $1,137, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 12, 2021, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Texas, Karen Pierce, former office manager of Plumbers Local 142 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $112,759 in restitution. On July 22, 2020, Pierce pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District office.

On August 11, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Brenda Walters, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), was sentenced to 60 months of probation. She was also ordered to pay $95,100 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On March 24, 2021, Walters pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 3, 2021, in the Bexar County Judicial District Court, Jeannette Simmons, former bookkeeper for the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Union (SMART) Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council (SWGCRC), located in San Antonio, Tex., was charged with one count of theft, one count of misapplication of fiduciary property, and one count of forgery in the aggregate amount greater than $30,000 and less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Codes 31.03, 32.45, and 32.21, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Roderick Marvin Bennett, former Chief of Staff for the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), located in Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial of one count of health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347. The guilty verdict is the result of Bennett arranging union employee health plan coverage for his girlfriend, who was never a union employee and not eligible to participate in the plan. Bennett was the LIUNA Chief of Staff for approximately four years until October 2016. The current conviction is in addition to Bennett’s January 2018 guilty plea to three counts of theft from a labor organization stemming from his unauthorized personal purchases – exceeding $150,000 – on his LIUNA-issued credit card. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 22, 2021, in the United States District Court of the Central District of California, Aja Jasmin, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 350-C (located in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), was sentenced to 28 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $185,000 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On October 30, 2020, Jasmin pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 22, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Andrew Brown, Benefits Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud of $500,000 and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

On July 20, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Donald Snyder, former President of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP), affiliated with National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R2-394 (located in Amherst, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $94,649, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office with the assistance of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 19, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Joshua Fernandes, former Treasurer of the New Bedford Police Union (located in New Bedford, Mass.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the amount of $48,630, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 16, 2021, in the State of Connecticut, Superior Court District of Meriden, Adriana Garcia, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-753 (located in Meriden, Conn.), was arrested and charged in an information with one count of larceny in the 3rd degree for embezzling $7,596 from the union, in violation of CGS 53a-124(a)(3). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, State of Connecticut.

On July 16, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Anthony F. Rockman, Secretary Treasurer of Textile Workers Local 1 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), pleaded guilty to a one-count information for obstruction of justice (destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations and bankruptcy), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1519. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 16, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Steven Whittick, former Treasurer of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of false statements to federal investigators, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 1001, respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

On July 15, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Kurt Kittleson, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 151D (located in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. Prior to sentencing, Kittleson paid restitution in the amount of $19,800. On April 22, 2021, Kittleson pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in a report required to be filed by a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 8, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Thomas Burkhart, former President of United Steelworkers Local 145 (located in Sapulpa, Okla.), was sentenced to 36 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $19,900 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On April 8, 2021, Burkhart pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 7, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, George Bindas Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1295 (located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), was charged with seven counts of theft from an employee benefit plan totaling $77,019 and seven counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $6,598, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664 and 29 U.S.C 501(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 6, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Scott Wilson, former Director of Information and Technology for Operating Engineers Local 3 (located in Alameda, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On July 6, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Vance Pearson, former Regional Director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 5 (formerly located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. Pearson was also ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment fee. On February 7, 2020, Pearson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to use a facility of interstate commerce to aid a racketeering enterprise, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On June 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Rachel Marie Gleason, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1700 (located in Perris, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 28, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Linda Carter Shepherd, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 14637 (located in Hazard, Ky.), pleaded guilty to a one-count information of embezzlement of union funds totaling $39,492, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 23, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Rittenhouse, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1320 (located in Grandville, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Rittenhouse was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $100 special assessment. Rittenhouse previously paid $1,425 in restitution. On March 10, 2021, Rittenhouse pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On June 22, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Yvette Luster, former Treasurer of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 15, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Anthony F. Rockman, Secretary Treasurer of Textile Workers Local 1 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was charged in a one-count information with destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1519. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 10, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gary Jones, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 28 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release. As part of the sentence, Jones was also ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution, a $10,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment fee. Jones was also ordered to forfeit $153,257, a custom-made set of Titleist golf clubs, and various golf clothing and equipment. The $153,257 included $31,000 in cash, $83,613 held in Jones’ “Flower Fund” account, and $38,644 from Jones’ Members in Solidarity account. The Members in Solidarity account was intended for use in internal UAW political campaigns. On June 3, 2020, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle more than $1 million in union funds and use a facility of interstate commerce to aid racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3) and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On June 9, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Nathan Grimes, former correspondence secretary and office manager for Stage and Picture Operators Local 333 (located in Charleston, S.C.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds and wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The charges follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 1, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Scott Wilson, former Information Technology Director for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 3 (located in Alameda, Calif.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of labor organization assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Seattle-San Francisco District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 26, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lorena Becerra, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14904 (located in Long Beach, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in a report required to be filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 26, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was sentenced to six months of electronically monitored home confinement and 24 months of probation. She was also ordered to pay $40,455 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On January 12, 2021, Rogers pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 20, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of the National Staff Organization, Professional Staff Association (located in Plano, Tex.), was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of house arrest, and three years of probation. Weatherford was also ordered to pay $73,949 in restitution. On September 17, 2020, Weatherford pleaded guilty to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 19, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Donald “Gus” Dougherty, owner and operator of Dougherty Electric, Inc., an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to two years in prison. Dougherty was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $358,913 and a $125,000 fine. On January 21, 2021, Dougherty pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing to false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)) and one count of theft from employee benefit plans (18 U.S.C. 664). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On May 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Connie Deal, former office manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), was charged in a two-count information with making a false statement in a report required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor and making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b) and 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, KaSandra Hall, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 235 (located in Waco, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 11, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Williams, former President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 21 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Williams was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $100 special assessment. Williams also paid over $130,000 in restitution before being sentenced. On September 30, 2020, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On April 28, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Tagliaferro, former President of Carpenters Local 926 (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a former New York City District Council of Carpenters Representative, was found guilty following a five-day trial on all charges relating to a scheme to sell union “books” or membership cards(union property) for cash bribes. Specifically, Tagliaferro was found guilty of conversion of union assets (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1346 and 1343), aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2) both the conversion of union assets and the honest services wire fraud, as well as conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371). The verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Public Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

On April 22, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Kurt Kittleson, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 151D (located in Rancho Palos Verde, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in a report required to be filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 22, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Scott Merritt, former Financial Secretary of Ironworkers Local 470 (located in Jamestown, N.Y.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $50,850, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 21, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Matthew Cuomo, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), was sentenced to three years of probation. He was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On September 30, 2020, Cuomo pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 20, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Jennifer Rogers, former member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was sentenced to six months of electronically monitored home confinement and 24 months of probation. She was also ordered to pay $40,455 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On December 1, 2020, Rogers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 16, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Michael Wood, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3957 (located in Grant, La.), was charged in a bill of information with one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 13, 2021, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Whitbeck, former Vice President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 274 (located in Allentown, Pa.), was indicted on 10 counts of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1346, and 10 counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 13, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Hasan Zahdeh, President of Michigan Union of Healthcare Workers (MUHW), (located in Muskegon, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $140,498, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 8, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Thomas Burkhart, former President of Steelworkers Local 145 (located in Sapulpa, Okla.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $19,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 6, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Trey Huffty, former President of Steelworkers Local 1731 (located in White Hall, Ark.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,368, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Huffty then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mark Douglas, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1101 (located in Arabi, La.), was sentenced to 24 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $7,708 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On September 17, 2019, Douglas pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 25, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Thomas Burkhart, former President of Steelworkers Local 145 (located in Sapulpa, Okla.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $19,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 25, 2021, in Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, Lamar Elliott, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 134 (located in Clinton, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft having a value of at least $1,500 but less than $25,000 and one count of embezzlement, in violation of Sections 7-104 and 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code, respectively, for embezzling $19,806 from the union. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 25, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Arthur Penn, former Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Pentagon Force Protection Agency (located in Arlington, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling $384,000 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 24, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Kenneth Morris, former Treasurer of Teachers Local 2240 (located in Kentfield, Calif.), was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $101,583 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 20, 2019, Morris pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in the amount of $101,583, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On March 24, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Brenda G. Walters, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Muskogee Area Local 7 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $95,100, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Kurt Kittleson, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 151D (located in Rancho Palos Verde, Calif.), was charged in a one-count information with making a false statement in a report required to be filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 12, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was charged in a four-count indictment for embezzling $140,064 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 10, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Rodney Priestley, former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1504-8 (located in Galveston, Tex.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $32,230, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 10, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brian Walker, former Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1504-8 (located in Galveston, Tex.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,001, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 10, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Rittenhouse, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1320 (located in Grandville, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 5, 2021, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Criminal Division, Milton Thomas, former shop chairman of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 890 (located in Morton Grove, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1). He was then sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to avoid contact with UAW Local 890 and Xylem Corporation, to submit to DNA indexing, and to pay a $75 fine. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 3, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Gregory Fiocca, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951(a)), 18 counts of extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951(a), (b)(2)), and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 3, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, John Dougherty, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951(a)), 18 counts of extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951(a), (b)(2)), and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 1, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. FCA knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby it paid and delivered over $3.5 million in money and things of value to officers and employees of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., from 2009 through 2016. The prohibited payments and things of value included the payment of approximately $262,000 to satisfy the outstanding mortgage on the residence of former UAW Vice President General Holiefield, $25,000 for a party for former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, and over $30,000 in meals for UAW officials at various restaurants in Palm Springs and Southern California. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On February 25, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 836 (located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine), was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $57,611 in restitution, a $2,400 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On February 27, 2020, Phillips pleaded guilty to taking and carrying away personal property within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $57,611, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Donald Snyder, former President of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics, affiliated with the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R2-394 (located in Amherst, N.Y.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $94,649, false reports required to be filed by the Secretary of Labor, and false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 439(b), and 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 11, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Aja Jasmin, former President of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 350C (located in Ontario, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, as part of a scheme to defraud and embezzle approximately $190,000 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 11, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation. She was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Connelly previously paid $10,323 in restitution. On September 28, 2020, Connelly pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.

On February 1, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, John Sammons, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1872 (located in Shaw AFB, S.C.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, including six months of home incarceration, and he was ordered to pay a $5,500 fine. Sammons previously paid $17,261 in restitution. On February 28, 2020, Sammons pleaded guilty to one count of theft, in excess of $1,000, within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of confinement and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $61,386 in restitution. On September 16, 2020, Davis pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 28, 2021, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, Dorothy McBride, former President and Fund Administrator of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81427 (located in Montville, N.J.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $100,000 and one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $534,470, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 664, respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 27, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward “Nick” Robinson, former President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Midwest CAP Council (located in Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to one year in prison and one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment. Restitution will be determined at a later date. On March 2, 2020, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle approximately $1,500,000 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP. Robinson also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for failing to report over $1,500,000 in income on the IRS Form 990 returns filed by the UAW and UAW Midwest CAP and for failing to report the income on his Form 1040 tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 27, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), located in Detroit, Mich., was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. FCA was charged with knowingly joining a conspiracy whereby it paid and delivered over $3.5 million in money and things of value to officers and employees of the United Auto Workers (UAW), also located in Detroit, Mich., from 2009 through 2016. The prohibited payments and things of value included the payment of approximately $262,000 to satisfy the outstanding mortgage on the residence of former UAW Vice President General Holiefield, $25,000 for a party for former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, and over $30,000 in meals for UAW officials at various restaurants in Palm Springs and Southern California. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 21, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Donald “Gus” Dougherty, owner and operator of Dougherty Electric, Inc., an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing to false federal income tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), and one count of theft from employee benefit plans, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 12, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), pleaded guilty to count one of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Between July 2016 and August 2017, Rogers’ daughter Jennifer Rogers, former member of AFSCME Local 2254, illegally wrote 111 checks to Linda Rogers and deposited them into their joint checking and savings account. Linda Rogers also wire transferred union funds from the union’s savings account to her personal credit card. The total loss to the union was approximately $40,455. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 12, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Rittenhouse, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1320 (located in Grandville, Mich.), was indicted with one count of embezzlement and one count of false entry in a record required to be kept by a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 6, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged with one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, totaling $80,765, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 5, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, John S. Romero, former President of United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay a $1,400 special assessment. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later hearing. On February 12, 2020, after a six-day trial, a jury found Romero guilty of one count of conspiracy (18. U.S.C. 371), 12 counts of theft of approximately $800,000 in connection with health care (18 U.S.C. 669), and one count of filing a false financial report with the Department of Labor, in which he failed to properly report the existence of more than $100,00 in receipts and disbursements (18 U.S.C. 1001). The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 5, 2021, in the District Court of Inglewood, California, Vida Sloan, former Treasurer of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 303 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was charged with one count of grand theft in the amount of $10,039, in violation of California Penal Code Section 487(A). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

On January 5, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Hasan Zahdeh, President of Michigan Union of Healthcare Workers (MUHW), located in Muskegon, Mich., was indicted for embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), 18 U.S.C. 982(b)(1), and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). On December 11, 2020, a criminal complaint, along with an arrest warrant, was filed against Zahdeh alleging an embezzlement of union funds of at least $15,640. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

---

Source: Quoted verbatim from the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

U.S. DOL 12/17/2020 Update

On December 3, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sarah Geddes Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $294,585 from the union, forging the signature of the union president on checks, and altering information in the union’s accounting software. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 1, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Jennifer Rogers, former member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), pleaded guilty to count one of an indictment charging her with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2. The total loss to the union was approximately $40,455. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371) and three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(2)). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Donald “Gus” Dougherty, owner and operator of Dougherty Electric, Inc., an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371), six counts of making and subscribing to false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)), one count of a false statement to a bank (18 U.S.C. 1014), one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344), 10 counts of false statements – ERISA (18 U.S.C. 1027), and 18 counts of theft from employee benefit plans (18 U.S.C. 664). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 23, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sarah Geddes Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $294,585 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors (GM) Department and former director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 30 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Ashton was also ordered to forfeit $250,000 in proceeds from his crimes and to pay a $200 special assessment. On December 4, 2019, Ashton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)). Ashton knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he and others used their positions with the UAW and CHR to enrich themselves by obtaining a $250,000 loan from a vendor, assisting the same vendor in obtaining a contract from CHR valued at over $3,900,000, and then suggesting that the profits would repay the vendor what was owed on the loan. After the vendor was awarded the contract from the CHR, Ashton demanded at least $250,000 in kickbacks. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On November 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), was sentenced to 12 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and three years of supervised release. Garcia was also ordered to pay $119,021 in restitution and a $100 assessment. On June 23, 2020, Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Michael Johnson, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1658 (located in Pine Bluff, Ark.), was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first six months on a curfew with location monitoring. He was also ordered to pay $9,317 in restitution. On March 6, 2020, Johnson pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Arthur Penn, former chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police Defense Protective Service Labor Committee (located in Arlington, Va.), was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud for embezzling $384,001 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the FBI.

On November 5, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation on each of the two counts in the indictment (probation to run concurrently) and 60 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $125 special assessment. The court acknowledged that Dye previously paid restitution of $8,490. On July 15, 2020, Dye pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $8,443 and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 5, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, Brenda Wilson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3841 (located in Columbia, S.C.), was indicted for willfully and knowingly making a false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 (a)(2). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 2, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Tyrone Johnson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3374 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft having a value of at least $100 but less than $1,500 and one count of embezzlement, in violation of Sections 7-104 and 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 2, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Dorothy Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3374 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft having a value of at least $1,500 but less than $25,000 and one count of embezzlement for embezzling $2,206 from the union, in violation of Sections 7-104 and 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Aja Jasmin, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 350C (located in Ontario, Calif.), was charged in a two-count information with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1028(a)(1), respectively, in a scheme to defraud and embezzle approximately $190,000 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 19, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (FOPS) and the former President of the Alliance of Independent Workers (AIW), both located in Owings Mills, Maryland, was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of home detention, and two years of supervised probation for embezzling from both of these unions. King was also ordered to pay $57,328 in restitution. On July 21, 2020, King pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 15, 2020, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, a criminal complaint was filed charging Charles Farris, Jr., former President of the New Castle Federation of Teachers (located in New Castle, Pa.), with one misdemeanor count of theft by unlawful taking – movable property, five felony counts of theft by unlawful taking – movable property, and five felony counts of access device fraud – use is unauthorized for any reason, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 3921(a) and 4106(A1IV), respectively. Farris embezzled approximately $35,887 in federation funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Detective Bureau.

On October 15, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $59,181 in restitution and a $100 assessment. Drain previously paid $50,281 in restitution. On July 13, 2020, Drain pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, KaSandra Hall, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 235 (located in Killeen, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. Hall committed wire fraud as part of her scheme to defraud and embezzle $12,765 in union funds from Council 235. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 13, 2020, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), was indicted with 29 counts of wire fraud totaling $38,970, one count of false statements, and three counts of filing false tax returns in the amount of $233,970, which resulted in fraudulent refunds totaling $18,237, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively. The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 853(p) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On October 10, 2020, in the District Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, Quincy Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police Naval District of Washington Labor Committee (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged with one count of theft more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, in violation of Maryland Code Criminal Law Section 7-104. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Jamie Zambrano and Jose Jesus Mendez, two union employers from Boston, Mass., were indicted on the following charges: one count of conspiracy to defraud, 17 counts of failure to collect and pay over taxes, one count of tax evasion, one count of structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements, and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 26 U.S.C. 7202, 26 U.S.C. 7201, 31 U.S.C. 5324, and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. Zambrano and Mendez conspired to defraud the government by creating two drywall corporations and paying employees cash in order to avoid legal wage rates, IRS payments, and levies. In furtherance of their conspiracy, Zambrano and Mendez used check cashing businesses to cash more than 600 business receipt checks totaling approximately $19 million dollars. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, IRS, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On October 7, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Yvette Luster, former Treasurer of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $184,138, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 2, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Byers previously paid $22,000 in restitution. On June 16, 2020, Byers pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 1, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), was sentenced to 15 months of home incarceration, four years of probation, and 250 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $116,353 in restitution and a $1,200 assessment. On June 25, 2020, Gannon pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and nine counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 513(a), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Matthew Cuomo, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513. Cuomo forged over 50 checks resulting in a $15,000 loss to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Williams, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich.,pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). During the course of the conspiracy, from at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Williams embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $71,500 in union funds, which included accepting a villa in Palm Springs, California in December 2015, 2016, and 2018 that was paid for with UAW funds and $6,000 in golf gift certificates. Throughout the conspiracy, which included many other top UAW officials, including Williams’ successor, Gary Jones, Williams and his co-conspirators embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the UAW for the personal benefit of themselves and other high-ranking UAW officers. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was sentenced to 30 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $50,270 and a $100 assessment. Waldoch previously paid $56,436 in restitution. On June 12, 2020, Waldoch pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $107,707, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Dana Roush, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 403 (located in Spartanburg, S.C.), was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,089. On October 22, 2019, Roush pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.

On September 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Marcus Asay, founder of the American Labor Alliance (ALA), located in Fresno, Calif., was charged in a 19-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 1341, 1349, 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.

On September 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Antonio Gastelum, a former officer of the American Labor Alliance (ALA), located in Fresno, Calif., was charged in a 19-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 1341, 1349, 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.

On September 22, 2020, in the United States District for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James Michael Foote, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-137 (located in Manchester, Tenn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $86,268, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 22, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Misty Fain, former office manager for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of union funds with a value of at least $750 and less than $50,000, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a) and I.C. 35-43-4-2(a)(1)(A). Fain was then sentenced to one year in prison (suspended) and one year of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 16, 2020, in the 337th District Court of Harris County, Texas, Moises Romero, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge 811 (located in Houston, Tex.), pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of misapplication of fiduciary property in the approximate amount of $500 – $1,500, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45. As a condition of Romero’s plea agreement, he previously paid restitution of $21,342. He was then sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication. Romero was also ordered to submit a written letter of apology to the Secretary-Treasurer of Lodge 811. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Travis Cofer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-990 (located in Maryville, Tenn.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Cofer was also ordered to pay $9,608 in restitution and an assessment of $100. Cofer previously paid $2,824 in restitution. On January 23, 2020, Cofer pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 14, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 10, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers of America (USW) Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation including six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay $33,224 in restitution and a fine of $3,000. On June 9, 2020, Arnold pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Rachel Marie Gleason, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1700 (located in Perris, Calif.), was charged by indictment with one count of embezzlement and theft of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kenneth Wynder Jr, former President of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion, false statements to federal agents, and obstruction of a grand jury investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, 371, 1001, 1343, 1512, and 26 U.S.C. 7201. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Steven Whittick, former Treasurer of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion, false statements to federal agents, and obstruction of a grand jury investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, 371, 1001, 1343, 1512, and 26 U.S.C. 7201. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of embezzlement and theft of union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.

On August 27, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation. On May 29, 2020, Iveson pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On August 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Williams, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Michigan, was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). From at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Williams embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $71,500 in union funds, which included accepting a villa in Palm Springs, California in December 2015, 2016, and 2018 that was paid for with UAW funds and accepting $6,000 in golf gift certificates. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On August 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Roger Harris, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3048 (located in Lompoc, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $36,150, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General – Tax Administration.

On August 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), was sentenced to 30 days in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $45,934 in restitution and a $100 assessment. Pilcher previously paid $20,595 in restitution. On May 12, 2020, Pilcher pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 5, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Misty Fain, former office manager for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a three-count information for theft of union funds with a value of at least $750 and less than $50,000, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a) and I.C. 35-43-4-2(a)(1)(A). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), and Jennifer Rogers, former AFSCME Local 2254 member, were charged in a two-count indictment for embezzlement of union funds and conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2 and 371, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), and Jennifer Rogers, former AFSCME Local 2254 member, were charged in a two-count indictment for embezzlement of union funds and conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2 and 371, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 assessment. Ziegler previously paid $5,942 in restitution. On March 20, 2020, Ziegler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 assessment. Ziegler previously paid $5,942 in restitution. On March 20, 2020, Ziegler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Matthew Cuomo, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), was charged in a bill of information with one count of forgery in the amount of $500, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Tony Westly, former Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of probation, which includes six months of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $103,698 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 19, 2019, Westly pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement union funds, in violation of 29 U. S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Karen Pierce, former employee of Plumbers Local 142 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice-President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (located in Great Neck, N.Y.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $55,000 with restitution to be determined by the court. On December 12, 2019, Ulrich pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Beverly Davis, a former employee of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6222 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $85,536. On December 13, 2019, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Evelyn Smith, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6222 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $50,967. On December 13, 2019, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (FOPS), located in Owings Mills, Md., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling from FOPS, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). As part of the guilty plea, King also admitted to embezzling from the Alliance of Independent Workers (AIW), also located in Owings Mills, Md., where King was also president. The total loss from both of these unions was $57,328. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $4,740 restitution. On February 27, 2020, Roland pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On July 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former Comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one day of imprisonment (suspended) and three years of supervised release, which includes one year of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $85,962 in restitution and a $200 assessment. On February 27, 2020, Kurtycz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that the wire fraud charge pertained to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman for United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $8,443, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kenneth Wynder Jr, President of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $529,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Steven Whittick, Treasurer of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2) and 18 U.S.C. 1001, respectively. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Keith Ludlum, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release. Ludlum was ordered to pay $213,201 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. On January 28, 2020, Ludlum pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $213,201 in union funds and one count of conspiracy, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On July 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 124 (located in Channahon, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation. Blake was also ordered to pay $34,159 in restitution ($15,000 due by September 11, 2020) and a $5,000 fine. On December 4, 2019, Blake pleaded 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 Chicago District Office.

On July 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, Evelyn Romero, former President of United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, two years of probation, and she was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a hearing on September 8, 2020. On June 4, 2018, Romero pleaded guilty to conspiracy, embezzlement from a labor organization, and permitting persons convicted of certain crimes to hold office or employment in a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 29 U.S.C. 504(a) and (b), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, Danae Romero, former Trustee of United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to six months of electronic monitoring, two years of probation, and she was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a hearing on September 8, 2020. On March 9, 2017, Romero pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669 2(a). The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and nine counts of forged securities involving $116,353 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (located in Owings Mills, Md.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 23, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Giovinco, was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $135,000 in restitution and $5,000 in forfeiture. On December 3, 2019, following a jury trial, Giovinco was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and extortion conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d) and 18 U.S.C. 1951(a), respectively, including multiple acts impacting United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 1D and 2D (both located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), in connection with the Genovese Organized Crime Family’s control of these locals. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden), Robert Peter, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 526 (located in Blackwood, N.J.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years of probation. Peter was also ordered to pay $34,500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 8, 2019, Peter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 16, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $107,706, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On June 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, John J. Romero Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of the United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to one year of home confinement with electronic monitoring, followed by two years of supervised release. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. On January 17, 2017, Romero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $33,224, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On June 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), was sentenced to one year and one day of incarceration and two years of supervised release. Liesenfeld was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On October 4, 2019, Liesenfeld pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 3, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 3, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gary Jones, former President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and use a facility of interstate commerce to aid racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371. During the course of the conspiracy, from at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Jones embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,000,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On June 2, 2020, in the United States Court for the District of New Mexico, Jessica Pangburn, former office secretary of Operating Engineers Local 953 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to one day of jail (time served), two years of supervised release, and 25 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $69,469. On November 26, 2019, Pangburn pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Eric Childress, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2276 (located in Bluefield, W.Va.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $30,611 and a $25 special assessment. On December 18, 2019, Childress pleaded 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 Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 29, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Michigan, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On May 22, 2020, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor theft, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b). She was then sentenced to five days in jail, one year of probation, and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay $453 in court costs; Woodford previously paid full restitution of $4,065. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On May 14, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, Rhondalyn Cornett, former President of the Indianapolis Education Association (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for embezzling $154,118 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. She was then sentenced to 16 months of incarceration and two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $154,118 and a $100 special assessment. The plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.

On May 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $65,033, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 4, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer for Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $958 and a $100 assessment. Pemberton previously paid $5,444 in restitution. On January 23, 2020, Pemberton pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,403, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 24, 2020, in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Tammy McBride, former administrative assistant for Roofers Local 143 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $13,868, in violation of Oklahoma Statute 21 O.S. 1451. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office and Oklahoma City Police Department.

On March 20, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $5,276, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Judith Barker, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 519 (located in Knoxville, Tenn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $5,400 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On November 7, 2019, Barker pleaded guilty to failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was charged with one count of wire fraud, in the amount of $5,276, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Joshua Greer, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 9-212 (located in Jackson, Tenn.), was charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and intentionally making false statements and representation of material facts in a financial report filed with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b) and (d). Greer was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $116 in remaining restitution and a special assessment of $25. Greer previously paid $2,501 in restitution. The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On March 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Michael Johnson, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1658 (located in Pine Bluff, Ark.), was charged and pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $9,317, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward “Nick” Robinson, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Midwest CAP Council (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds in excess of $1.5 million, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On March 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzling $50,281 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $65,033, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, John Sammons, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1872 (located in Shaw AFB, S.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft, in excess of $1,000, within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A, and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. Kurtycz also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that the wire fraud charge pertained to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gary Jones, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to use a facility of interstate commerce to aid racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371 and 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). From at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Jones embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,000,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP. Jones was also charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for failing to report over $1,000,000 in income on IRS Form 990 returns filed by the UAW and UAW Midwest CAP and for failing to report the income on his Form 1040 tax returns filed with the IRS. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 836 (located in Kittery, Maine), pleaded guilty to one count of stealing from within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the amount of $57,610, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On February 26, 2020, in the Springfield District Court of Massachusetts, Christian Leeds, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1370 (located in Springfield, Mass.), was charged in a one-count criminal complaint for Larceny Over $1,200 by Single Scheme, in the amount of $13,444, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, §30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 26, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Terry Slaughter, former Secretary Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $62,315 in restitution and a $100 fine. The court also ordered his surrender date of April 1, 2020. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On February 25, 2020, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, Moises Romero, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 811 (located in Houston, Texas), was charged in a one-count indictment of misapplication of fiduciary property in the approximate amount of over $20,000 and under $100,000 of union funds, in violation of Texas Statute § 32.45. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 20, 2020, in the United States Central District of California District Court, Tommy Nou, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6602 (located in San Pedro, Calif.), was sentenced to three years of probation, including one month of home detention, and was ordered to pay $1,997 in remaining restitution and a special assessment of $100. Nou previously paid $4,989 in restitution. On October 24, 2019, Nou pleaded guilty to failing to disclose material facts in a financial report filed with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On February 19, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, a former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 28 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Grimes was also ordered to forfeit $1,509,500 in proceeds from his crimes and pay a $200 special assessment. On September 4, 2019, Grimes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 1956(h), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.

On February 18, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison with credit for time served. On June 5, 2018, Love pleaded guilty to one count of theft for stealing $15,548 from the union, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Coleman-Gordon, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1477 and the Texas Postal Workers Union (both located in Tyler, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years of supervised probation, and she was ordered to pay $30,599 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. She previously paid $42,967 in restitution. On November 12, 2019, Coleman-Gordon pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $71,064, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, after a six-day trial, a jury found John S. Romero, former President of United Industrial Services Worker of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement in connection with health care (18 U.S.C. 371), 12 counts of theft or embezzlement of approximately $800,000 in connection with health care (18 U.S.C. 669), and one count of filing a false financial report with the Department of Labor, in which he failed to properly report the existence of more than $100,000 in receipts and disbursements (18 U.S.C. 1001). Romero’s family members, who were co-defendants (son John J. Romero, former UISWA Secretary-Treasurer; daughter Danae Romero, former UISWA Trustee; and ex-wife Evelyn Romero, former UISWA President), each previously pleaded guilty to counts under the indictment and testified at trial on behalf of the government. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On February 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $5,450 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. As a condition of his probation, Young cannot visit a casino establishment during his two year probationary period. On October 23, 2019, Young pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On February 10, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), was sentenced to probation for two years and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,638 and a $100 fine. On September 27, 2019, Pedersen pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 7, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Vance Pearson, former Regional Director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 5 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to use a facility of interstate commerce to aid a racketeering enterprise, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS – Criminal Investigations.

On February 5, 2020, in the Lucas County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court, Aphrodite L. Ueberroth, former office manager for Ironworkers Local 55 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted for aggravated theft of more than $150,000 and less than $750,000, tampering with records (two counts), forgery (six counts), and receiving stolen property of more than $1,000 and less than $7,500, in violation of in violation of Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 2913.02(A)(3) and (B)(2); 2913.42(A)(1), (B)(1) and (B)(4); 2913.31(A)(2) and (C)(1)(a) and (b); and 2913.51(A) and (C), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland Office.

On February 3, 2020, the New Orleans Police Department issued a warrant for Chandra Miller, former Secretary Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 478 (located in New Orleans, La.). Miller was charged with one count of theft over $5,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Nathan Lum, former Longshore Division Director of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay $314,178 in restitution and a $125 special assessment.  On March 28, 2019, Lum pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated identity theft and failure to file income tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1) and 26 U.S.C. 7203, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI.

On January 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Keith Ludlum, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $250,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c), and conspiracy to defraud UFCW Local 1208 by unauthorized payments to friends and families, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigators Office.

On January 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration and ordered to serve two years of probation upon his release.  Moylan was also ordered to pay $130,783 in restitution, a $10,000 fine, and a $400 special assessment fee.  On October 16, 2019, Moylan pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 23, 2020, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer of Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $107,706, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On January 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Trenton), Lawrence Ackerman, former health insurance broker for the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (located in South River, N.J.), was sentenced to six months incarceration, six months home confinement, and two and half years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessment fee.  On March 13, 2020, a hearing is scheduled to determine Ackerman’s restitution amount to the UAW Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (Trust Fund).  On March 20, 2020, Ackerman is scheduled to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons to begin his sentence.  On November 12, 2018, Ackerman pleaded guilty to a superseding information of one count of theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 1347 and 2.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 14, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  She was sentenced to 365 days confinement (suspended) and 365 days of probation, and she was ordered to pay restitution of $18,800.  She was also ordered to attend an anti-conversion class.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

On January 8, 2019, a subject entered into an agreement for deferred prosecution with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for embezzling union funds and filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501 (c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b), respectively.  Under the terms of this agreement, the subject must make restitution in the amount of $1,802 and not hold union office or work for a labor organization for a period of 10 years.  The subject previously made restitution of $2,885.  Due to the confidential nature of the agreement for deferred prosecution, details that could identify the subject are not public information.  The agreement follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On January 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted with one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 6, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was charged with one felony count of possession of a financial device, in violation of Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 750.157P, and one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On January 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Vance Pearson, former Regional Director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 5 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and using a facility of interstate commerce to aid a racketeering enterprise (18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3)).  In June and November 2016, Pearson submitted fraudulent vouchers to the UAW totaling over $32,000 that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On December 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice-President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (located in Great Neck, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 11, 2019, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, John Scarcella, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 125 (located in Middle River, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $10,000 and less than $100,000 for stealing $28,010 from the union, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  Scarcella was then sentenced to 18 months in jail (all suspended) and 36 months of unsupervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $22,760.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2463 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised probation and 300 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay $87,020 in restitution.  On September 12, 2019, Duplessis pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Automobile Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors (GM) Department and director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources from 2010 through 2014 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On December 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, after a six day trial, a jury found Frank Giovinco guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and others were also charged in the same indictment as Giovinco, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.  The verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 3, 2019, in the Fulton Superior Court for the State of Georgia, Andretta Davis, former office secretary of Operatives Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA) Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was charged in an indictment with one count of theft by taking and three counts of forgery, in violation of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 16-8-2 and 16-9-1, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 26, 2019, in United States District Court for the District Of New Mexico, Jessica Pangburn, former office manager for Operating Engineers Local 953 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), waived an indictment and pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 USC 1343. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, the former President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), was charged in a twelve count indictment including three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and nine counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement, two years of probation, and 200 hours of community service.  Carter previously made restitution totaling $9,031.  On August 20, 2019, Carter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,031, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 124, (located in Channahon, Ill.) was charged by information with one count of making a false entry, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Tony Westly, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer of Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA) Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. Sherwood previously paid restitution of $13,002.  On June 10, 2019, Sherwood pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,813. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati- Cleveland District Office.

On November 15, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Steven Arena was sentenced to one year in prison and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $276,500 in forfeiture.On May 31, 2019, Arena pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), who were also charged in the same indictment as Arena, have previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Michael Carney, former facilities and real estate manager for an international labor organization (located in Herndon, Va.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation.  He was also fined $25,000.  Restitution of $23,367 was previously satisfied by another individual.  On May 16, 2019, Carney pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds by conspiring with, among others, the owner of an HVAC and plumbing contracting company, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Popillo, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81266 (located in Newington, Conn.), was sentenced to three years of probation to include six months of home confinement.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,568 and a $100 special assessment.  On August 7, 2019, Popillo pleaded 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 Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On November 6, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors Department and director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR) from 2010 through 2014 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  Ashton knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he and others used their positions with the UAW and CHR to personally enrich themselves by obtaining a $250,000 loan from a vendor.  They then assisted the same vendor in obtaining a contract from CHR valued at over $3,900,000 and suggesting that the profits would repay the vendor what was owed on the loan.  After the vendor was awarded the contract from the CHR, Ashton demanded at least $250,000 in kickbacks.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

 

On October 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward “Nick” Robinson, President of Auto Workers (UAW) Midwest CAP Council, located in Hazelwood, Mo., was charged by information with one count of embezzling union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and conspiracy to embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371).  From at least 2010 and continuing through or about September 2019, Robinson embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,500,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP Council.  Robinson was also charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371) for failing to report over $1,500,000 in income on the IRS Form 990 returns filed by the UAW and UAW Midwest CAP Council and for failing to report the income on his Form 1040 tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On October 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $33,224 and one count of false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 25, 2019, in the 78th District Court of Wichita County, Texas, Terri Rae Coan (Merritt), former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), pleaded guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  Coan was then sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $42,636.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 24, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Deloistine Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 929 (located in West Helena, Ark.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,205.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jeffery Pietrzyk, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On October 18, 2019, in the 30th District Court of Wichita County, Texas, Orville Lynn Merritt, former business manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), pled guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45. Merritt was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $279 in court costs.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Rebecca Hedman, an officer and agent of three medical service providers (located in Chicago, Ill.) was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A.  The conspiracy involved a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3) (Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of a Racketeering Enterprise) when cellphones were used by Hedman and Robert Kurtycz, former comptroller of Workers United, SEIU, Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board, to promote, manage, and carry on, and to facilitate the promotion, management, and carrying on of the unlawful activity, namely commercial bribery, and thereafter did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carrying on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on of the same unlawful activity, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On October 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On October 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local 836 (located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine), was indicted on one count of theft from a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction in excess of $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, Dennis Robertson, former business manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 668 (located in Hooksett, N.H.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $37,897 in restitution.  On June 25, 2019, Robertson pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer of Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was charged in a two-count indictment for embezzling $6,403 in union funds and filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(b), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 4, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former Secretary-Treasurer and President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 2, 2019, in the 78th District Court of Wichita County, Terri Rae Coan (Merritt), former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), was indicted for misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 1, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia- Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 27, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians(ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jeffery Pietrzyk, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)), totaling approximately $123,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mark Douglas, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1101 (located in Arabi, La.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $6,280, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Travis Cofer, former Secretary Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 990 (located in Maryville, Tenn.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement totaling $12,432, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Theodore E. Watson, former business manager for Insulators Local 74 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation.  Watson was also ordered to pay restitution of $125,443.  On April 15, 2019, Watson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of mail fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1341, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 13, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 12, 2019, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk County Superior Court, Juan Evereteze, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3258 (located in Boston, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts and was sentenced on three counts of larceny over $250 by single scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. 266 § 30.  Evereteze was then sentenced to four years of probation under a continuance without a finding, with the first year of probation being supervised.  He was ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution.  The plea and agreement follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2463 (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property for transporting $11,300 of stolen union funds from Washington, D.C. to Virginia to purchase a Dodge Charger for his personal use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The total embezzlement by Duplessis was more than $80,000.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 10, 2019, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 947.01(01).  She was then ordered to pay court costs of $458.  Conway previously paid full restitution of $250.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On September 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Annette Jones, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised probation.  Jones was also ordered to pay restitution of $82,180.  On May 7, 2019, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 6, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1-D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  On March 11, 2019, Cognetta pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On September 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Eric Childress, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2276 (located in Bluefield, W.Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $2,619, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephen Perez, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 402 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $14,408 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 30, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Ivar Carlson, former Business Agent/Treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 935-B (located in Worcester, Mass.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,786.  The Court further ordered forfeiture in the amount of $16,151.  Carlson previously paid $6,775 in restitution.  On March 26, 2019, Carlson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $37,014 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Danny Woodcock, former President of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers – Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 83770 (located in Columbus, Miss.), was sentenced to 46 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by three years supervised release.  Woodcock was also ordered to pay $519,963 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  He was taken into the immediate custody of the United States Marshals Service.  On August 17, 2018, Woodcock pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 28, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a two-count indictment for theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Grand Jury Investigations Division of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), was charged in an information with defrauding the union through wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Mitchell Sharp, former organizer for Laborers DC Southwest Indian Health Services (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was charged and pleaded guilty to a one-count information with theft within Indian country, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 & 1153.  Sharp used the union’s credit card to charge personal expenses in excess of $1,000.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Michael Brittain, former assistant business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Daniel Rose, current business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Lee Ann Miyamura, former executive secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Russell Yamanoha, former communications director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the 36th District Court for the State of Michigan, Esper Alexander, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 1111 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to six months of probation and three days of community service.  Alexander was also ordered to pay restitution of $500 and to have no contact with SPFPA 1111.  On July 19, 2019, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by conversion of $200 or more, but less than $1,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 20, 2019, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison (all suspended) and five years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $26,400.  Robinson previously paid $3,700 in restitution.  On December 14, 2016, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,031, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Deloistine Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 929 (located in West Helena, Ark.), was charged in a one-count information for making a false entry in a record required to be kept, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent D’Acunto, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  On March 18, 2019, D’Acunto pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)), totaling over $1.5 million.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On August 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden), Robert Peter, former Secretary/Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 526 (located in Blackwood, N.J.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On the same date, Peter pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Popillo, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81266 (located in Newington, Conn.), was charged with a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,568, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 7, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), was sentenced to five years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay $52,738 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On February 14, 2019, Coppin pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President of the UAW Chrysler Department and former director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC) from 2014 through 2016 (both located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On April 2, 2019, Jewell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for receiving money and things of value from persons acting in the interest of FCA and/or approved UAW officials to use their NTC credit cards to make over $40,000 in purchases for himself, senior UAW officials, and other UAW members that were delivered through and concealed by the NTC.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 2, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to three years supervised release to include 180 days of home confinement.  He was also ordered to pay $26,185 in restitution and a special assessment of $100.  On January 3, 2019, Perry pleaded 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 Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $4,740, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On July 30, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, John Matassa Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Workers Union Independent Local 711 (located in Mount Prospect, Ill.), was sentenced to six months in prison and 12 months of supervised release, of which six months will be home confinement.  Matassa was also ordered to pay $33,513 in restitution to Local 711, $22,948 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and a $100 assessment.  He previously paid $52,160 in restitution to the SSA.  On February 26, 2019, Matassa pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the SSA’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rhondalyn Cornett, former President of the Indianapolis Education Association (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information of wire fraud in a scheme to embezzle more than $100,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  She then pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the USDOL OIG, the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.

On July 19, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent Esposito was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and $3,816,865 in forfeiture.On April 10, 2019, Esposito pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), were also charged in the same indictment as Esposito, previously pleaded guilty, and are awaiting sentencing.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 19, 2019, in the Wayne County, 36th District Court for the State of Michigan, Esper Alexander, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 1111 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by conversion of $200 or more, but less than $1,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 15, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Rodney Capello, former business manager of Laborers Local 722 – Hawaii Electrical Workers (located in Honolulu, HI), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $184,771, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office.

On July 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Howard Janoske, the co-owner of a HVAC and plumbing company in Maryland, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution of $23,367 and a fine of $25,000.  An asset forfeiture order for $92,432 was also issued.  On March 1, 2019, Janoske pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds for conspiring with, among others, an employee of an international union located in Herndon, Virginia, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 25, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Tagliaferro, President of Carpenters Local 926 (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a New York City District Council of Carpenters Representative, and John DeFalco, Vice-President of Carpenters Local 157 (located in New York, N.Y.), were indicted on multiple charges for an alleged scheme to sell union “books” or membership cards (union property) for cash bribes.  Both were charged with embezzlement of union assets and aiding and abetting an embezzlement (29 U.S.C. 501c and 18 U.S.C. 2), conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), as well as honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1346 and 1343).  DeFalco was also charged with obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. (b)(1)) and witness tampering (18 U.S.C. 1512 (b)(2)(A)).  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

On June 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $7,130 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of misdemeanor theft of $250, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(a), 939.51(3)(a), and 939.05.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford (Harshman), former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of felony theft of approximately $4,065, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf), 939.50(3)(i), and 939.05.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

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.

On June 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one-count of theft of union funds of approximately $10,813, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 5, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Charlotte F. McDaniel, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  She was then sentenced to 365 days of confinement (363 days suspended with one day of credit) and 363 days of probation.  She was also ordered to pay restitution of $4,082.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathan Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Francisco, Calif.), was charged in a six-count superseding indictment.  The superseding indictment added three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  Each of the three counts pertain to Ortino making an unauthorized electronic fund transfer from the union’s account to his personal account, totaling $4,500.  On March 26, 2019, Ortino was initially charged in a three-count indictment with making false entries with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-3 Report for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) & 2 (False Statements to a Government Agency).  The superseding indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On May 31, 2019, in Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, John Scarcella, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Local 125 (located in Middle River, Md.), was charged with one count of theft of more than $10,000, but less than $100,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Baltimore County Police Department.

On May 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration and two years of probation.  Peltz previously made restitution of $958,000 and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.  On January 28, 2019, Peltz pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On May 17, 2019, in Kaufman County, Texas, Claudia E. Beltran, former office assistant for United Association of Plumbers Local 100 (located in Garland, Tex.), was indicted for misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $2,500 and $30,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Caroline Kelly Phelps, former office secretary of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 369 (located in Cordova, Tenn.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution totaling $36,823 and a $100 special assessment.  On February 7, 2019, Phelps pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.  On May 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of

On May 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, a criminal information was filed charging Michael Carney, former facilities and real estate manager for an international labor organization (located in Herndon, Va.), with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371) for conspiring with, among others, the owner of a contracting company.  The information charges that the contracting company provided the subject with tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks including a high-end outdoor kitchen and free HVAC and plumbing services for Carney and a relative in exchange for the awarding of the union’s service agreements and maintenance contracts.  With Carney’s knowledge, the contracting company submitted inflated and fraudulent invoices to the union to recoup the expenses for the personal benefits.  Carney also pleaded guilty to the charge on this date.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Annette Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $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.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Amy Barber (Rodman), former Treasurer for the National Staff Organization Ind, Florida Staff Organization (FSO), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds and one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(b), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former Comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A, and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy).  Kurtycz was also indicted on six counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  One count pertains to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962.  The remaining five counts of wire fraud pertain to electronic funds transfers for the purpose of executing the above conspiracy and wire fraud schemes.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU-IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,813, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office

On April 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephen Perez, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 402 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzling approximately $14,408 in union funds, one count of filing a false LM report, and one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 439(b), and 439(c), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 15, 2019, in United States District Court for Southern District of Iowa, Theodore E. Watson, former business manager for Insulators Local 74 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of mail fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1341, respectively.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Edward Cranston, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 1421 TD (located in Beecher, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation.  Cranston was also ordered to pay the remaining $9,999 of $28,084 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On January 17, 2019, Cranston pleaded guilty to one-count of willfully filing a false LM-3 Report for fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Charles Kimo Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 Longshore Division (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Burgess, former President of the Pacific Stainless Products Employee Association (located in St. Helens, Ore.), was sentenced to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $10,621 and a $25 assessment.  On December 20, 2018, Burgess pleaded guilty to one count of concealment or destruction of labor union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent Esposito pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Esposito admitted to participating in an illegal enterprise from 2001 through 2017.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), were also charged in the same indictment as Esposito and have previously pleaded guilty.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mark Douglas, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1101 (located in Arabi, La.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $7,078, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 9, 2019, in the Marlborough Division of the Middlesex District Court of Massachusetts, Edgar Barajas, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 4-1702 (located in Marlborough, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts to sustain a charge of Larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 266, section 30.  Barajas admitted to making unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s checking account and making unauthorized debit-card purchases totaling $10,279.  Under an agreement between the prosecutor, defense counsel, and the union, the court continued the case without a finding for one year and will dismiss the charges if Barajas makes full restitution to the union and pays all associated court fees within that time.  The plea and agreement follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Benjamin Wisecarver, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical, Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of home confinement, and two years of probation.  Wisecarver was also ordered to pay $53,704 in restitution.  On December 19, 2018, Wisecarver pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 2, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the UAW Chrysler Department (located in Detroit, Mich.) and Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center from 2014 through 2016, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 28, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Nathan Lum, former Longshore Division Director of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1)) and one count of failure to file income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7203).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Francisco, Calif.), was charged in a three-count indictment with making false entries with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-3 Report for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) & 2 (False Statements to a Government Agency).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Ivar Carlson, former Business Agent/Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 935-B (located in Worcester, Mass.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $37,014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On March 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent D’Acunto, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the UAW Chrysler Department and Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC) from 2014 through 2016, was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Jewell knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he received money and things of value from persons acting in the interest of FCA and/or approved UAW officials to use their NTC credit cards to make over $40,000 in purchases for himself, senior UAW officials, and other UAW members, which were delivered through and concealed by the NTC, from 2014 through 2016.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On March 15, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Charlotte F. McDaniel, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was indicted for three counts theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Karen Auer, a former principal of an accounting firm, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,194 in restitution.  On August 3, 2018 Auer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor information for filing fraudulent returns, statements or other documents, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7207.  On May 31, 2018, Auer was charged by complaint with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), and making a false statement (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On March 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Mervin Hawk, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1640 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Hawk was also ordered to pay $362,623 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On November 28, 2018, Hawk pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $300,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 1, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, a criminal information was filed charging Howard Janoske, the co-owner of an HVAC and plumbing company in Maryland, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds for conspiring with, among others, an employee of an international labor organization located in Herndon, VA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The information charges that Janoske’s company provided the union’s facilities and real estate manager with tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks including a high-end outdoor kitchen and free HVAC and plumbing services for the union manager and a relative in exchange for the awarding of the union’s service agreements and maintenance contracts.  With the union manager’s knowledge, Janoske and his subordinates submitted inflated and fraudulent invoices to the union to recoup the expenses for the personal benefits.  Janoske then pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 27, 2019, in the Vermilion County, Indiana Circuit Court, Darin Kingrey, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 706 (located in Cayuga, Ind.), pleaded guilty to two counts of theft (Level 6 Felony) in the amount of $7,464, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Armao, the managing partner of an accounting firm, was sentenced to two years supervised release to include six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $9,592 in restitution, $18,700 in forfeiture, and a $3,000 fine.  On August 2, 2018, Armao pleaded guilty to an information for false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027.  On May 31, 2018, Armao was charged by complaint with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), and conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371).  Armao’s clients included the International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Local 122, a small independent union located in Long Island, NY, and the affiliated United Health and Welfare Fund.  Rocco Fazzolari, the former President and Fund Administrator of Local 122, previously pleaded guilty to, and was sentenced for, embezzlement of union funds, embezzlement of benefit plan funds, and conspiracy to embezzle plan funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.  Armao’s false filings concealed Fazzolari’s embezzlement.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On February 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, John Matassa Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Workers Union Independent Local 711 (located in Mount Prospect, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $738, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that Matassa received $33,513 by issuing unauthorized union checks to his wife, and as a result, received approximately $75,108 in Old-Age Insurance Benefits to which he was not entitled.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 25, 2019, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, Terry Slaughter, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $62,315, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 25, 2019, in United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, Anthony Edmunds, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation, 12 months of home confinement, and he was ordered to pay restitution of $19,482 and a $100 assessment.  On October 25, 2018, Edmunds pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 21, 2019, in the United States District Court for the SouthernDistrict of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (a union representing beverage industry workers located in Great Neck, N.Y.), was charged with offenses related to alleged bribes from a third party administrator (TPA) given in exchange for Ulrich’s use of his influence with the union and its health fund.  The indictment charged Ulrich with soliciting and receiving bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 1954 and 2), conspiracy to solicit and receive bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 371), honest services health care fraud (18 U.S.C. 1347, 1346 and 2), and conspiracy to commit honest services health care fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 20, 2019, in Adams County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, David Dauman, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3495 (located in Oxford, Wis.), was charged with one count of felony theft of approximately $3,597, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b)&(3)(bf).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 14, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 11, 2019, in the Worcester District Court, Darius Pourfarzaneh, former Trustee of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 935B (located in Worcester, Mass.), was charged in a one-count complaint for Larceny Over $250, in the amount of $6,870, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, §30(1).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Christopher Mulhall, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to five months of home detention and 36 months of probation.  Restitution was not ordered as another defendant previously paid the entire $57,000 in restitution.  On May 29, 2018, Mulhall pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzlement for taking part in an embezzlement of $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Caroline Kelly Phelps, former office secretary of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 369 (located in Cordova, Tenn.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $40,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 6, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Karen Pierce, former employee of Plumbers Local 142 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was charged in an eight-count indictment for theft of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas New Orleans Office.

On January 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 2947 (located in Lemoore, Calif.), was charged with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), respectively, for an embezzlement in the amount of $50,879.  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, John Dougherty, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 34 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), 23 counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of wire fraud theft from political action committee (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)), five counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)), one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful payments from an employer (18 U.S.C. 371), eight counts of accepting unlawful payments from an employer (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(2),(b)(1) & (d)(2)), one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 371), 11 counts of honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346), and one count of honest services mail fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341, 1346).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Burrows, President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), two counts of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)), and five counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael Neill, Apprentice Training Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), four counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Marita Crawford, Business Agent and Political Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), four counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), three counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of wire fraud theft from political action committee (18 U.S.C. 1343), one count of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), and one count of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Niko Rodriguez, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), six counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and six counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Fiocca, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), five counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and five counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Anthony Massa, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of theft from employee pension fund (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Robert Henon, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) and a Philadelphia City Councilman, was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346), one count of honest services mail fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341, 1346), three counts of accepting federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B)), and one count of soliciting federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 28, 2019, in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocco Fazzolari, former President of the International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Local 122 (an independent union located in Long Island, N.Y.), was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $1,288,810 in restitution.  On September 26, 2018, Fazzolari pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, embezzlement of benefit plan funds, and conspiracy to embezzle plan funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the SDNY, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On January 28, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an information with one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 22, 2019, in the United States District Court District of Kansas, Robert Clearwater, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 14-8 (located in Topeka, Kans.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,781 and an assessment of $700 to be paid to the victim impact fund.  On April 24, 2018, Clearwater pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and six counts of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 and 1001, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Edward Cranston, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 1421 (located in Beecher, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false LM-3 Report for fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that Cranston paid himself approximately $28,220 in union funds to which he was not entitled and improperly reported some of these disbursements as an authorized salary on multiple LM-3 reports.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 15, 2019, in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey (Trenton), Sergio Acosta, former President and Trustee of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 and the Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (located in Edison, N.J.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $32,000 in restitution for failure to remit contributions regarding union employees’ health premiums and a $100 special assessment.  On April 6, 2018, Acosta pleaded guilty to a superseding information of one count of theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 664 and 2.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General.

On January 15, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), was charged in a one-count indictment for theft and embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction in the amount of $52,738, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,458, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

---

Quick Glossary Of Terms

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.

SOURCE:  U.S. Department Of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)

On December 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice-President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (located in Great Neck, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 11, 2019, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, John Scarcella, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 125 (located in Middle River, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $10,000 and less than $100,000 for stealing $28,010 from the union, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  Scarcella was then sentenced to 18 months in jail (all suspended) and 36 months of unsupervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $22,760.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2463 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised probation and 300 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay $87,020 in restitution.  On September 12, 2019, Duplessis pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Automobile Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors (GM) Department and director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources from 2010 through 2014 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On December 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, after a six day trial, a jury found Frank Giovinco guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and others were also charged in the same indictment as Giovinco, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.  The verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 3, 2019, in the Fulton Superior Court for the State of Georgia, Andretta Davis, former office secretary of Operatives Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA) Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was charged in an indictment with one count of theft by taking and three counts of forgery, in violation of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 16-8-2 and 16-9-1, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 26, 2019, in United States District Court for the District Of New Mexico, Jessica Pangburn, former office manager for Operating Engineers Local 953 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), waived an indictment and pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 USC 1343. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, the former President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), was charged in a twelve count indictment including three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and nine counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement, two years of probation, and 200 hours of community service.  Carter previously made restitution totaling $9,031.  On August 20, 2019, Carter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,031, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 124, (located in Channahon, Ill.) was charged by information with one count of making a false entry, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Tony Westly, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer of Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA) Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. Sherwood previously paid restitution of $13,002.  On June 10, 2019, Sherwood pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,813. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati- Cleveland District Office.

On November 15, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Steven Arena was sentenced to one year in prison and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $276,500 in forfeiture.On May 31, 2019, Arena pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), who were also charged in the same indictment as Arena, have previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Michael Carney, former facilities and real estate manager for an international labor organization (located in Herndon, Va.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation.  He was also fined $25,000.  Restitution of $23,367 was previously satisfied by another individual.  On May 16, 2019, Carney pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds by conspiring with, among others, the owner of an HVAC and plumbing contracting company, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Popillo, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81266 (located in Newington, Conn.), was sentenced to three years of probation to include six months of home confinement.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,568 and a $100 special assessment.  On August 7, 2019, Popillo pleaded 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 Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On November 6, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors Department and director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR) from 2010 through 2014 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  Ashton knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he and others used their positions with the UAW and CHR to personally enrich themselves by obtaining a $250,000 loan from a vendor.  They then assisted the same vendor in obtaining a contract from CHR valued at over $3,900,000 and suggesting that the profits would repay the vendor what was owed on the loan.  After the vendor was awarded the contract from the CHR, Ashton demanded at least $250,000 in kickbacks.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

 

On October 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward “Nick” Robinson, President of Auto Workers (UAW) Midwest CAP Council, located in Hazelwood, Mo., was charged by information with one count of embezzling union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and conspiracy to embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371).  From at least 2010 and continuing through or about September 2019, Robinson embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,500,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP Council.  Robinson was also charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371) for failing to report over $1,500,000 in income on the IRS Form 990 returns filed by the UAW and UAW Midwest CAP Council and for failing to report the income on his Form 1040 tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On October 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $33,224 and one count of false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 25, 2019, in the 78th District Court of Wichita County, Texas, Terri Rae Coan (Merritt), former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), pleaded guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  Coan was then sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $42,636.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 24, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Deloistine Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 929 (located in West Helena, Ark.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,205.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jeffery Pietrzyk, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On October 18, 2019, in the 30th District Court of Wichita County, Texas, Orville Lynn Merritt, former business manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), pled guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45. Merritt was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $279 in court costs.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Rebecca Hedman, an officer and agent of three medical service providers (located in Chicago, Ill.) was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A.  The conspiracy involved a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3) (Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of a Racketeering Enterprise) when cellphones were used by Hedman and Robert Kurtycz, former comptroller of Workers United, SEIU, Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board, to promote, manage, and carry on, and to facilitate the promotion, management, and carrying on of the unlawful activity, namely commercial bribery, and thereafter did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carrying on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on of the same unlawful activity, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On October 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On October 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local 836 (located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine), was indicted on one count of theft from a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction in excess of $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, Dennis Robertson, former business manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 668 (located in Hooksett, N.H.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $37,897 in restitution.  On June 25, 2019, Robertson pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer of Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was charged in a two-count indictment for embezzling $6,403 in union funds and filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(b), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 4, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former Secretary-Treasurer and President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 2, 2019, in the 78th District Court of Wichita County, Terri Rae Coan (Merritt), former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1168 (located in Wichita Falls, Tex.), was indicted for misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 1, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia- Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 27, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians(ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jeffery Pietrzyk, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)), totaling approximately $123,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mark Douglas, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1101 (located in Arabi, La.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $6,280, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Travis Cofer, former Secretary Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 990 (located in Maryville, Tenn.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement totaling $12,432, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Theodore E. Watson, former business manager for Insulators Local 74 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation.  Watson was also ordered to pay restitution of $125,443.  On April 15, 2019, Watson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of mail fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1341, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 13, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 12, 2019, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk County Superior Court, Juan Evereteze, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3258 (located in Boston, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts and was sentenced on three counts of larceny over $250 by single scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. 266 § 30.  Evereteze was then sentenced to four years of probation under a continuance without a finding, with the first year of probation being supervised.  He was ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution.  The plea and agreement follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2463 (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property for transporting $11,300 of stolen union funds from Washington, D.C. to Virginia to purchase a Dodge Charger for his personal use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The total embezzlement by Duplessis was more than $80,000.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 10, 2019, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 947.01(01).  She was then ordered to pay court costs of $458.  Conway previously paid full restitution of $250.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On September 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Annette Jones, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised probation.  Jones was also ordered to pay restitution of $82,180.  On May 7, 2019, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 6, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1-D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  On March 11, 2019, Cognetta pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On September 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Eric Childress, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2276 (located in Bluefield, W.Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $2,619, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephen Perez, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 402 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $14,408 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 30, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Ivar Carlson, former Business Agent/Treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 935-B (located in Worcester, Mass.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,786.  The Court further ordered forfeiture in the amount of $16,151.  Carlson previously paid $6,775 in restitution.  On March 26, 2019, Carlson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $37,014 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Danny Woodcock, former President of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers – Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 83770 (located in Columbus, Miss.), was sentenced to 46 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by three years supervised release.  Woodcock was also ordered to pay $519,963 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  He was taken into the immediate custody of the United States Marshals Service.  On August 17, 2018, Woodcock pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 28, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a two-count indictment for theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Grand Jury Investigations Division of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), was charged in an information with defrauding the union through wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Mitchell Sharp, former organizer for Laborers DC Southwest Indian Health Services (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was charged and pleaded guilty to a one-count information with theft within Indian country, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 & 1153.  Sharp used the union’s credit card to charge personal expenses in excess of $1,000.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Michael Brittain, former assistant business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Daniel Rose, current business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Lee Ann Miyamura, former executive secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Russell Yamanoha, former communications director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to make and cause to be made false entries in records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.

On August 23, 2019, in the 36th District Court for the State of Michigan, Esper Alexander, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 1111 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to six months of probation and three days of community service.  Alexander was also ordered to pay restitution of $500 and to have no contact with SPFPA 1111.  On July 19, 2019, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by conversion of $200 or more, but less than $1,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 20, 2019, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison (all suspended) and five years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $26,400.  Robinson previously paid $3,700 in restitution.  On December 14, 2016, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,031, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Deloistine Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 929 (located in West Helena, Ark.), was charged in a one-count information for making a false entry in a record required to be kept, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent D’Acunto, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  On March 18, 2019, D’Acunto pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)), totaling over $1.5 million.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On August 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden), Robert Peter, former Secretary/Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 526 (located in Blackwood, N.J.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On the same date, Peter pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Popillo, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81266 (located in Newington, Conn.), was charged with a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,568, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 7, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), was sentenced to five years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay $52,738 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On February 14, 2019, Coppin pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 5, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President of the UAW Chrysler Department and former director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC) from 2014 through 2016 (both located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On April 2, 2019, Jewell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for receiving money and things of value from persons acting in the interest of FCA and/or approved UAW officials to use their NTC credit cards to make over $40,000 in purchases for himself, senior UAW officials, and other UAW members that were delivered through and concealed by the NTC.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 2, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to three years supervised release to include 180 days of home confinement.  He was also ordered to pay $26,185 in restitution and a special assessment of $100.  On January 3, 2019, Perry pleaded 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 Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $4,740, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On July 30, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, John Matassa Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Workers Union Independent Local 711 (located in Mount Prospect, Ill.), was sentenced to six months in prison and 12 months of supervised release, of which six months will be home confinement.  Matassa was also ordered to pay $33,513 in restitution to Local 711, $22,948 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and a $100 assessment.  He previously paid $52,160 in restitution to the SSA.  On February 26, 2019, Matassa pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the SSA’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rhondalyn Cornett, former President of the Indianapolis Education Association (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information of wire fraud in a scheme to embezzle more than $100,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  She then pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the USDOL OIG, the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.

On July 19, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent Esposito was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and $3,816,865 in forfeiture.On April 10, 2019, Esposito pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), were also charged in the same indictment as Esposito, previously pleaded guilty, and are awaiting sentencing.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 19, 2019, in the Wayne County, 36th District Court for the State of Michigan, Esper Alexander, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 1111 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by conversion of $200 or more, but less than $1,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 15, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Rodney Capello, former business manager of Laborers Local 722 – Hawaii Electrical Workers (located in Honolulu, HI), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $184,771, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office.

On July 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Howard Janoske, the co-owner of a HVAC and plumbing company in Maryland, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution of $23,367 and a fine of $25,000.  An asset forfeiture order for $92,432 was also issued.  On March 1, 2019, Janoske pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds for conspiring with, among others, an employee of an international union located in Herndon, Virginia, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 25, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Tagliaferro, President of Carpenters Local 926 (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a New York City District Council of Carpenters Representative, and John DeFalco, Vice-President of Carpenters Local 157 (located in New York, N.Y.), were indicted on multiple charges for an alleged scheme to sell union “books” or membership cards (union property) for cash bribes.  Both were charged with embezzlement of union assets and aiding and abetting an embezzlement (29 U.S.C. 501c and 18 U.S.C. 2), conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), as well as honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1346 and 1343).  DeFalco was also charged with obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. (b)(1)) and witness tampering (18 U.S.C. 1512 (b)(2)(A)).  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

On June 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $7,130 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of misdemeanor theft of $250, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(a), 939.51(3)(a), and 939.05.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford (Harshman), former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of felony theft of approximately $4,065, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf), 939.50(3)(i), and 939.05.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

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.

On June 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one-count of theft of union funds of approximately $10,813, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 5, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Charlotte F. McDaniel, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  She was then sentenced to 365 days of confinement (363 days suspended with one day of credit) and 363 days of probation.  She was also ordered to pay restitution of $4,082.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathan Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Francisco, Calif.), was charged in a six-count superseding indictment.  The superseding indictment added three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  Each of the three counts pertain to Ortino making an unauthorized electronic fund transfer from the union’s account to his personal account, totaling $4,500.  On March 26, 2019, Ortino was initially charged in a three-count indictment with making false entries with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-3 Report for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) & 2 (False Statements to a Government Agency).  The superseding indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On May 31, 2019, in Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, John Scarcella, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Local 125 (located in Middle River, Md.), was charged with one count of theft of more than $10,000, but less than $100,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Baltimore County Police Department.

On May 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration and two years of probation.  Peltz previously made restitution of $958,000 and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.  On January 28, 2019, Peltz pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On May 17, 2019, in Kaufman County, Texas, Claudia E. Beltran, former office assistant for United Association of Plumbers Local 100 (located in Garland, Tex.), was indicted for misapplication of fiduciary property with a value between $2,500 and $30,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Caroline Kelly Phelps, former office secretary of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 369 (located in Cordova, Tenn.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution totaling $36,823 and a $100 special assessment.  On February 7, 2019, Phelps pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.  On May 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of

On May 16, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, a criminal information was filed charging Michael Carney, former facilities and real estate manager for an international labor organization (located in Herndon, Va.), with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371) for conspiring with, among others, the owner of a contracting company.  The information charges that the contracting company provided the subject with tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks including a high-end outdoor kitchen and free HVAC and plumbing services for Carney and a relative in exchange for the awarding of the union’s service agreements and maintenance contracts.  With Carney’s knowledge, the contracting company submitted inflated and fraudulent invoices to the union to recoup the expenses for the personal benefits.  Carney also pleaded guilty to the charge on this date.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Annette Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $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.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Amy Barber (Rodman), former Treasurer for the National Staff Organization Ind, Florida Staff Organization (FSO), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds and one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(b), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former Comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A, and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy).  Kurtycz was also indicted on six counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  One count pertains to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962.  The remaining five counts of wire fraud pertain to electronic funds transfers for the purpose of executing the above conspiracy and wire fraud schemes.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU-IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,813, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office

On April 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephen Perez, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 402 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzling approximately $14,408 in union funds, one count of filing a false LM report, and one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 439(b), and 439(c), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 15, 2019, in United States District Court for Southern District of Iowa, Theodore E. Watson, former business manager for Insulators Local 74 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of mail fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1341, respectively.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Edward Cranston, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 1421 TD (located in Beecher, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation.  Cranston was also ordered to pay the remaining $9,999 of $28,084 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On January 17, 2019, Cranston pleaded guilty to one-count of willfully filing a false LM-3 Report for fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Charles Kimo Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 Longshore Division (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Burgess, former President of the Pacific Stainless Products Employee Association (located in St. Helens, Ore.), was sentenced to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $10,621 and a $25 assessment.  On December 20, 2018, Burgess pleaded guilty to one count of concealment or destruction of labor union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent Esposito pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  Esposito admitted to participating in an illegal enterprise from 2001 through 2017.  Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), were also charged in the same indictment as Esposito and have previously pleaded guilty.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mark Douglas, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1101 (located in Arabi, La.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $7,078, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 9, 2019, in the Marlborough Division of the Middlesex District Court of Massachusetts, Edgar Barajas, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 4-1702 (located in Marlborough, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts to sustain a charge of Larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 266, section 30.  Barajas admitted to making unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s checking account and making unauthorized debit-card purchases totaling $10,279.  Under an agreement between the prosecutor, defense counsel, and the union, the court continued the case without a finding for one year and will dismiss the charges if Barajas makes full restitution to the union and pays all associated court fees within that time.  The plea and agreement follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 9, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Benjamin Wisecarver, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical, Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of home confinement, and two years of probation.  Wisecarver was also ordered to pay $53,704 in restitution.  On December 19, 2018, Wisecarver pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 2, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the UAW Chrysler Department (located in Detroit, Mich.) and Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center from 2014 through 2016, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 28, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Nathan Lum, former Longshore Division Director of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1)) and one count of failure to file income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7203).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Jonathon Ortino, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 165 (located in San Francisco, Calif.), was charged in a three-count indictment with making false entries with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-3 Report for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) & 2 (False Statements to a Government Agency).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Ivar Carlson, former Business Agent/Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 935-B (located in Worcester, Mass.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $37,014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On March 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Vincent D’Acunto, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Norwood Jewell, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the UAW Chrysler Department and Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC) from 2014 through 2016, was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Jewell knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he received money and things of value from persons acting in the interest of FCA and/or approved UAW officials to use their NTC credit cards to make over $40,000 in purchases for himself, senior UAW officials, and other UAW members, which were delivered through and concealed by the NTC, from 2014 through 2016.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

On March 15, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Charlotte F. McDaniel, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was indicted for three counts theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 11, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Cognetta, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Karen Auer, a former principal of an accounting firm, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,194 in restitution.  On August 3, 2018 Auer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor information for filing fraudulent returns, statements or other documents, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7207.  On May 31, 2018, Auer was charged by complaint with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), and making a false statement (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On March 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Mervin Hawk, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1640 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Hawk was also ordered to pay $362,623 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On November 28, 2018, Hawk pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $300,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 1, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, a criminal information was filed charging Howard Janoske, the co-owner of an HVAC and plumbing company in Maryland, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union funds for conspiring with, among others, an employee of an international labor organization located in Herndon, VA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The information charges that Janoske’s company provided the union’s facilities and real estate manager with tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks including a high-end outdoor kitchen and free HVAC and plumbing services for the union manager and a relative in exchange for the awarding of the union’s service agreements and maintenance contracts.  With the union manager’s knowledge, Janoske and his subordinates submitted inflated and fraudulent invoices to the union to recoup the expenses for the personal benefits.  Janoske then pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 27, 2019, in the Vermilion County, Indiana Circuit Court, Darin Kingrey, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 706 (located in Cayuga, Ind.), pleaded guilty to two counts of theft (Level 6 Felony) in the amount of $7,464, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Armao, the managing partner of an accounting firm, was sentenced to two years supervised release to include six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $9,592 in restitution, $18,700 in forfeiture, and a $3,000 fine.  On August 2, 2018, Armao pleaded guilty to an information for false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027.  On May 31, 2018, Armao was charged by complaint with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), false statements in employee benefit plan records and reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), and conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371).  Armao’s clients included the International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Local 122, a small independent union located in Long Island, NY, and the affiliated United Health and Welfare Fund.  Rocco Fazzolari, the former President and Fund Administrator of Local 122, previously pleaded guilty to, and was sentenced for, embezzlement of union funds, embezzlement of benefit plan funds, and conspiracy to embezzle plan funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.  Armao’s false filings concealed Fazzolari’s embezzlement.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On February 26, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, John Matassa Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Workers Union Independent Local 711 (located in Mount Prospect, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $738, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that Matassa received $33,513 by issuing unauthorized union checks to his wife, and as a result, received approximately $75,108 in Old-Age Insurance Benefits to which he was not entitled.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 25, 2019, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, Terry Slaughter, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $62,315, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 25, 2019, in United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, Anthony Edmunds, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation, 12 months of home confinement, and he was ordered to pay restitution of $19,482 and a $100 assessment.  On October 25, 2018, Edmunds pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 21, 2019, in the United States District Court for the SouthernDistrict of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (a union representing beverage industry workers located in Great Neck, N.Y.), was charged with offenses related to alleged bribes from a third party administrator (TPA) given in exchange for Ulrich’s use of his influence with the union and its health fund.  The indictment charged Ulrich with soliciting and receiving bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 1954 and 2), conspiracy to solicit and receive bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 371), honest services health care fraud (18 U.S.C. 1347, 1346 and 2), and conspiracy to commit honest services health care fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 20, 2019, in Adams County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, David Dauman, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3495 (located in Oxford, Wis.), was charged with one count of felony theft of approximately $3,597, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b)&(3)(bf).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 14, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 11, 2019, in the Worcester District Court, Darius Pourfarzaneh, former Trustee of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 935B (located in Worcester, Mass.), was charged in a one-count complaint for Larceny Over $250, in the amount of $6,870, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, §30(1).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Christopher Mulhall, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to five months of home detention and 36 months of probation.  Restitution was not ordered as another defendant previously paid the entire $57,000 in restitution.  On May 29, 2018, Mulhall pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzlement for taking part in an embezzlement of $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Caroline Kelly Phelps, former office secretary of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 369 (located in Cordova, Tenn.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $40,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 6, 2019,in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Karen Pierce, former employee of Plumbers Local 142 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was charged in an eight-count indictment for theft of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas New Orleans Office.

On January 31, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 2947 (located in Lemoore, Calif.), was charged with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), respectively, for an embezzlement in the amount of $50,879.  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, John Dougherty, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 34 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), 23 counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of wire fraud theft from political action committee (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)), five counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)), one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful payments from an employer (18 U.S.C. 371), eight counts of accepting unlawful payments from an employer (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(2),(b)(1) & (d)(2)), one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 371), 11 counts of honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346), and one count of honest services mail fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341, 1346).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Burrows, President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), two counts of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), two counts of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)), and five counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael Neill, Apprentice Training Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), four counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Marita Crawford, Business Agent and Political Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), four counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), three counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343), two counts of wire fraud theft from political action committee (18 U.S.C. 1343), one count of filing a false LM report (29 U.S.C. 439(b)), and one count of falsifying union records (29 U.S.C. 439(c)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Niko Rodriguez, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), six counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and six counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Fiocca, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), five counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and five counts of wire fraud theft from the union (18 U.S.C. 1343).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Anthony Massa, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefits plan (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of theft from employee pension fund (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Robert Henon, an employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) and a Philadelphia City Councilman, was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 371), 14 counts of honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343, 1346), one count of honest services mail fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341, 1346), three counts of accepting federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B)), and one count of soliciting federal program bribery (18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 29, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 28, 2019, in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocco Fazzolari, former President of the International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Local 122 (an independent union located in Long Island, N.Y.), was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $1,288,810 in restitution.  On September 26, 2018, Fazzolari pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, embezzlement of benefit plan funds, and conspiracy to embezzle plan funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the SDNY, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On January 28, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 22, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, George Peltz, owner and operator of MJK Electric, an employer for members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an information with one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201), one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes (26 U.S.C. 7202), one count of theft from an employee benefit plan (18 U.S.C. 664), and one count of unlawful payments to a union official (29 U.S.C. 186(a)(b) & (d)(2)).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

On January 22, 2019, in the United States District Court District of Kansas, Robert Clearwater, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 14-8 (located in Topeka, Kans.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,781 and an assessment of $700 to be paid to the victim impact fund.  On April 24, 2018, Clearwater pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and six counts of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 and 1001, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 17, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Edward Cranston, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 1421 (located in Beecher, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false LM-3 Report for fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that Cranston paid himself approximately $28,220 in union funds to which he was not entitled and improperly reported some of these disbursements as an authorized salary on multiple LM-3 reports.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 15, 2019, in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey (Trenton), Sergio Acosta, former President and Trustee of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 and the Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (located in Edison, N.J.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $32,000 in restitution for failure to remit contributions regarding union employees’ health premiums and a $100 special assessment.  On April 6, 2018, Acosta pleaded guilty to a superseding information of one count of theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 664 and 2.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General.

On January 15, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christy Little Coppin, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2250 (located in Muskogee, Okla.), was charged in a one-count indictment for theft and embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction in the amount of $52,738, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 3, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,458, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 20, 2018, in the United States District Court of Rhode Island, Adam Conheeny, former police officer and former Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release.  Conheeny previously paid $20,000 in restitution.  On May 24, 2018, Conheeny, pleaded guilty, admitting that between August 2009 and December 2014, he used an FOP debit card, wrote checks from a union account payable to himself, and withdrew cash from an FOP bank account for his own personal use, totaling approximately $31,413, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On December 20, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Burgess, former President of Pacific Stainless Products Employee Association Local 304 (located in St. Helens, Ore.), pleaded guilty to one count of concealment or destruction of labor union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On December 19, 2018, in the United States District Court for Southern District of Iowa, Theodore “Ted” Watson, former business manager for Insulators Local 74 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), was indicted for embezzlement, mail fraud, and false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 1341, and 18 U.S.C. 1001, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On December 19, 2018, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Benjamin Wisecarver, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union assets for embezzling $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Nancy Adams Johnson, former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution will be determined at a later proceeding.  On July 23, 2018, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, stemming from her receipt of over $45,000 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included purchases of luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of Johnson and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On December 17, 2018, in the Jefferson County Circuit Court for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Robin Ray Bishop, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters Local 2501 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was indicted on one count of theft by deception over $500, nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, and one count of falsifying business records, in violation of K.R.S. 514.040, 516.060, and 517.050, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Lawrence Ackerman, the Chief Operating Officer of “shell” companies including Atlantic Business Associates (ABA) and Atlantic Medical Associates (AMA), pleaded guilty to a superseding information for Health Care Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347, as well as Aiding and Abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  Ackerman executed a scheme to defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of New Jersey involving enrollment of ineligible participants who were purported employees of ABA and AMA, both sham companies, in the benefit plan of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 (located in South River, N.J.), which had an insurance contract with Horizon BCBS.  Ackerman entered into a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Local 2326; however, neither ABA nor AMA had any full-time employees eligible for participation in the benefit plan as required by the CBA and benefit plan trust agreement.  The resulting loss to Horizon BCBS was approximately $481,500 because of its payment of healthcare benefits for persons not eligible to receive such benefits.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General led by the New Jersey US Attorney’s Office.

On December 10, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Johnnie Nicholas, former Financial Secretary of United Mine Workers Local 4994 (located in New Philadelphia, Ohio), was sentenced to seven days of incarceration and three years of supervised release.  On the day of sentencing, Nicholas made a remaining restitution payment of $17,650.  Nicholas was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  On May 7, 2018, Nicholas pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 7, 2018, in Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Keith Franzese, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 275 (located in Glenn Dale, Md.), was sentenced to 10 years in prison (suspended), 90 days of home detention, and five years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution of $67,624.  On June 1, 2018, Franzese entered an Alford plea to one count of theft for stealing $67,624 from the union, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(ii).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Ivar Carlson, former Treasurer/Business Agent of Stage and Picture Operators Local 935(B), located in Worcester, Mass., was arrested and charged in a one-count complaint for embezzlement in the amount of $37,014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On December 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Gregory Normand, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 324 (located in Everett, Wash.), was sentenced to 18 months in a federal penitentiary and three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $217,260, and a $300 assessment.  On July 13, 2018, Normand pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $248,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On November 28, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dorian Nicely, former business agent for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by 180 days of home detention and three years of probation.  Nicely was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $53,704 at $350 per month after her release from prison.  On July 17, 2018, Nicely pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets for embezzling $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 28, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dennis Nicely, former Vice President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by 180 days of home detention and three years of probation.  Nicely was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $53,704 at $350 per month after his release from prison.  On July 17, 2018, Nicely pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets for embezzling $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Roderick Bennett, former Chief of Staff for the Laborers International Union of North America (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 18, 2018, Bennett was indicted on three counts of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling approximately $170,000 from the union.  In addition, Bennett and Aimee Occhetti were indicted on one count of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347 & 1349, respectively, for putting Occhetti, who was not a full-time LIUNA employee, on the union’s health care plan when she was not eligible for coverage.  The health plan charges are still pending.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 16, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Victoria Sharp, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 903 (located in Columbia, Mo.), was sentenced to four months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and four years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay $18,531 in restitution and a $100 court assessment.  On July 23, 2018, Sharp pleaded guilty to bank fraud, in violation 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 16, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Mervin Hawk, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1640 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $300,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Tommy Nou, former Financial Secretary of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Local 6602 (located in San Pedro, Calif.), was charged in a six-count indictment for bank fraud in the amount of $6,846, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Office.

On November 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Virdell King, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and former assistant director for the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), both located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to two months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution will be determined at a later proceeding.  On August 29, 2017, King pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, stemming from her receipt of over $40,000 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included purchases of luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of King and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Gordon Jeremy Cairns, former President of Steelworkers Local 1089 (located in Harrisburg, S.C.), was sentenced to five years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $62,871 in restitution, forfeiture of property, and a $100 special assessment.  On March 14, 2018, Cairns pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $62,871, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 7, 2018, in the Third Judicial District in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Daniel Correa, former business agent for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 16 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement (over $20,000), in violation of NMSA §30-16-8.  He was then sentenced to nine years in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (suspended), two years of parole, and five years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,339 and a $180 probation fee.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerome Durden, former financial analyst in the Corporate Accounting Department of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) and former Controller of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), both located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,811 for the tax charge and a $125 special assessment.  Restitution with respect to the prohibited payments will be determined at a later proceeding.  On August 8, 2017, Durden pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, by preparing and filing tax returns for the NTC between 2009 and 2015 that falsely concealed millions of dollars in prohibited payments directed to former UAW Vice President General Holiefield (now deceased), former FCA Vice President Alphons Iacobelli, and others.  Durden also pleaded guilty to one count of failure to file an income tax return for 2013, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7203.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Brown, a former management employee at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) and former Co-Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) – Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), both located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution will be determined at a later proceeding.  On May 25, 2018, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4, for his knowledge of a conspiracy between FCA executives acting in the interest and on behalf of FCA and UAW officials to provide prohibited payments and things of value to UAW officials and concealing such knowledge by deliberately providing misleading and incomplete testimony in the federal grand jury about the conspiracy.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Keith Mickens, former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution will be determined at a later proceeding.  On April 5, 2018, Mickens pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for receiving over $7,700 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA, and in obtaining a check in the amount of $13,500 payable to Monica Morgan Photography and used by the late-UAW Vice President General Holiefield and his spouse, Monica Morgan, to pay the remaining balance due on the installation of a swimming pool at their residence.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included purchases of luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of Mickens and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Charles Webster, former President of Steelworkers (formerly Glass Molders Plastics) Local 284 (located in Longview, Tex.), was sentenced to one year of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $4,633 in restitution, a $1,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment.  On May 29, 2018, Webster pleaded guilty to one count of concealing union financial records required to be kept in support of the union’s annual financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 30, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Deborah Hand, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was sentenced to three months of incarceration, five months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.  Hand was also ordered to pay $44,808 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On July 31, 2018, Hand pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office and the United States Secret Service Tulsa Resident Office.

On October 25, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Anthony Edmunds, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $19,482, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman (BLET)/IBT Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to four years of probation.  Taylor was also ordered to perform 200 hours community service and to pay $59,150 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 20, 2018, Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 19, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Timothy Smith, former President of the Civilian Technicians Chapter 84 (located in Anchorage Alaska), was sentenced to eight months in a federal penitentiary and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $80,990 and a $100 assessment.  On April 13, 2018, Smith pleaded guilty to a single count of making a false statement in order to conceal the embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On October 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Caroline Kelly Phelps, former office secretary of Operating Engineers International Union (OEIU) Local 369 (located in Cordova, Tenn.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $40,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On October 17, 2018,in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Joan Matthews, former bookkeeper for the Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Charleston, W.Va.), was sentenced to 12 months and one day of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay $141,325 in restitution.  On June 11, 2018, Matthews pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Benjamin Wisecarver, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was indicted on three counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); two counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union assets, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for participating in an embezzlement of $57,310 from the union.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 15, 2018, in the Vermillion County, Indiana Circuit Court, Darin Kingrey, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 706 (located in Cayuga, Ind.), was charged in a two-count information with theft of approximately $7,094 in union funds, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 15, 2018, in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, John Zehm, former business manager for the Tile Setters and Finishers Union of Northern California (located in Sacramento, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of Grand Theft, in violation of California Penal Code 487(a).  Zehm was then sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended) and three years of informal probation, and he was ordered to pay $300 in fines.  As a condition of his plea agreement, Zehm previously paid restitution in the amount of $14,014.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On October 5, 2018, in the City of Williston, North Dakota, Williams County Court, Kenneth Keith Kirk Evans, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1494 (located in Williston, N.D.), pleaded guilty to Theft of Property, in violation of North Dakota Century Code Section 12.1-23-02, Misdemeanor A.  His sentencing was deferred until November 30, 2019.  In the petition to enter a plea of guilty, Evans admitted to knowingly exercising unauthorized control over the property of another with the intent to deprive the owner thereof.  Evans was sentenced to 360 days of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $3,562 by October 8, 2018 and fees totaling $325.  The guilty plea and deferred sentence follow an investigation by OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On October 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $20,458, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 28, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, David Thomas Hendricks, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 900 (located in Huntsville, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation.  Hendricks was also ordered to pay $13,987 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On May 21, 2018, Hendricks pleaded guilty to one-count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 26, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocco Fazzolari, former President of International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Local 122, an independent union located in East Meadow, N.Y., pleaded guilty to an information for Embezzlement of Union Funds (29 U.S.C. 501c), Embezzlement from an Employee Benefit Plan as well as Conspiracy to Embezzle from an Employee Benefit Plan (18 U.S.C. 664 and 371).  More than $128,000 was embezzled from the union and more than $1.1 million from the benefit fund.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On September 25, 2018, in the Waupaca County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Teresa Adkins, former business manager of Heat & Frost Insulators Local 127 (located in Clintonville, Wisc.), pleaded no contest to one count of theft in a business setting of more than $10,000 and one count of forgery, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b) and 943.38(1)(a), respectively.  Adkins was then sentenced to five years of probation for the first count and three years of probation for the second count.  Adkins was also ordered to pay $73,618 in restitution and $8,418 in fines.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On September 19, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Burgess, former President of Pacific Stainless Products Employee Association Local 304 (located in St. Helens, Ore.), was indicted for one count of embezzling approximately $35,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Additionally, Burgess was indicted for one count of concealment or destruction of labor union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Spartanburg Division, Dana Quinn Roush, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local  403 (located in Spartanburg, S.C.), was charged with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,089, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 27, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), was sentenced to 66 months in prison and 24 years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $853,522 for the tax charge, a $10,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution for the one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) will be determined at a later date.  On January 22, 2018, Iacobelli pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the LMRA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for paying and delivering over $1.5 million in prohibited payments and things of value to officers and employees of the United Auto Workers.  Iacobelli also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to report on his 2014 individual tax return approximately $861,927 in income, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 24, 2018, in the United States District Court Southern District of Illinois, Scott Alexander and Nancy Alexander, former President and former office administrator, respectively, for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), were each sentenced to six months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be served concurrently, six months of home confinement, and three years of probation.  They were also ordered to pay $44,576 in restitution and a $200 court assessment.  On May 17, 2018, Scott Alexander and Nancy Alexander pleaded guilty to embezzlement and wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 22, 2018, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Marlborough District Court, Edgar Barajas, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-1702 (located in Marlborough, Mass.), was charged with three counts of Larceny over $250 (MGL Ch. 266, Sec. 30A) for the embezzlement of approximately $11,000 in union funds.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 20, 2018, in the Clark County, Indiana Circuit Court, Diana Brown, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84807 (located in Jeffersonville, Ind.), pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of forgery, in violation of Indiana Revised Code 35-43-5-2(b)(1).  Brown was then sentenced to eight years in jail (six years suspended with two years of daily reporting probation for non-resident) and six years of probation.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On August 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Danny Woodcock, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 83770 (located in Columbus, Miss.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 15, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Carl DeRenzis, former Treasurer of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 1955 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to three years of probation with the first six months to be served in a residential re-entry center and 50 hours of community service.  DeRenzis was also ordered to pay $15,701 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  He previously paid restitution in the amount of $37,580.  On October 30, 2017, DeRenzis pleaded 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 Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 9, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Natalie Przybylski, former office staff employee for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 76 (located in Englewood, Colo.), pleaded guilty to one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  She was then sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay $321 in restitution and a $25 court assessment.  Przybylski previously paid restitution in the amount of $17,620.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Natalie Przybylski, former office staff employee for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 76 (located in Englewood, Colo.), was charged in an information with one count of false statements in records required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 3, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Karen Auer, a principal of an accounting firm, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor information for Filing Fraudulent Returns, Statements or Other Documents, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7207.  On May 31, 2018, Auer and Salvatore Armao, the managing partner at the same accounting firm, were charged by complaint with Aiding and Abetting an Embezzlement of Union Funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), False Statements in Employee Benefit Plan Records and Reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), and Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371).  Auer was also charged in the complaint with making a False Statement (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On August 2, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Armao, the managing partner of an accounting firm, pleaded guilty to an information for False Statements in Employee Benefit Plan Records and Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027.  On May 31, 2018, Armao and Karen Auer, a principal at the same accounting firm, were charged by complaint with Aiding and Abetting an Embezzlement of Union Funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), False Statements in Employee Benefit Plan Records and Reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), and Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On July 31, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Deborah Hand, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), pleaded guilty to  embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $44,808, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office and United States Secret Service Tulsa Resident Office.

On July 25, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocky DeFilippo, former Delegate of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 (located in Metuchen, N.J.), was sentenced to three months of home confinement, two years of probation, and he was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and a $300 special assessment.  On March 2, 2018, DeFilippo was convicted by a jury of one count of making false statements, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Amtrak Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

On July 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Deborah Hand, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal Workers Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was charged in a one count information for embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $44,808, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office and United States Secret Service Tulsa Resident Office.

On July 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Victoria Sharp, former office secretary for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 903 (located in Columbia, Mo.), was charged in an information with one count of bank fraud in the amount of $18,531, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  On the same date, Sharp pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On July 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Nancy Adams Johnson, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Ronald Coldren, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 207 (located in Findlay, Ohio), was sentenced to probation for two years with standard and additional specifications.  On March 28, 2018, Coldren pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $30,639, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Pamela Noble, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 6904 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was sentenced to five years of probation.  Noble was also ordered to pay $43,274 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On February 13, 2018, Noble pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dennis Nicely, former Vice President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Henry Clay Green, Sr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees - Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (UNITE HERE) Local 26 (located in Medford, Mass.), was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of supervised release.  Restitution and forfeiture will be determined at a hearing scheduled for September 26, 2018.  On December 1, 2017, Green pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dorian Nicely, former business agent for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 13, 2018, in the State of Connecticut, Superior Court District of Tolland, Sharon Thompson, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 5143 (located in Rocky Hill, Conn.), was arrested and charged in an information with one count of Larceny in the 2nd Degree (CGS 53a-123) for the embezzlement of $13,098 from the union.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On July 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Monica Morgan, the wife of the late General Holiefield, a former Vice President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  Morgan was also ordered to pay $190,747 in restitution, a $25,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  On February 6, 2018, Morgan pleaded guilty to failing to report $201,231 in income she received on her 2011 individual tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Gregory Normand, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 324 (located in Everett, Wash.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $248,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two (2) counts of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On July 2, 2018, in El Paso County Colorado District Court, Ashley Jacobson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2430 (located in Colorado Springs, Colo.), was charged with two counts of theft, in violation of C.R.S. 18-4-401(1)(b),(2)(g) and 18-4-401(1)(b),(2)(e).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On June 29, 2018, in the Superior Court of New Jersey (Passaic County), Sharon Williams-Savage, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2425 (located in East Orange, N.J.), was sentenced to five years of probation (non-reporting).  Williams-Savage was also ordered to pay $180 per month in restitution totaling $18,000, a $30 law enforcement assessment fee, and a $75 penalty to the court.  On April 4, 2018, Williams-Savage pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree theft by unlawful taking, in violation of NJSA 2C: 20 - 3.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the New Jersey State Police-Official Corruption Bureau.

On June 27, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Annette Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 331 (located in Perry Point, Md.), was indicted on one count of bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344, 18 U.S.C. 1341, and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On June 27, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2463 (located in Washington, D.C.), was indicted on one count of interstate transportation of stolen property for transporting $11,300 in stolen currency from the District of Columbia to Virginia, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 26, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dorian Nicely, former business agent of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets for embezzling $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 26, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Dennis Nicely, former Vice President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle labor union assets for embezzling $57,310 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 25, 2018, in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, John Zehm, former business manager for the Tile Setters and Finishers Union of Northern California (located in Sacramento, Calif.), was indicted on one count of grand theft of a value exceeding $950 and one count of embezzlement, in violation of California Penal Code 487(a) and 503, respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 18, 2018, in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Daniel Ross, former Treasurer of Transportation and Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6721 (located in Oakland, Calif.), pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of Grand Theft of Personal Property in the amount of $4,607, in violation of California Penal Code Section 487(a).  Ross was immediately sentenced to 30 days of incarceration (suspended) and three years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $4,607 in restitution and a $240 fine.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Cheryl Angell, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-144 (located in Combined Locks, Wisc.), was sentenced to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Angell was also ordered to pay $98,711 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 22, 2018, Angell pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $98,711 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On June 11, 2018, in the 185th District Court, Harris County of Texas, David Carter, former President of Teamsters Local 968 (located in Houston, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of Class A Theft in the amount of $2,443, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(e)(3).  On the same date, Carter was sentenced to two years deferred adjudication and ordered to pay $2,443 in restitution.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office.

On June 11, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Joan Matthews, former bookkeeper for the Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Charleston, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $183,667, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Nathan Lum, former Longshore Division Director of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was indicted on one count of theft of public money, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and five counts of failure to file income tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641, 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1), and 26 U.S.C. 7203, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI.

On June 5, 2018, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(ii), for stealing $15,548 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Evelyn Romero, former President of United Industrial and Service Workers of America (UISWA) Local 101 (located in Colton, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); and one count of permitting a barred individual to hold union office and employment, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 504.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 1, 2018, in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Keith Franzese, former President of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 275 (located in Greenbelt, Md.), entered an Alford plea to one count of theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(ii), for stealing $67,624 from the union.  An Alford Plea is a guilty plea of a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime, and admits that the prosecution has enough evidence to prove that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 31, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Armao and Karen Auer, respectively the managing partner and the principal of an accounting firm, were charged by complaint with Aiding and Abetting an Embezzlement of Union Funds (18 U.S.C. 2 and 29 U.S.C. 501c), False Statements in Employee Benefit Plan Records and Reports (18 U.S.C. 1027), and Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371).  Auer was also charged with making a False Statement (18 U.S.C. 1001).  The complaint follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the SDNY, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.

On May 29, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Charles Webster, former President of Steelworkers (formerly Glass, Molders, and Plastics) Local 284 (located in Longview, Tex.), was charged and pleaded guilty to one count of failing to maintain records, which were required to be kept in support of the union’s annual financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 29, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Christopher Mulhall, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for taking part in an embezzlement of $57,310 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 25, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Brown, a former management employee at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) (located in Detroit, Mich.), and former Co-Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) – Chrysler National Training Center (NTC) pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4.  The guilty plea stems from Brown’s knowledge of a conspiracy between FCA executives acting in the interest and on behalf of FCA and UAW officials to provide prohibited payments and things of value to UAW officials and concealing such knowledge by deliberately providing misleading and incomplete testimony in the federal grand jury about the conspiracy.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On May 24, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Adam Conheeny, former Treasurer of  Fraternal Order of Police, Local Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  The total amount of funds fraudulently converted was approximately $31,413.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit.

On May 22, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Roger Harris, former president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local Union 3048 (located in Lompoc, Ca.), was charged  in a one-count indictment for wire fraud in the amount of $36,150, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

On May 21, 2018, in the Ramsey County (Minnesota) District Court, Latasha Wilson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was sentenced to 20 years of probation and 100 hours of community service to be completed within the first year of probation.  Wilson was also ordered to pay $58,150 in restitution and a $50 fine.  On March 16, 2018, Wilson pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of more than $35,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(a)(4).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

On May 21, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, David Hendricks, former Secretary Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 900 (located in Huntsville, Ala.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $13,957.78, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 17, 2018, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, Scott Alexander, former president for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of wire fraud, in violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 USC 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 17, 2018, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, Nancy Alexander, former office administrator for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of wire fraud, in violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 USC 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Maria Nunez, former office secretary of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1484 (located in Wilmington, Calif.), was sentenced to probation for a term of 2 years, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,868.50 and assessed a $25 penalty.  On January 4, 2018, Nunez pled guilty to one count of false statement in records required to be maintained by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 11, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Richard D’Antuono, former Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCM) Local 40 (located in Cranston, R.I.), was sentenced to three years imprisonment followed by three years supervised release for one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), one count of embezzling from an employee benefit fund, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028A.  D’Antuono was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $319,795 and a special assessment of $300.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 11, 2018, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, Christopher Mulhall, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264 (located in Hampton, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzlement in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 for taking part in an embezzlement of $57,310.03 from the union.  The information is the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Johnnie Nicholas, former Financial Secretary of Mine Workers Local 4994 (located in New Philadelphia, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $37,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On April 25, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Steven Minella, former President/Business Agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), received a suspended sentence and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,000 to Local 324 as well as a $100 special assessment.  On September 2, 2015, Minella pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony (18 U.S.C. 4) for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion by another Local 324 official (18 U.S.C. 1951).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On April 24, 2018, in the United States District Court District of Kansas, Robert Clearwater, former President for the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 14 (located in Topeka, Kans.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $11,681 within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 as well as six counts of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Adam Conheeny, former Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the amount of $31,413, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 23, 2018, in the United States District Court of North Dakota, John J. Bickerstaff, former Treasurer of Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIA) Local 133 (located in Bismarck, North Dakota), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release.  Bickerstaff was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $91,223.85 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 24, 2018, Bickerstaff pled guilty to one count of embezzling $91,223.85 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 20, 2018, in the United States District Court District of Southern Illinois, Wendy Buch, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Transportation Communication Union (TCU) Lodge T-574 (located in Shiloh, Ill.), was sentenced to five (5) years probation and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $11,957.34 and pay a $150 special assessment.  On December 14, 2017 Buch pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 19, 2018, in the Williams County (North Dakota) NW Judicial District Court, Kenneth Keith Kirk Evans, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1494 (located in Williston, N.D.), was charged in a one-count complaint with theft of property, a Class C felony, in violation of North Dakota Century Code Sections 12.1-23-02(1) and 12.1-23-05(3).  The complaint alleges that Evans exercised unauthorized control of between $3,500 and $3,600 in funds belonging to NALC Branch 1494 with the intent of depriving Branch 1494 of said property, knowing that he was not privileged to do so.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, David Hart, former Financial Secretary/Business Agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), was sentenced to time-served and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,000 to Local 324 and a $100 special assessment.  On February 24, 2015, Hart pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony (18 U.S.C. 4) for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion by another Local 324 official (18 U.S.C. 1951).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On April 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the state of Alaska, Ann Reddig, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 918 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to serve fourteen (14) months in a federal penitentiary and three (3) years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $139,960, and assessed a $100 penalty.  Reddig had previously pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $193,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Timothy Smith, former President of the Civilian Technicians Chapter 84 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), pled guilty to one count of making a false statement to conceal the embezzlement of over $80,000 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2018.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 13, 2018, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk County Superior Court, Juan Evereteze, former President of Government Employees AFGE, AFL-CIO, Local 3258 (located in Boston, Mass.), was indicted on four counts of Larceny Over $250 by Single Scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. 266, § 30, and one count of False Entry/Omission in Book of Corporation by Single Scheme, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. 266. § 67.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, an information was filed charging Johnnie Nicholas, former Financial Secretary of Mine Workers Local 4994 (located in New Philadelphia, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $37,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On April 12, 2018, in the United States District Court District of Montana, Alicia Rooney, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 459 (located in Missoula, IL), was sentenced to 3 months confinement, 3 years probation, restitution in the amount of $163,554.95, and a $100 special assessment.  On November 28, 2017 Rooney pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Mervin Hawk, former president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1640 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling over $600,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Jason Richard, former Secretary-Treasurer of the United Streel Workers (USW) Local 12-990 (located in Wallula, Wash.), was sentenced to six (6) months in a federal penitentiary and two (2) years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,649, and assessed a $100 penalty.  Richard had previously pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $40,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 11, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Marianne Rodacy, former Financial/Recording Secretary of Steelworkers Local 10-53-G (located in Charleroi, Pa.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of probation.  Rodacy was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Rodacy had previously paid $21,539 in restitution.  On December 15, 2017, Rodacy pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $13,109 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 6, 2018, in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey (Trenton), Sergio Acosta, former President and Trustee of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 (located in Edison, N.J.), pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of theft, embezzlement and conversion to his own use, or to the use of another, money and funds of the UAW Local 2326 health and welfare fund, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 664 and 2.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On April 5, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Keith Mickens, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The guilty plea stems from his receipt of over $7,700 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA, and in obtaining a check in the amount of $13,500 payable to Monica Morgan Photography and used by the late-UAW Vice President General Holiefield and his spouse, Monica Morgan, to pay the remaining balance due on the installation of a swimming pool at their residence.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included purchases of luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of Mickens and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On April 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, David Hendricks, former Secretary Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 900 (located in Huntsville, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $13,957, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On April 4, 2018, in the Superior Court of New Jersey (Passaic County), Sharon Williams-Savage, Former President of AFGE Local 2425, (located in East Orange, N.J.) pled guilty to one count of fourth-degree theft by unlawful taking, in violation of NJSA 2C: 20 - 3.  Her sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2018.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the New Jersey State Police-Official Corruption Bureau.

On April 3, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Brown, a former management employee at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) (located in Detroit, Mich.), and former Co-Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) -Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), was charged in a fifth superseding information with one count of misprision of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4.  Brown is alleged to have had knowledge of a conspiracy between FCA executives acting in the interest and on behalf of FCA and UAW officials to provide prohibited payments and things of value to UAW officials and to have concealed such knowledge by deliberately providing misleading and incomplete testimony in the federal grand jury about the conspiracy.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 29, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division, Tyler Farrar, former Financial Secretary for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 88C (located in Bastrop, La.), was charged in a one count indictment for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 28, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Ronald Coldren, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 207 (located in Findlay, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $30,639, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 26, 2018, in the U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, Paul Moe Sr., a former general foreman and member of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), Local 1804-1 (located in North Bergen, N.J.) was sentenced to 24-months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Moe was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $749,000.  On October 31, 2017, after a seven-day trial, a jury found Moe guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 13 substantive counts of wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 1343, stemming from his no-show job at the Port of Elizabeth terminal in New Jersey, with an annual salary of $500,000.   The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office; the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Employee Benefits Security Administration, New York Region; the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud; and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

On March 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Estes Evans, former treasurer of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local R7-33 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of supervised release. Evans was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $44,446.86 and a $100 special assessment. On December 22, 2017, Evans pled guilty to one count of embezzling $44,446.86 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 22, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Cheryl Angell, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-144 (located in Combined Locks, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $98,711 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 20, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $24,868 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  He then pleaded guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 16, 2018, in the Ramsey County (Minnesota) District Court, Latasha Wilson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of more than $35,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(a)(4).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 14, 2018, in the Indiana 32nd Judicial Circuit Court, LaPorte County, Thomas H. Rodgers, Jr., former General Chairman for SMART General Committee of Adjustment 247 (formerly located in LaPorte, Ind.) pled guilty to one count of theft, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  Following his guilty plea, Rodgers, Jr., was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $3,672.45.  The guilty plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, Gordon Cairns, former President of United Steelworkers Local 1089 (located in Harrisburg, N.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $63,999, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Nancy Adams Johnson, a former senior official in the UAW Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) (located in Detroit, Mich.) was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and four counts of receiving and accepting prohibited money and things of value from a union employer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186, stemming from her receipt of over $38,847 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included personal travel, golf resort fees, lavish meals, limousine services, designer clothing, jewelry, designer shoes, golf equipment, electronics, and a shotgun for the personal benefit of Johnson and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, John Hamilton, former business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), was sentenced to 24 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release.  Hamilton was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $250,000 and a $100 special assessment.  On August 18, 2017, Hamilton pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1951.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 9, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kimberly Steinhoff, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 2-87 (located in Munising, Mich.), was sentenced and ordered to immediately pay $10,651.52 in restitution, a $2,500 fine, and a $25 special assessment.  On January 11, 2018, Steinhoff pled guilty to a one-count information of falsification of financial records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 7, 2018, in the City of Chicago, IL, Cook County Court, Milton Thomas, former Shop Chairman of Auto Workers Local 890 (located in Morton Grove, Ill.), was indicted on one count of Theft, Class 2 of between $10,000 to $100,000 in violation of Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(2) and Forgery 720 ILCS 5.0/17-3(a)(2) for making unauthorized checks payable to himself for lost wages and for forging union disbursement vouchers.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 6, 2018, in the Summers County West Virginia Court, Steven Brumit, former secretary treasurer of the Locomotive Engineers, IBT, West Virginia State Legislative Board (formerly located in Hinton, W. Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzling in excess of $6,433.76 in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20 and felonious fraudulent scheme for writing 13 unauthorized checks to himself.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 2, 2018, in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Rocky DeFilippo, former delegate of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 (located in Metuchen, N.J.), was found guilty by a federal jury of:  one count of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349; and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Amtrak Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

On February 21, 2018, in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, MD, Fonda White, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 2390 (located in Maugansville, MD), was sentenced to 10 years in prison (suspended), 90 days of home detention, and 5 years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay restitution of $46,271.52.  On November 21, 2017, White pled guilty to one count of theft with a value of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 20, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephanie DeBoer, the former office manager and bookkeeper of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 876 (located in Edmore, Mich.), was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $307,562.54 and a $100 special assessment.  On November 13, 2017, DeBoer 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 Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 15, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Tamika Bullock, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 684 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was sentenced to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Bullock was also ordered to pay $24,600 in restitution.  On November 14, 2017, Bullock pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $24,600 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 15, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Timothy Smith, former President of the Civilian Technicians Association Chapter 84 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was served with an information for one count of making a false statement to conceal the embezzlement of over $80,000 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The filing of the information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On February 13, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Pamela Noble, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 6904 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  She then pleaded guilty to embezzling $43,274.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Raymond C. Ventrone, former Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 154 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.) was sentenced to 41 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised released and ordered to pay $2,391,183 in restitution to Boilermakers Local 154 and $500,000 restitution to Zurich Surety for embezzlement of union funds. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $223,881 to the Internal Revenue Service for tax evasion.   On September 14, 2017, Ventrone pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The sentencing follows an investigation of the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office along with the FBI, DOL-OIG, and the IRS.

On February 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Ryan Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local S-6 (located in Bath, Maine), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Jones to pay restitution totaling $280,865. On September 6, 2017, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Robert Clearwater, former President for the National Association of Government Employees Local 14-8 (located in Topeka, Kansas), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $11,681 within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C 661 and six counts of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Keith Mickens, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) (located in Detroit, Mich.) was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, stemming from his receipt of over $7,500 in prohibit payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2010 and 2015, included purchases of luggage, electronics, designer clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of Mickens and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The charge, which was sealed until March 13, 2018, follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On February 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Monica Morgan, the wife of the late General Holiefield, a former Vice President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to failing to report $201,231 in income she received on her 2011 individual tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1).  The sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2018.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On February 6, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Glenn Smith, the former Controller of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC) (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $534,097.  On October 3, 2017, Smith pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 24, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, John J. Bickerstaff, former Treasurer of Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIA) Local 133 (located in Bismarck, N.D.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $91,223, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Joan Matthews, former bookkeeper for the Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council (CBCTC), located in Charleston, W.Va., was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $183,667 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 23, 2018, in the Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Elizabeth Merrill, former Secretary-Treasurer of Government Security Officers (UGSOA) Local 251 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of attempted theft and one count of attempted forgery in violation of O.R.C. 2923.02, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail (suspended), one year of probation, and a $100 fine.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 22, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alphons “Al” Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) for paying and delivering over $1.5 million in prohibited payments and things of value to officers and employees of the United Auto Workers (UAW), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred between 2009 and 2015, included designer clothing, jewelry, furniture, custom-made watches, cases of custom-labeled wine ($3,000), and paying off the mortgage on the personal residence of a UAW vice president ($262,219).  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card accounts of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of workers.  Iacobelli also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to report on his 2014 individual tax returns approximately $861,927 in income, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 22, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Matthew Smith, former Treasurer of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 576 (located in Hurst, Tex.), was sentenced to 10 months in prison and one year of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $300,848 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On October 4, 2017, Smith pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds from Local 576, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 19, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Jeni May Hughes, former office manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 155 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was sentenced to 30 months of confinement and three years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $428,874 and a $100 special assessment.  On May 10, 2017, Hughes pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging her with embezzling $428,874 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 19, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Guy Gokey, former Financial Secretary of Glass, Molders, and Plastics (GMP) Local 59 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay outstanding restitution in the amount of $2,753.  On July 26, 2017, Gokey pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,074.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 18, 2018, Roderick Bennett, former Chief of Staff for the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), located in Washington, D.C., was indicted on three counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling at least $170,000 from the union.  In addition, Bennett and Aimee Occhetti were indicted on one count of health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, for putting Occhetti on the union’s health care plan when she was not eligible for coverage.  Occhetti was not a full-time employee of LIUNA and therefore not eligible to participate in the plan.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 18, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Richard D’Antuono, former Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCM) Local 40 (located in Cranston, R.I.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), one count of embezzling from an employee benefit fund (18 U.S.C. 664), and aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. 1028A).  The total amount embezzled was approximately $319,795.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 17, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Cheryl Angell, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-144 (located in Combined Locks, Wisc.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of $98,711 and four counts of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c) and 29 U.S.C 439(b), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Norman Baker, former Financial Secretary of Glass, Molders, and Plastics (GMP) Local 220 (located in Axtell, Tex.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $4,249, a $5,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  On October 24, 2017, Baker pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $8,310 from Local 220, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 11, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kimberly Steinhoff, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 87 (located in Munising, Mich.), pleaded guilty to a superseding one-count information charging her with falsification of financial records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 10, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Angela Parrish-Wilson, former office manager for Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Workers Union (RWDSU) Joint Council 932 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was sentenced to one month in prison and five years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,057.  On July 27, 2017, Parrish-Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On January 9, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, five individuals were indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 1962): Frank Cognetta, Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), Vincent D’Acunto, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 2D (located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), as well as Vincent Esposito, Steven Arena, and Frank Giovinco.  Cognetta was also charged with Bribery in Connection with Employee Benefit Plans (18 U.S.C. 1954) and Honest Services Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1346).  D’Acunto, Jr., Esposito, and Arena were also charged with Extortion Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 1951).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, SDNY, the FBI, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the NYPD.

On January 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Maria Nunez, former office secretary for International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1484 (located in Wilmington, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of false statements in records required to be maintained by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

 

Last Updated: 1-23-23

On December 22, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Estes Evans, former Treasurer of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local R7-33 (located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $44,446 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 21, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, Russell Gloeckl, former maintenance employee for Boilermakers Local 154 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen property, in violation of 18 Pennsylvania Criminal Code 3925(a).  He was then sentenced to one year of probation.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Lonzell Moore, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1730 (located in Des Plaines, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation and he was ordered to serve 200 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $15,088.  On July 12, 2017, Moore pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $18,857, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 15, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Marianne Rodacy, former Financial-Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 10-53-G (located in Charleroi, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $13,109 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Jason Richard, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 12-990 (located in Wallula, Wash.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling over $40,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On December 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Wendy Buch, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union (TCU) Local T-574 (located in Shiloh, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling funds in the amount of $11,957, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis Office.

On December 13, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Uggiano, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1699 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation with 50 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,350 and a $100 special assessment.  On September 6, 2017, Uggiano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 12, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael Evans, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1699 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation with 50 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,775 and a $100 special assessment.  On September 6, 2017, Evans pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 5, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Anthony Edmunds, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $19,482 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 1, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Henry Clay Green, Sr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees - Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (UNITE HERE) Local 26 (located in Medford, Mass.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $171,455 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Marcus Nabried’s petition seeking a reduction in the statutory disability, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Section 504(a), to seek employment with American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1199C (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was denied. Nabried’s disqualification under Section 504 is result of his August 25, 2011 conviction, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, for bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The denial of the petition follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Eastern Division, Douglas Morin, former Treasurer of the United Steelworkers Local 9520 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was sentenced to five years of probation (probation will terminate after one year, provided that the restitution is paid in full).  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,519 and a $25 special assessment.  On August 17, 2017, Morin pleaded guilty to one count of Falsification of Financial Records Required to be Kept by Labor Union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Alicia Rooney, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 459 (located in Missoula, Mont.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union in the amount of $171,804, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 21, 2017, in Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Fonda White, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2390 (located in Maugansville, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft with a value of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(i), for stealing $46,271 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Richard D’Antuono, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary of Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCM) Local 40 (located in Cranston, R.I.), was charged in a three-count criminal information with embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), theft from an employee benefit fund (18 U.S.C. 664), and aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. 1028A).  The total amount of embezzled funds is between $250,000 and $550,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 21, 2017, in Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Keith Franzese, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 275 (located in Greenbelt, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft of at least $100,000, two counts of theft of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000; six counts of theft of at least $1,000 but less than $10,000; five counts of theft of more than $500; and one count of embezzlement/fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary for stealing $104,834 from the union, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Sections 7-104(g)(1)(iii), 7-104(g)(1)(ii), 7-104(g)(1)(i), 7-104, and 7-113, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 15, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Henry Clay Green, Sr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees - Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (UNITE HERE) Local 26 (located in Medford, Mass.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $171,455 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Schaefer, former Treasurer of National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) Local 39 (located in Chesterfield, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $11,570 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On July 10, 2017, Schaefer pled guilty to one count of willful failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On November 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Tamika Bullock, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 684 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $24,600 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 13, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephanie DeBoer, former office manager and bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 876 (located in Edmore, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $307,563, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Roderick Bennett, former Chief of Staff for the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), located in Washington, D.C., was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzling $141,335 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Patrick Remigio, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2859 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.  Remigio was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $95,000 and a special assessment of $100.  On October 19, 2016, Remigio pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office, Department of Homeland Security's Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, Gordon Cairns, former President of United Steelworkers Local 1089 (located in Harrisburg, N.C.), was charged with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $63,999, one count of failure to maintain records, one count of making false statements, and one count of destruction of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 439(a), 439(b), and 439(c), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 3, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Danny Woodcock, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 83770 (located in Columbus, Miss.), was indicted on 48 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in the amount of $297,469, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 1, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Ronald Coldren, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 207 (located in Findlay, Ohio), was indicted for one count of embezzlement in the amount of $30,639.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Royer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 243 (located in East Prospect, Pa.), was sentenced to one year and one day of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release.  Royer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $130,869 and a special assessment of $100.  On June 19, 2017, Royer pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 31, 2017, in Rush County Circuit Court, Rushville, Indiana, David Maddy, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2339 (located in Rushville, Ind.), pled guilty to Theft, a Class D Felony, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a), for embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,197.  Maddy was then sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment (suspended) and 30 months of probation, and he was ordered to pay a $500 fine (suspended) and $950 in probation fees and court costs.  Maddy was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $12,197 owed after Local 2339’s successful claim for the full $25,000 amount of the union’s bond.  He paid the ordered amount following the sentencing.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 31, 2017, after a seven-day trial in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Paul Moe Sr., a general foreman and member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1804-1 (located in North Bergen, N.J.), was found guilty by a jury of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 13 substantive counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, stemming from his no-show job at the Port of Elizabeth terminal in New Jersey, with an annual salary of $500,000.   The guilty verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

On October 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division, Fenna F. Saylors, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 378 (located in Marion, Ind.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $6,050 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  Saylors paid $10,596 in restitution prior to sentencing.  On March 29, 2017, Saylors pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $16,647, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Carl DeRenzis, former Treasurer of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 1955 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $53,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew J. Thibodeau, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1433 (located in Kensington, Conn.), was sentenced to three months of incarceration followed by one year of supervised release with community service.  Thibodeau was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,179 and a special assessment of $100.  He previously paid $3,200 in restitution.  On April 5, 2017, Thibodeau pled guilty to one count of embezzlement for an amount exceeding $70,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 24, 2017, in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Norman Baker, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass, Molders, and Plastics (GMP) Local 220 (located in Axtell, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $8,310 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 24, 2017, in the Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Elizabeth Merrill, former Treasurer of Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 251 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was charged in a two-count indictment for forgery and theft of $1,051 in union funds, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.31 and 2913.02, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, David Sager, former President of Steelworkers Local 5000 (located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio), was sentenced to two years of probation with the first five months to be served on home detention with electronic monitoring.  Sager was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,189.   On June 30, 2017, Sager pled guilty to obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2)), false statements to law enforcement (18 U.S.C. 1001), and filing false tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the IRS.

On October 17, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Wendy Buch, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) Lodge T-574 (located in East St. Louis, Ill.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $11,957 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 17, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Jason Richard, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 12-990 (located in Wallula, Wash.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling over $40,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On October 12, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota Northern Division, Salvatore Zagra, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1959 (located in Watertown, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641.  He was then sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay total restitution of $24,152, a $2,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On October 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Carl DeRenzis, former Treasurer of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1955 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $53,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation the first three months of which will be served in home confinement.  Miller was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,070, a fine of $2,000, and a special assessment of $100.  On May 19, 2017, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,686, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 9, 2017, in the Ramsey County (Minnesota) District Court, Latasha Wilson, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with one count of theft by swindle of more than $35,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(a)(4).  The complaint alleges that Wilson stole union funds in the amount of $58,150 between January 2013 and December 2015.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On October 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Maria Nunez, former office secretary for International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1484 (located in Wilmington, Calif.), was charged in a six-count indictment for embezzling $11,946 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Additionally, Nunez was indicted on one count of willfully making a false entry in a record required to be kept, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Matt Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transport Workers Local 576 (located in Hurst, Tex.), pled guilty to the one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 4, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Gregory Normand, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 324-TD (located in Marysville, Wash.), was indicted for one count of embezzling over $443,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Additionally, Normand was indicted for one count of making false statements to a government agency in a filed report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and one count of making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On October 4, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Matt Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transport Workers Local 576 (located in Hurst, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment of embezzling $399,499 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 3, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Glenn Robert Smith, former comptroller for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC), located in Warren, Mich., pled guilty to one count of embezzling $499,087 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Norman Baker, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass, Molders, and Plastics (GMP) Local 220 (located in Axtell, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $8,310 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Ann Reddig, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 918 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $193,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2017.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 25, 2017, in the Franklin County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Michael Mathis, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $5,784.  He was immediately sentenced to 60 days of incarceration (suspended) and one year of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $5,784 in restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli, Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), was indicted for knowingly attempting to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by extortion, that is obtaining of property of quarterly cash payments of $25,000 from an employer (18 U.S.C. 1951(a)); willfully requesting, demanding, receiving and accepting a thing of value and a sum of money from an employer, namely, payments totaling approximately $325,000 on several occasions between 2014 and 2017 (29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) & 186(d)(2)); knowingly and willfully making materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations of matter in his U.S. Department of Labor – OLMS Form LM-30, for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 when he failed to disclose approximately $100,000 in employer payments received during each fiscal year (18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)); and willfully making and subscribing, and causing to be made and subscribed, false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, for calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016, in which reported income was substantially lower than actual income received (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)).  Coli was previously indicted on July 12, 2017.  The superseding indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On September 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Bobby Buford, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), was sentenced to 21 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution of $129,723 and a $100 special assessment.  On November 10, 2016, Buford pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for diverting over $129,723 in unions funds for personal use.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Raymond C. Ventrone, former business manager of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 154 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $1,499,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of tax evasion in the approximate amount of $265,343, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 12, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Marianne Rodacy, former Financial-Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 10-53-G (located in Charleroi, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $13,109 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 7, 2017, in the Jefferson County, New York District Court, Ronald G. Watson, former Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 105F (located in Fort Drum, N.Y.), pled guilty to criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree.  He was then sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution within 10 days.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael Evans and William Uggiano, former President and former Treasurer, respectively, of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1699 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), both pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349.  The guilty pleas follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Ryan Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge S-6 (located in Bath, Maine), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $280,865 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Monique Tyson, former secretary for Painters District Council 3 (located in Raytown, Mo.), was sentenced to one year of probation.  Tyson had previously paid restitution in the amount of $7,500.  On March 21, 2017, Tyson pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On August 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Alicia Rooney, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 459 (located in Missoula, Mont.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $112,153 from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of embezzlement in the amount of $59,650 from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Pascale Mcatee, former President of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 161 (located in Everett, Wash.), was sentenced to five months in federal prison followed by three years of federal probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $73,583 and a special assessment of $100.  On April 7, 2017, Mcatee pled guilty to a single count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On August 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Virdell King, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.) and a former Assistant Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  King’s sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2018.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 28, 2017, in the Superior Court for the County of Pierce in the State of Washington, Casey Cortese, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local Chapter 108 (located in Tacoma, Wash.), was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $27,514.  On May 30, 2017, Cortese pled guilty to a single count of Theft in the 1st Degree, in violation of Washington State Criminal Code 9A.56.020 (1)(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On August 23, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Violet Lamorie, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 695 (located in Denver, Colo.), was sentenced to 10 months of home confinement and five years of probation, and she was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $71,430 and a $100 assessment. On November 30, 2016, Lamorie pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Edward Padilla, former Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 220 (located in Bakersfield, Calif.), was sentenced to 21 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.  Padilla was also ordered to pay $168,780 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 27, 2017, Padilla pled guilty to embezzling $168,780 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Virdell King, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.) and a former Assistant Director of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), was charged in an information with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, stemming from her receipt of over $40,000 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred or were received between 2012 and 2015, included purchases of clothing, jewelry, luggage and other personal items, as well as golf equipment, luggage, concert tickets, theme park tickets, and other items for the personal benefit of other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card accounts of the NTC, which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, John Hamilton, former business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 18 U.S.C. 1951.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 17, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, Russell Gloeckl, former maintenance employee for Boilermakers Local 154 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of receiving stolen property, in violation of 18 Pennsylvania Criminal Code 3921(a) and 3925(a), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 17, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Eastern Division, Douglas Morin, former Treasurer of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9520 (located in Fargo, N.D.), pled guilty to a one-count information for falsification of financial records required to be kept by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 16, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Eastern Division, Douglas Morin, former Treasurer of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9520 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was charged in a one-count information with falsification of financial records required to be kept by labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 8, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerome Durden, former Financial Analyst in the Corporate Accounting Department of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), former Controller of the United Auto Workers (UAW) -Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), and former Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Leave the Light On Foundation (LTLOF), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by impairing, impeding, and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service by preparing and filing tax returns for the UAW-Chrysler NTC and the LTLOF between 2009 and 2015 that falsely concealed millions of dollars in prohibited payments directed to former UAW Vice President General Holiefield (now deceased), former FCA Vice President Alphons Iacobelli, and others, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Durden also pled guilty to one count of failure to file an income tax return for 2013, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7203.  His sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2017.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 8, 2017, in the United States District Court for  the District of Maine, Ryan Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge S6 (located in Bath, Maine), was indicted on one count of embezzling $280,865 in union funds, in  violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 2, 2017, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Article, Section 7-104.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael Evans and William Uggiano, former President and former Treasurer, respectively, of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1699 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), were both charged in a one-count information for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Curtis Lang, former President of the United Dairy Workers of LeMars (located in LeMars, Iowa), was sentenced to one year of confinement, six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $95,223 and a $100 special assessment.  On May 8, 2017, Lang pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On July 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Angela Parrish-Wilson, former office manager of Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Workers Union (RWDSU) Joint Council 932 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On July 26, 2017, in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, William Bryles, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2406 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged and pled no contest to four counts of felony embezzlement, in violation of Oklahoma Penal Code, Title 21, Chapter 59, 1451.  He then signed a three-year deferred sentence order and was ordered to pay $11,174 in restitution and court costs.  The charge, plea, and deferred sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 26, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Guy Gokey, former Financial Secretary of Glass Molders and Plastics (GMP) Local 59 (located in Toledo, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,074, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 26, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) and two counts of violating the LMRA for paying and delivering over $1.2 million in prohibited payments and things of value to the late General Holiefield, former Vice President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), to Holiefield’s wife, Monica Morgan, and to other UAW officials, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 186(a)(2), (d)(1), respectively.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred between 2009 and 2014, included designer clothing, jewelry, furniture, and paying off the $262,219 mortgage on Holiefield and Morgan’s residence.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card accounts of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of workers.  Iacobelli was also charged with an additional count of conspiracy and four counts of failing to report on his 2012-2015 individual tax returns approximately $2.1 million in NTC funds that he diverted for his own personal benefit, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively.  Iacobelli was charged with diverting those funds to pay for a Ferrari 458 Spider automobile costing more than $350,000, leasing a private jet, two limited edition Mont Blanc pens costing $37,500 each, a pool and hundreds of thousands of dollars in improvements to his residence, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal credit card expenses, among other purchases.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 26, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Monica Morgan, wife of the late General Holiefield, a former Vice President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act stemming from her and Holiefield’s receipt of over $1.2 million in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA, and from the use of three companies controlled by Morgan to conceal the prohibited payments and things of value, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The prohibited payments and things of value, which occurred between 2009 and 2014, included designer clothing, jewelry, furniture, and paying off the $262,219 mortgage on Holiefield and Morgan’s residence.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card accounts of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of workers.  Morgan was also charged with three counts of failing to report the income she received through those companies on her 2011-2013 individual tax returns and with one count of failing to file an income tax return for 2014, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1) and 7203, respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 24, 2017, in the LaPorte County Indiana Circuit Court, Thomas Rodgers, former General Chairman of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 247 (located in LaPorte, Ind.), was charged in an information with a level 6 felony theft of $3,672, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Christopher Hayes, former Rhode Island Police Department Sergeant and former President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), was sentenced to six months of imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay $71,523 in restitution.  On May 1, 2017, Hayes pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  Hayes admitted to the court that between August 2009 and December 2014, he used an FOP debit card to pay for his own personal expenses; wrote checks payable to himself from the FOP bank account; withdrew cash from the FOP bank account for personal use; and made online payments to his personal credit card from the FOP bank account, converting approximately $71,523 in union funds for his own personal use.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On July 20, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Herbert White, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-8936 (previously located in Wilmington, Del.), pled guilty to a misdemeanor charging him with making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  On the same day, White was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a restitution balance of $23,287 and a $25 special assessment.  White had already paid $2,247 in restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 20, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Paul Moe, a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1804-1 (located in North Bergen, N.J.) and general foreman for a Port Elizabeth terminal operator, was indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy and 13 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 1349, and 2, for fraudulently submitting timesheets that resulted in paying him nearly $500,000 annually while the investigation disclosed that he either never showed up at the job site or was present for as little as eight hours per week.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

On July 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray , former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,067 in restitution.  On May 31, 2017, Ray pled guilty to false writings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 17, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Ashley Cline, former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 155 (located in Idaho Falls, Idaho), was sentenced to four years of federal probation and she was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,776 and a $1,000 fine.  On January 25, 2017, Cline pled guilty to a single count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On July 13, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, Michael Lackey, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3901 (located in Oxford, Ala.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $69,193.  On January 31, 2017, Lackey pled guilty to five counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344, and one count of embezzlement in the amount of $69,193, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On July 12, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Lonzell Moore, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1730 (located in Des Plaines, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $18,857 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 11, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jeffrey Davies, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 183 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to one year in a federal penitentiary and three years of federal probation, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $92,766 and a $100 fine.  On June 7, 2016, Davies pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $92,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the FBI.

On July 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Schaefer, former Treasurer of National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) Local 39 (located in Chesterfield, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of willful failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jay C. Roy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Local 1245 (located in Locust Grove, Ga.), was sentenced to two months of imprisonment and two years of probation, and he was ordered to pay $83,417 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 24, 2017, Roy pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Lonzell Moore, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1730 (located in Des Plaines, Ill.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $18,857 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 6, 2017, in Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, Fonda White, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2390 (located in Maugansville, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft of property with a value of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000, one count of embezzlement, and two counts of theft of property with a value of more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(ii), 7-113, and 7-104(g)(1)(i), respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department.

On July 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Ann Reddig, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 918 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was charged in a superseding information with one count of embezzling over $193,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, David Sager, former President of Steelworkers Local 5000 (located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio), pled guilty to obstruction of justice, making false statements, and falsification of tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2), 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), and 26 U.S.C. 7206 (1), respectively.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service

On June 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Lon Sullivan, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 644 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to three years of probation and 200 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay the remaining balance of restitution in the amount $59,809. Sullivan previously paid $37,000 in restitution. On February 28, 2017, Sullivan pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The subject union is comprised of Department of Labor employees. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kimberly Steinhoff, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 87 (located in Munising, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of $12,751, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On June 22, 2017, in the Nassau District Court in Hempstead New York, Jeanette Willoughby, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2009 (located in Garden City, N.Y.), was charged with petit larceny, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law 155.25, for diverting $2,487 in union funds for personal use.  She then pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge.  She was also ordered to pay $2,487 in restitution.  The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Tamika Bullock, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 684 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $24,600 from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 20, 2017, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Arthur W. Boedecker, former Vice President of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 270 (located in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of aggravated theft from a union in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02 A(3).  On the same date, Boedecker was sentenced to a jail term of three days and fined $500.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 20, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Scott Alexander and Nancy Alexander, former President and former office administrator, respectively, for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), were indicted for embezzlement and wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 20, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Estes Evans, former Treasurer of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local R7-33 (located in Milwaukee, Wisc.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of $44,446 and one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.

On June 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Royer, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 243 (located in East Prospect, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The loss amount will be determined at a later date.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 16, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Kathleen Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 850 and the Oklahoma State Council of Machinists (located in Oklahoma City and Enid, Okla., respectively), was sentenced to four years of probation and 104 hours of community service, and she was ordered to pay $20,770 in restitution. On January 12, 2017, Smith pled guilty to embezzling union funds from both labor organizations, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 16, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Michael R. Bennett, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2317 (located in Lafayette, Ind.), was sentenced to 15 months of incarceration, one year of supervised release, and was also ordered to pay restitution of $18,047 and a $100 special assessment.  Bennett previously paid $84,807 in restitution.  On November 21, 2016, Bennett pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for diverting over $100,000 in unions funds for personal use.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 13, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerome Durden, former Financial Analyst in the Corporate Accounting Department of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), former Controller of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), and former Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Leave the Light On Foundation (LTLOF), was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by impairing, impeding, and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service by preparing and filing tax returns for the UAW-Chrysler NTC and the LTLOF between 2009 and 2015 that falsely concealed millions of dollars in prohibited payments directed to former UAW Vice President General Holiefield (now deceased), former FCA Vice President Alphons Iacobelli, and others, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Durden was also charged with one count of failure to file an income tax return for 2013, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7203.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On June 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Ann Reddig, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 918 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling over $193,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of Making a Forged Security, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Francis Mazzella, employer for members of Metal Polishers/Refinishers, Painters, Production and Novelty Workers, Sign Pictorial and Display, Automotive Equipment Painters Workers Union Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution. On February 27, 2012, Mazzella pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 371. Mazzella owned and controlled City-Wide, a New York City contracting firm. City-Wide entered into an agreement with Local 8A-28A to perform construction work on their union hall. The investigation disclosed that Three Generations, another union contractor owned by Robert Fabrizio, actually performed the union hall renovation, rather than City-Wide. Mazzella submitted false invoices to the Local 8A-28A Welfare Fund claiming that City-Wide had performed the work resulting in being paid significantly inflated rates for work not completed by the company. Mazzella was also responsible for administering the payroll of Three Generations and would routinely pay employees all or a portion of their salaries in cash and did not disclose these payments to the IRS. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the IRS-CID, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Juan Carlos Recinos, former Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Iron Workers Local 201 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Recinos previously paid full restitution of $26,900. On February 24, 2017, Recinos pled guilty to one count of Fraud in the Second Degree, in violation of DC Code Sections 22-3221(b) and 22-3222(b)(2). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 2, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Schaefer, former Treasurer of National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) Local 39 (located in Chesterfield, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with willful failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On May 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray , former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), pled guilty to a superseding information of false writings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocky Defilippo, Amtrak Police Officer and member of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 (located in Metuchen, N.J.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making false statements for submitting a fraudulent letter to Amtrak claiming prior police service to obtain back pay and an increased salary level totaling more than $45,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 1001, respectively. The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Amtrak Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

On May 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, John A. Matassa, Jr., Secretary Treasurer of Independent Union of Amalgamated Workers Local 711 (located in Mount Prospect, Ill.), was charged in an indictment with two counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft of approximately $3,291 in government funds in the form of Old-Age Insurance Benefits, four counts of embezzling $2,959 in union funds, and two counts of making false entries in union records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 641, 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 29 U.S. C. 439(c), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Chicago Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 22, 2017, in Las Animas County Colorado District Court, Leo Ulibarri, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Local Lodge 204 (located in Pueblo, Colo.), was charged in a one-count information with Theft, in violation of C.R.S. 18-4-401(1)(5). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Carmen Martinez, former Treasurer of Bet Tzedek Legal Service Union Local 946E (located in Los Angeles, California), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $19,070 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 26, 2017, Martinez pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), pled guilty to a one-count criminal information for embezzling $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 12, 2017, in the Suffolk County, 10th Judicial Circuit Court, David Diaz, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 387 (located in Northport, N.Y.), was sentenced to 280 hours of community service in lieu of 60 days in jail and three years of probation.  Diaz was also ordered to pay $17,149 in restitution.  On March 16, 2017, Diaz pled guilty to Petit Larceny, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.25.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On May 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Jeni May Hughes, former office manager for Plumbers Local 155 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), pled guilty to a one-count criminal information for embezzling $428,874 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stephanie DeBoer, former office manager and bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 876 (located in Edmore, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling approximately $307,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 8, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Michelle Dancy, former Residuals Estates and Trust Department Manager of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), located in Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $183,168 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 14, 2016, Dancy pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 8, 2017, in the United States Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Curtis Lang, former President of the United Dairy Workers of LeMars (located in LeMars, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On March 22, 2017, Lang was indicted for one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $45,040.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 2, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with embezzling approximately $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 1, 2017, in the United States District Court of Rhode Island, Christopher Hayes, former Rhode Island Police Department Sergeant and former President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  Hayes admitted to the court that between August 2009 and December 2014, he used an FOP debit card to pay for his own personal expenses; wrote checks payable to himself from the FOP bank account; withdrew cash from the FOP bank account for personal use; and made online payments to his personal credit card from the FOP bank account, converting approximately $71,523 in union funds for his own personal use.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On April 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Raymond C. Ventrone, former business manager for International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 154 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged in a six-count information for one count of embezzling approximately $1,499,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and five counts of income tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Jeni  May Hughes, former office manager for Plumbers Local 155 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was charged in a one-count criminal information for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for Western District of Washington, Pascale McAtee, former President of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 161-Transportation Division (TD), located in Everett, Wash., pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $82,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2017.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 5, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew Thibodeau, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local Lodge 1433 (located in Kensington, Conn.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzling union funds exceeding $70,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Thibodeau then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 4, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, David Sager, former President of United Steelworkers Local 5000 (located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio), was indicted on three counts of filing false income tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1).  On September 14, 2016, Sager previously was charged with nine counts of embezzlement, 18 counts of mail fraud, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of making false statement to law enforcement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 1341, 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2), and 18 U.S.C. 1001 respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 29, 2017, in the United States District Court Northern District of Indiana, Fenna F. Saylors, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 378 (located in Marion, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Saylors embezzled approximately $16,647.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Scot McNamara, former Financial Secretary of Heat & Frost Insulators Local 34 (located St. Paul, Minn.), was sentenced to four months of house arrest and two years of probation.  McNamara was also ordered to pay $8,871 in restitution, a $3,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $4,000 in reimbursement to the U.S. Treasury Department for the cost of his legal representation.  On December 9, 2016, McNamara pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 29, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division, William Dixon, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 2014 (located in Lebanon, Va.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to undergo counseling and drug treatment.  Dixon was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $3,408.  Dixon previously paid $930.  On December 12, 2016, Dixon pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $4,338 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Herbert White, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-8936 (located in Wilmington, Del.), was charged in an information with making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Schofield, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (BMW) Local 1046 (located in Plainfield, Ill.), was sentenced to eight months of incarceration, and one year of supervised release (which includes two months of home confinement).  He was also ordered to pay $30,641 in restitution and a $25 fine.  On January 26, 2017, Schofield pled guilty to one count of making a false entry with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-4 report for fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, in that it helped conceal an embezzlement of union funds totaling $31,850 during 2012 and 2013, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  In the plea, for the purpose of determining relevant conduct, Schofield admitted to making unauthorized loans of union funds to himself in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503(a).  In the plea, for the purpose of computing his sentence, Schofield stipulated to having committed wire fraud to defraud his employer of $30,641, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Edward Padilla, former Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 220 (located in Bakersfield, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $168,780, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 27, 2017, in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, Casey Cortese, former President for the Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Chapter 108 (located in Pierce County, Wash.), was indicted on a single count of theft in the 1st degree, in violation of RCW 9A.56.020(1)(c) and RCW 9A.56.030(1)(a).  Cortese is charged with converting over $27,000 in Chapter 108 funds to his own personal use.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jay C. Roy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1245-Transportation Division (TD), located in Atlanta, Ga., pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $2,125, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and agreed to pay $101,019 in restitution.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 23, 2017, in the United States Court for the Southern District of New Yorfk, Johnnie Miranti, former Secretary-Treasurer of Toy and Novelty Workers Local 223 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to eight months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $138,500 in forfeiture and a $5,000 fine.  At the sentencing, the court also denied Miranti’s petition requesting a reduction from 29 U.S.C. 504 and 1111 (which prohibits persons convicted of certain crimes from holding union and/or employee benefit fund office or employment, or serving in other prohibited capacities, for a period of 13 years following conviction or the end of imprisonment).  On August 8, 2016, Miranti pled guilty to Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Kickbacks to Influence the Operation of an Employee Benefit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 22, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Sharon Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 807 (located in Columbia, S.C.), was sentenced to one day of imprisonment and 18 months of supervised release.  Holmes was also ordered pay restitution in the amount of $101,987 and a $100 assessment.  On March 15, 2016, Holmes pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,823, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 22, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Curtis Dean Lang, former President for the United Dairy Workers of LeMars (located in LeMars, Iowa), was indicted on one count of embezzling $45,040, in union funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 21, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Monique Tyson, former office secretary for Painters District Council 3 (located in Raytown, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Tyson falsified entries in the union’s cash receipts journal to hide her embezzlement of between $7,500 and $20,864.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On March 20, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Christopher Hayes, former President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local Lodge 8 (located in Newport, R.I.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the amount of $71,523, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Rhode Island State Police.

On March 16, 2017, in the Suffolk County First District Court of New York, David Diaz, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 387 (located in Northport, N.Y.), pled guilty to Petit Larceny, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.25.  His sentencing is set for May 11, 2017.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On March 13, 2017, in the United States District Court Northern District of Indiana, Fenna F. Saylors, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 378 (located in Marion, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,647, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 9, 2017, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania denied James Francis Allgeier’s petition to exempt him from the statutory disability, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 504(a), to hold the elected position of executive board member in International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 2 (located in Aliquippa, Pa.).  Allgeier’s disqualification under section 504 is a result of his August 5, 2008 conviction, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. 2702(a)(1).  The denial of the petition follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jay C. Roy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1245-Transportation Division (TD), located in Atlanta, Ga., was charged in a one-count information for embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $2,125.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Danae Romero, former Vice President of United Industrial & Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., pled guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On March 8, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), Brian W. Scott, former President/Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 503 (located in Monroe, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release.  Scott was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $68,771.  On November 17, 2016, Scott pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 3, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Edward Padilla, former Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager of Laborers Local 220 (located in Bakersfield, Calif.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $168,780, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 1, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Fabrizio, the owner of Three Generations, a union contractor and an employer trustee of the Painters Local 8A-28A welfare fund, was sentenced to eight months in jail and one year of supervised release.  He was also ordered to make full restitution of $743,032.  Fabrizio was convicted of conspiring to facilitate a kickback scheme whereby the third party administrator (TPA) of the welfare fund paid him $743,032 over a seven-year period, through a shell company he controlled, to ensure the TPA maintained his contract with the fund.  Fabrizio shared these proceeds with co-conspirator Hector Lopez, former President of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), who was sentenced to four years of incarceration following his conviction in November 2014.  In November 2011, Fabrizio pled guilty to one count of Kickbacks to Influence Operations of Employee Benefit Plan and two counts of Money Laundering Conspiracy.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS-CID.

On March 1, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Stephen Royer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 243 (located in East Prospect, Pa.), was charged in a five-count indictment, which included one count of embezzling $130,870 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and four counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Lon Sullivan, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 644 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was charged in an information with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $8,647, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  He then pled guilty to the charge.  Sullivan agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $96,809.  The subject union was comprised of DOL employees.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 27, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gary Cooper, a contractor associated with Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 68 months in prison, 36 months of probation, and 120 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay $1,632,000 in restitution.  On November 22, 2016, Cooper was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to make unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186 and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; and two counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957, for stealing $1.7 million from the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Juan Carlos Recinos, former business manager for Iron Workers Local 201 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of Fraud in the Second Degree, in violation of DC Code Section 22-3221(b) and Section 22-3222(b)(2), on the condition that he repay the seven union members he stole from prior to sentencing.  Recinos pled guilty to stealing $26,900 from the seven union members when he told them that they had to pay him cash from their back pay awards to pay an attorney that helped obtain the back pay, when there was no attorney involved.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 23, 2017, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, William Winecke, former Treasurer of the Soo Line Locomotive and Car Foremen’s Association (located in Apple Valley, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of more than $35,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(4).  On the same date, Winecke was sentenced to 30 days of confinement and four years of probation, and he was also ordered to pay $12,536 in restitution and $504 in fees.  Winecke previously made restitution in the amount of $29,000.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 22, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Aaron Contreras, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84749 (located in Fostoria, Ohio), was sentenced to 16 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to make full restitution of $42,700.  On October 11, 2016, Contreras pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $42,700.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Fostoria, Ohio Police Department.

On February 17, 2017, in the Ashtabula, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Adele Dewey, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 811 (located in Andover, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $4,224, in violation of O.R.C. 2913.02, and one count of forgery, in violation of O.R.C. 2913.31.  She was immediately sentenced to 30 days of incarceration (suspended) and one year of supervised release.  Dewey was ordered to pay a $250 fine for each charge and to perform 40 hours of community service.  Dewey already paid full restitution.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 16, 2017,in Waupaca County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Teresa Adkins, former business manager of Heat & Frost Insulators Local 127 (located in Clintonville, Wis.), was charged in 10-count criminal complaint with one count of felony theft of more than $10,000 and nine counts of felony forgery, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b) and 943.38(1)(a), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 15, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Devon Madray, former President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 119 (located in Roseville, Mich.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was also ordered to pay $20,097 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On October 24, 2016, Madray pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray , former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 8, 2017, in the Franklin County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Michael Mathis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged with one count of theft in the amount of $5,784, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 8, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Christopher Kwegan, a contractor associated with Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to three years in prison, three years of probation, and 120 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to pay $1,632,000 in restitution.  On November 1, 2016, Kwegan pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to commit wire and honest services fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, 18 U.S.C. 1346, and 18 U.S.C. 371; and 39 counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Anthony Frederick, former business manager for Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to four years in prison, three years of probation, and 120 hours of community service.  Frederick was also ordered to pay $1,632,000 in restitution.  On October 31, 2016, Frederick pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle money from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to receive unlawful labor payments in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186 and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 371; and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 7, 2017, in the United States District Court District of Wyoming, Harold Giberson, former President of Utility Workers Local 127 (located in Casper, Wyo.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $158,953 and a $100 special assessment.  On December 2, 2016, Giberson pled guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $179,052, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Wanda Rosenboro-Correa, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2798 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $13,803.  On November 22, 2016, Rosenboro-Correa pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 2, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Robert Smith III, former Business Agent and Financial Secretary of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 970 (located in Norfolk, Va.), was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of probation.  Smith was also ordered to pay $1,072,669 in restitution.  On October 14, 2016, Smith pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for stealing $1,072,669 from the union by making cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account, paying his personal credit card bills, and using union funds to buy gas, food, clothing, shoes, toys, entertainment, and home improvement supplies.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On February 1, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, County of Clarion, Mark Bell, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2439 (located in Knox, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation.  He was also ordered to pay the cost of prosecution and the cost of supervision fee of $35 per month and to complete 50 hours of community service.  Bell previously paid $872 in restitution.  On January 4, 2017, Bell pled guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. 4101(a)(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, Michael Lackey, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3901 (located in Oxford, Ala.), pled guilty to five counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344, and one count of embezzlement in the amount of $69,193, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Keith Christopherson, former business manager for Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIA) Local 34 (located in St. Paul, Minn.), was sentenced to four months of incarceration followed by two years of supervised release.  Christopherson was also ordered to pay $67,714 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On August 19, 2016, Christopherson pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 26, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Schofield, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (BMW) Local 1046 (located in Plainfield, Ill.), entered into an amended plea, thereby dismissing the June 30, 2016 guilty plea.  In the amended plea, Schofield pled guilty to the same one-count charge of making a false entry with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-4 report for fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 in that it helped conceal an embezzlement of union funds totaling $31,850 during 2012 and 2013.  In the amended plea, for the purpose of determining relevant conduct pursuant to Guideline 1B1.3,  Schofield admitted to making unauthorized loans of union funds to himself in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503(a).  In the amended plea, for the purpose of computing his sentence under Guideline 1B1.2, Schofield stipulated to having committed wire fraud to defraud his employer (Union Pacific) of $30,641, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  As a result of violating the terms of his pretrial release (stipulated wire fraud offense), Schofield was incarcerated pending his March 21, 2017 scheduled sentencing date.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 26, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Carmen Martinez, former Treasurer of Bet Tzedek Legal Service Union Local 946E (located in Los Angeles, Calif.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $19,070, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Angela Parrish-Wilson, former office manager of the Mid-South Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union, District Council 932 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was charged with one count of embezzling $41,450 in union funds from District Council 932 as well as Locals 201 and 555, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 20 counts of defrauding a FDIC insured financial institution of over $40,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C 1344(2).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office of the Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 25, 2017, in the Suffolk County First District Court of New York, David Diaz, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 387 (located in Northport, N.Y.), was charged in a felony complaint with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, for a larceny exceeding $3,000, in violation of New York State Penal Law 155.35.  Diaz was then arrested and surrendered to the Suffolk County Attorney General's Office.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On January 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Ashley Cline, former office manager for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 155 (located in Idaho Falls, Idaho), was indicted and pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $37,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2017.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco - Seattle District Office.

On January 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, John Kauffman, Jr., former President of National Federation of Government Employees (NFFE) Lodge 1442 (located at Chambersburg, Pa.), was sentenced to one month of imprisonment followed by seven months of home confinement.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,062.  On September 26, 2016, Kauffman pled guilty to mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Louis Smith, former President of Teamsters Local 810 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year in prison followed by two years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $151,481 in forfeiture.  Smith had already paid $213,264 in restitution to the local's health and welfare fund.  On August 5, 2016, Smith pled guilty to conspiracy to solicit and receive kickbacks in an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 1954.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the NYPD, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On January 23, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Michelle Clifton, former office manager for Insulators Local 78 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment, three months of home detention, and three years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay $23,014 in restitution.  On August 30, 2016, Clifton pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $23,014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Monique Tyson, former office secretary for Painters District Council 3 (located in Raytown, Mo.), was charged in an information with one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Tyson falsified entries in the union’s cash receipts journal to hide her embezzlement of between $7,500 and $20,864.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On January 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Charles Nelson, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Council of Security Police (NCSP), formally located in Yakima, Wash., was sentenced to six months in a federal penitentiary and three years of federal probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $143,489 and a $100 fine.  On September 7, 2016, Nelson pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $140,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On January 17, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, John J. Romero, former Treasurer of United Industrial & Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement in connection with healthcare, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 12, 2017, in the 10th Judicial Circuit in Jefferson County, Alabama, John Clifton, former unit griever for Steelworkers Local 09-1013-S (located in Fairfield, Ala.), pled guilty to theft of property, in violation of 13A-008-005.  He was then sentenced to one year in the Jefferson County Jail (suspended) and placed on unsupervised probation for two years.  Clifton was also ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 12, 2017, in the Western District of Oklahoma, Kathleen Smith, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 850 and the Oklahoma State Council of Machinists (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged and pled guilty to one count of embezzling $18,658 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 9, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Sergio Acosta, President/Employee of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 and Lawrence Ackerman, a health insurance broker, were each charged with one count of conspiring to defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of $5.5 million and one count of conspiring to defraud the Local 2326 self-insured plan of $1 million, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347 and 1349, respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 5, 2017, in the United States Court for the Southern District of New York, Adrian Lindsay, former Vice President of the Benefit Fund Staff Association (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation.  Lindsay was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On July 21, 2016, Lindsay pled guilty to willful concealment and withholding of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), showing use of association funds for approximately $25,000 in combined expenditures, with former President Malkia King, that were not authorized by the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On January 4, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, County of Clarion, Mark Bell, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2439 (located in Knox, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. 4101(a)(1).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 16, 2016, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Gregory Tyree, former President of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers of America (NASPSO), located in Washington, D.C., was charged in an information with one count of theft in the second degree, in violation of 22 D.C. Code Sections 3211 and 3212(b), for stealing $1,219 from the union.  Tyree then pled guilty and was sentenced on this date to 90 days incarceration (all suspended) and one year of probation.  Tyree was also ordered not to hold union office for five years and to pay the remaining restitution of $389.  The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, David Fleury, former President of Bricklayers Local 6 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of incarceration and three years of supervised release, and he was also ordered to pay $318,036 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On August, 9, 2016, Fleury pled guilty to embezzling over $250,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Jennifer Cruise, also known as Jenn Studebaker, former office manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 (located in Austin, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,344 and a $100 special assessment.  On October 5, 2016, Cruise pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On December 14, 2016, in the Jefferson County New York District Court, Ronald G. Watson, former Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 105F (located on United States Army Base Fort Drum, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of grand larceny in the third degree, nine counts of forgery in the second degree, and nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.  On April 21, 2017, the indictment was unsealed.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On December 14, 2016, in the United States Court for the Southern District of New York, Malkia King, former President of the Benefit Fund Staff Association (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year of probation, as well as ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and to pay a $25 special assessment.  King previously paid full restitution of $13,000.  On July 15, 2016, King pled guilty to willful concealment and withholding of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439 (c), showing use of association funds for approximately $25,000 in combined expenditures, with former Vice President Adrian Lindsay, that were not authorized by the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 14, 2016, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000 for stealing $30,150 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 13, 2016, in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Daniel Ross, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Workers/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6721 (located in Oakland, Calif.), was charged in a one-count criminal complaint for Grand Theft of Personal Property of a value exceeding $950, a felony violation of Section 487(a) of the Penal Code of California, for the theft of union funds in the amount of $4,607.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On December 12, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Cisek, former Sergeant-at-Arms of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 56 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Cisek previously paid restitution in the amount of $9,200.  On August 25, 2016, Cisek 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 Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 12, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division, William Dixon, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 2014 (located in Lebanon, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $4,338 from the union.  He then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 9, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Scot McNamara, former Business Agent and Financial Secretary for Insulators Local 34 (located in St. Paul, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union finds in the amount of $500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea agreement outlines that the total amount embezzled from Local 34 by McNamara was $8,871.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Pascale McAtee, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 161 (located in Lynnwood, Wash.), was indicted for one count of embezzling over $80,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Additionally, McAtee was indicted for three counts of making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On December 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota Northern Division, Salvatore Zagra, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1959 (located in Watertown, S.D.), was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of selling, conveying and disposing of property from the Department of Energy without authority, namely tools which had a value exceeding $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641.  In count two, he was charged for knowingly executing and attempting to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud a financial institution, and to obtain money, funds, credits, assets, securities, and other property owned by and under the custody and control of, the aforementioned financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  Specifically, Zagra knowingly and fraudulently made and cashed checks on an account belonging to Local 1959 that were payable to himself, forged the signature of the union’s president on these checks, and made and cashed pre-signed checks payable to himself for unauthorized expenses.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 6, 2016, in the United States Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Magelitz, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 415 (located in Vienna, Ill.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and two years of probation, as well as ordered to complete 100 hours community service and pay restitution in the amount of $21,849.  On August 17, 2016, Magelitz pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Violet Lamorie, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 695 (located in Denver, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling over $70,000 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, Michael Lackey, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local  3901 (located in Oxford, Ala.), was indicted on five counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344; one count of embezzlement in a total amount of $69,193, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); and three counts of failure to maintain labor union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 29, 2016, in the United States District Court District of Wyoming, Harold Giberson, former President of Utility Workers Local 127 (located in Casper, Wyo.), waived an indictment.  He then was charged in an information and pled guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $179,052, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Assane Faye, the founder and former President of the United Security and Police Officers of America (USPOA), located in Toms River, N.J., was sentenced to three years of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution.  On May 10, 2016, a federal jury found Faye guilty of two counts of embezzling union funds and seven counts of mail fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1341, respectively.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, after a one week trial, a jury found Gary Cooper, a contractor associated with Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; and two counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957.  The scheme for which Cooper was found guilty involved $1.73 million in checks written from Laborers Local 657 to STS Construction, a company co-owned by Cooper, for minimal work done on union buildings.  STS Construction then put a $225,000 down payment on a house for the Local 657 business manager, wrote the business manager a check for $8,000, and transferred $624,000 to a business that was co-owned by the business manager’s wife.  The guilty verdict is the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Wanda Rosenboro-Correa, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2798 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for stealing $13,803 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Michael R. Bennett, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2317 (located in Lafayette, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for diverting over $100,000 of unions funds for personal use.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), Brian W. Scott, former President/Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 503 (located in Monroe, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 17, 2016, in the Rush County, Indiana Circuit/Superior Court, David P. Maddy, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2339 (located in Rushville, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information for felony theft of union funds in the amount of $37,197, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 15, 2016, in United States District Court for the Central District of California, Carmen Martinez, former Treasurer of Bet Tzedek Legal Service Union Local 946E (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $19,070.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 10, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Bob Buford, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for fraudulently obtaining more than $128,000 in union funds for his personal benefit.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bernadine Bell, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 757 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 30 days of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $55,600 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Bell had previously paid $17,400 in restitution. On July 14, 2016,Bell pled guilty to embezzling $73,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Christopher Kwegan, a contractor associated with Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to commit wire and honest services fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, 18 U.S.C. 1346, and 18 U.S.C. 371; and 39 counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957.  In pleading guilty, Kwegan admitted that $1.73 million in checks were written from Laborers Local 657 to STS Construction, a company co-owned by Kwegan, for minimal work done on union buildings.  STS Construction then put a $225,000 down payment on a house for the Local 657 business manager, wrote the business manager a check for $8,000, and transferred $624,000 to a business that was co-owned by the business manager’s wife.  The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

On November 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, William Galloway, former Treasurer of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 192T (located in Reidsville, N.C.) was sentenced to one year of probation and was also ordered to pay $897 in restitution a $25 special assessment.  Galloway had already paid $41,457.19 in restitution.  On September 27, 2016, Galloway pled guilty to a one count of making a false statement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On October 31, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Anthony Frederick, former business manager for Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle money from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to receive unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186 and 18 U.S.C. 371; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 371; and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957.  Frederick directed more than $1.7 million in Local 657 funds to a contractor without the knowledge or authorization of the Local 657 executive board or international union.  The contractor then made payments to Frederick with the stolen funds including a $225,000 down payment on a home that Frederick purchased, construction of a garage on the property, and directed more than $600,000 to a corporation owned in part by Frederick’s wife.  The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Roy Murray, former President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $31,111 and a special assessment of $25.  Murray was also ordered to serve 80 hours of community service.  On July 25, 2016, Murray 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 Chicago District Office.

On October 26, 2016, in the Nassau County District Court in Mineola, New York, Charles Burke, former Treasurer of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 365 (located in Valley Stream, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay the remaining $37,000 in restitution.  Burke had previously paid $74,000 in restitution.  On March 8, 2016, Burke pled guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the 1st degree, for embezzling $111,000 from UWUA Local 365.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 25, 2016, in the Campbell County, Kentucky Circuit Court, Laura Cloyd, former Financial Secretary of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 112 (located in Alexandria, Ky.), was sentenced to three years diversion and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,669 for a felony conviction and one year of probation for a misdemeanor conviction.  On September 28, 2016, Cloyd pled guilty to Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition, a felony, and Theft by Unlawful Taking under $500, a misdemeanor.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 24, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Devon Madray, President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 119 (located in Roseville, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,097, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On October 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Patrick Remigio, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2859 (located in Tucson, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  In addition, Remigio agreed to pay $95,000 in restitution.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the FBI.

On October 18, 2016, in the Westchester County District Court, Frank Gluberman, former Secretary Treasurer of the Greenburgh Teachers Federation (located in Hartsdale, N.Y.), was sentenced to between one to three years in prison.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $822,281.  On August 13, 2014, Gluberman pled guilty to grand larceny in the second degree.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Robert Smith, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 970 (located in Norfolk, Va.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for stealing $1,072,668 from the union.  Smith withdrew more than $700,000 from the union in cash, paid his personal credit card bills with union funds, and used union funds to purchase gas, food, clothing, shoes, toys, entertainment, and home improvement supplies.  The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 13, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Clinton Humphrey, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 386 (located in Texarkana, Ark.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation.  Humphrey was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,811 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 26, 2016, Humphrey pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of embezzling $51,812 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Violet Lamorie, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 695 (located in Denver, Colo.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling over $70,000 from the union.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Steve Hartman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 83 (located in Frankfort, Ky.), was sentenced to two years of probation and 50 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On June 22, 2016, Hartman pled guilty to one count of forging a security of an organization in the amount of $2,173, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513.  Hartman previously paid restitution in the amount of $13,208.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Aaron Contreras, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84749 (located in Fostoria, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $42,700 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Fostoria Police Department.

On October 6, 2016, in the Dubois Superior Court in Dubois County, Indiana, Carlton Woodcox, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2150 (located in Jasper, Ind.), was sentenced to 368 days in jail (360 days suspended and credit given for eight days previously served), 360 days of probation, and 80 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay full restitution of $30,859.  On September 7, 2016, Woodcox pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $30,859.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jeffrey Velfling, former Chief Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Velfling previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758.  On June 8, 2016,Velfling pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, John Crosby, former Assistant Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Crosby previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758.  On June 8, 2016,Crosby pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Jennifer Cruise, also known as Jenn Studebaker, former office manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 (located in Austin, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,344, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 4, 2016, in the Ashtabula County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Adele Dewey, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 811 (located in Andover, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in the amount of $4,224 and one count of forgery, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02 and 2913.31, respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 30, 2016, in the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts, Marie Esther LaFontant, former bookkeeper for Plumbers and Gasfitters UA Local 12 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to serve one year in the house of corrections and 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $154,857.  On September 26, 2016, LaFontant pled guilty to three counts of larceny over $250 and falsifying corporate books, in violation of Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 266, Section 30 and MGL Chapter 266, Section 67.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

On September 28, 2016, in the Campbell County, Kentucky Circuit Court, Laura Cloyd, former Financial Secretary of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 112 (located in Alexandria, Ky.), pled guilty to Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition over $500, a felony, and Theft by Unlawful Taking under $500, a misdemeanor.  Sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2016.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, William L. Galloway III, former Treasurer of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 192T (located in Reidsville, N.C.), pled guilty to one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, William L. Galloway III, former Treasurer of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 192T (located in Reidsville, N.C.), was charged in an information with one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 26, 2016, in the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts, Marie Esther LaFontant, former bookkeeper for Plumber and Gasfitters UA Local 12 (located in Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of larceny over $250 totaling over $154,000 and one count of falsifying corporate books, in violation of Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 266, Section 30 and MGL Chapter 266, Section 67.  The plea follows a joint investigation by OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

On September 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, John Kaufmann, Jr., former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1442 (located in Chambersburg, Pa.), was charged and pled guilty to a one count information for mail fraud, in violation of18 U.S.C. 1341, in relation to the misappropriation of union funds.  The amount of misappropriation will be determined at the sentencing hearing.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Robert Smith III, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 970 (located in Norfolk, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for embezzling $1,072,668 from the union.  The criminal information charges that as part of the scheme to conceal the embezzlement, for the past 10 years, Smith never filed the requisite Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards Form LM-2 report.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, John McCain, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1016 (located in Poplar Bluff, Mo.), was sentenced to a two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 assessment.  Restitution of $30,948 was previously paid in full.  On June 22, 2016, McCain pled guilty one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 20, 2016, in the Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Jeanette Bowman, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 280 (located in Marion, Ohio), was sentenced to 120 days of electronic monitoring, five years of community control, and was ordered to pay full restitution of $16,347.  On August 18, 2016, Bowman pled guilty to theft in the amount of $16,347, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

On September 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Aaron Contreras, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84749 (located in Fostoria, Ohio), was charged in an information with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $42,700, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and Fostoria Police Department.

On September 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Lowell Wreh, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,642 and a $100 assessment.  On January 20, 2016, Wreh waived an indictment and entered a plea of guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 15, 2016, in the Circuit Court for Washington County, Maryland, Coralee Stotler, former employee of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 992 (located in Hagerstown, Md.), was charged with one count of theft between $1,000 and $10,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Treasury’s Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

On September 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Benjamin Stancil, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 451 (located in Havelock, N.C.), was sentenced to 120 days of home confinement and three years of probation, and was ordered to pay $13,308 in restitution, a $2,500 fine, and a $400 special assessment.  On June 13, 2016, Stancil pled guilty to four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, David Sager, former President of United Steelworkers Local 5000 (located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio), was indicted on nine counts of embezzlement, 18 counts of mail fraud, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of false statements to law enforcement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 1341, 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2), and 18 U.S.C. 1001, respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, John Bickerstaff, former business manager of Heat & Frost Insulators Local 133 (located in Bismarck, N.D.), was charged with one count of embezzling $70,659, one count of filing a false report, and one count of willfully concealing records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On September 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for Eastern District of Washington, Charles Nelson, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Council of Security Police (NCSP), formally located in Yakima, Wash., pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $140,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2016.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 7, 2016, in the Dubois Superior Court in Dubois County, Indiana, Carlton Woodcox, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2150 (located in Jasper, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $30,859, a Class D felony.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jason Leach, former President of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was ordered to pay a $100 fine and a $25 special assessment. On May 25, 2016, Leach pled guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of making false statements and representation of a material fact knowing it to be false, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 7, 2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Arthur W. Boedecker, Jr., former Vice President of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 270 (located in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio), was indicted for money laundering prohibitions, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 1315.55.  On March 17, 2016, Boedecker was initially charged with one count of theft in the amount of $40,203.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Todd Culley, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 103 (located in St. Francisville, La.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $91,926, in monthly installments of no less than $700.  He was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee.  On April 26, 2016, Culley pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On September 1, 2016, in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Roger Martinez, former Vice President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 296 (formerly located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), pled no contest to one count of grand theft in the 3rd degree in the amount of $5,500.  Based upon an open plea to the court, the judge withheld adjudication and sentenced the subject to 18 months of probation.  Martinez previously paid full restitution of $5,500.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Ft. Lauderdale Resident Investigator Office.

On August 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Michelle Clifton, former office manager of Insulators Local 78 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), in the amount of $23,014.  In addition, Clifton agreed to pay restitution in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On August 29, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Donn Pendergrass, former President of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 1191 (located in Mishawaka, Ind.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $33,435 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On May 16, 2016, Pendergrass pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 29, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division, Roberto Gracia, Jr., former President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1395 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), was charged in a Bill of Information, pled guilty, and was sentenced, for one count of 29 U.S.C. 439(a), failure to maintain union records, which resulted in a loss to the local in the amount of $26,354.  As part of the plea, the court also heard that Gracia failed to maintain the required union records as the former President of ILA 1544 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), which resulted in the a loss to the union in the amount of $3,478.  Gracia previously paid full restitution in both instances.  The charge, plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jeremy Leach, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was ordered to pay a $250 fine and a $25 special assessment.  On May 27, 2016, Leach pled guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of making false statements and representation of a material fact knowing it to be false, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James Adams, former Secretary Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union) Local 427 (located in Byram, Miss.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was order to pay restitution, in the amount of $45,495, in monthly installments of no less than $600.  Adams was also ordered to attend a money management class, perform 124 hours of community service, and pay a $25 special assessment fee.  On March 29, 2016, Adams pled guilty to one count of making false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On August 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Cisek, former Sergeant-at-Arms of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 56 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2016.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 23, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), Brian W. Scott, former President/Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 503 (located in Monroe, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; and one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The investigation disclosed that from July 2008 through February 2012, Scott embezzled $66,954 from the union, by incurring $48,534 in unauthorized personal expenses using the union’s two credit cards, and collecting an additional $18,420 in unauthorized union checks written to himself.  Payments to the union’s credit card company for the personal expenses were made using the postal service.  The investigation also revealed that Scott filed false LM-2 reports for fiscal years ending June 30, 2009 through June 30, 2011 in an attempt to cover up the embezzlement.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On August 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Keith Christopherson, former business manager for Insulators Local 34 (located in St. Paul, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union finds in the amount of $2,081, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 19, 2016, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, William Winecke, former Treasurer of the Soo Line Locomotive and Car Foremen’s Association (located in Apple Valley, Minn.), was charged with two counts of theft by swindle of more than $35,000.  The complaint alleges that Winecke stole union funds in the amount of $41,036 between August 2011 and April 2015.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 18, 2016, in the Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Jeanette Bowman, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 280 (located in Marion, Ohio), pled guilty to theft in the amount of $16,347, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

On August 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Magelitz, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 415 (located in Vienna, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Michael R. Bennett, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2317 (located in Lafayette, Ind.), was charged in a six-count indictment with three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and three counts of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $4,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Jennifer Cruise, former office manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 (located in Austin, Tex.), was charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,750, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 12, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Wanda Rosenboro-Correa, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2798 (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a one-count indictment with theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for stealing more than $1,000 from the union.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Johnny Wilson, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was sentenced to 18 months of confinement, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $120,352 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 30, 2016, Wilson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $120,352, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 10, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Cisek, former Sergeant-at-Arms of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 56 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 9, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, David Fleury, former President of Bricklayers Local 6 (located in Rockford, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $250,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 8, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Johnnie Miranti, an officer of Allied Novelty and Production Workers Local 223 a.k.a. the Toy and Novelty Workers Local 223 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Kickbacks to Influence the Operation of an Employee Benefit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, in the amount of $138,500.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Louis Smith, former President of Teamsters Local 810 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Kickbacks to Influence the Operation of an Employee Benefit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, in the amount of $151,481.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On August 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for Middle District of Florida, Robert J. Tuttle, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 173 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $2,621 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On April 6, 2016, Tuttle pled guilty to making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Guy Gokey, former Financial Secretary for Glass Molders and Plastics (GMP) Local 59 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted for one count of embezzling $14,074 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of making false statements on a labor organization report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.  (Investigator Laura Maxwell)

On July 28, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Machinists Local 2458 Secretary-Treasurer (located in Lemont, Ill.), was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $510,973 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On April 14, 2016, Mascote pled guilty to embezzling $64,263 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  In the plea agreement, for the purposes of computing his sentence under Guideline 1B1.2, Mascote stipulated to having stolen, and knowingly converted to his own, property of the United States (namely machine components, Tungsten steel and copper) valued at $510,973, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641.  Mascote had previously paid restitution of $64,263 to the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District office and the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 26, 2016, in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Roger Martinez, former Vice President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 296 (formerly located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), was charged with one count of grand theft in the 3rd degree in the amount of $5,500.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Ft. Lauderdale Resident Investigator Office.

On July 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Karen McJimpson, former Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4004 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $9,004 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On February 16, 2016, McJimpson pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 26, 2016, in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Roger Martinez, former Vice President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 296 (formerly located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), was charged with one count of grand theft in the 3rd degree in the amount of $5,500.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Ft. Lauderdale Resident Investigator Office.

On July 26, 2016, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, County of Clarion, Mark Bell, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2439 (located in Knox, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 3921(b), and one count of forgery, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 4101.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Roy Murray, former President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of making a false statement in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, David Fleury, former President of Bricklayers Local 6 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling more than $250,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Adrian Lindsay, former Vice President of the Benefit Fund Staff Association (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to willful concealment and withholding of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), showing use of association funds for expenditures of approximately $25,000 that were not authorized by the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), William Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1119 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release, in connection with embezzling approximately $150,000 in union funds.  Davis was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000 and a $100 special assessment.  On April 6, 2016, Davis pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On July 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Simiel Campbell, former President of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,700 and a special assessment of $25.  Campbell was also ordered to serve 80 hours of community service.  On March 24, 2016, Campbell pled guilty to one count of making a material false statement and representation on the Form LM-3 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Keith Christopherson, former business manager for Insulators Local 34 (located in St. Paul, Minn.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,081, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 20, 2016,in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Scot McNamara, former business agent and Financial Secretary of Insulators Local 34 (located in St. Paul, Minn.), was charged in a four-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,761, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Roy Murray, former President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was charged in a one-count information with making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central Region of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation, fined $2,500, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,009.  On February 5, 2016, Conner pled guilty to a one-count information for falsifying union records in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Oscar Luevano, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 5050 (located in Covina, Calif.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $104,410 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 30, 2016, Luevano pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $132,939, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office – Las Vegas Resident Office.

On July 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Malkia King, former President of the Benefit Fund Staff Association (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to willful concealment and withholding of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), showing use of association funds for expenditures of approximately $25,000 that were not authorized by the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Marcella Champion, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1831 (located in Landover, Md.) was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Champion was also ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and pay $19,152 in restitution.  Champion had previously paid $2,000 in restitution.  On May 3, 2016, Champion pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 14, 2016, in the Campbell County, Kentucky Circuit Court, Laura Cloyd, former Financial Secretary of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 112 (located in Alexandria, Ky.), was charged in a one-count indictment for felony theft by failure to make required disposition of property, value $500 or more, in violation of KRS 514.070.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central Division of the District of South Dakota, Kenneth Potter, former Treasurer of the South Dakota Staff Organization (located in Pierre, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of false records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). He was then sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to obtain and pay for credit counseling.  Potter had previously paid $4,130 in restitution.  On April 22, 2016, Potter was charged in a one-count information with falsification of financial records required to be kept by labor unions, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bernadine Bell, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 757 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $73,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Devon Madray, President of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 119 (located in Roseville, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of  $20,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Elmer Ray Booker, former Financial Secretary of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 30(located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $39,517 and a $100 special assessment.  Booker was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.  On February 19, 2016, Booker pled guilty to one charge of embezzlement of union funds, in the amount of $42,018, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joan Dutton and Tatia Clark, former President and former Financial Secretary, respectively, of Steelworkers Local 2801 (located in Signal Hill, Calif.), were each charged in a four-count indictment for conspiring, and aiding and abetting the other, in the embezzlement of $15,935 in union funds and in the concealment, withholding, and destruction of union records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 2(a), 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Schofield, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Local 1046 (located in Plainfield, Ill.), pled guilty to a false report charge for helping to conceal an embezzlement of union funds totaling $31,850 during 2012 and 2013.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 29, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Michelle R. Clifton, former office manager/bookkeeper for Insulators Local 78 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was charged in a 20-count indictment.  Clifton was charged with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $23,014, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); 17 counts of forged securities of a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and two counts of fraudulent statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 23, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Schofield, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Local 1046 (located in Plainfield, Ill.), was charged in a one-count bill of information with making a false entry with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-4 report for fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Terry Aters, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 7689 (located in Marston, Mo.), was sentenced to three consecutive weekends in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, six months in the location monitoring program, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $153,434 and a $100 special assessment.  On March 24, 2016, Aters 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 Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, John McCain, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1016 (located in Poplar Bluff, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $30,948 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On June 22, 2016, in the Dubois Superior Court in Dubois County, Indiana, Carlton Woodcox, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2150 (located in Jasper, Ind.), was charged in a two-count information for theft totaling $32,787, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Steve Hartman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 83 (located in Frankfort, Ky.), was charged in a one-count information with forgery totaling $2,173, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 513.  He then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bernadine Bell, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 757 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $73,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 13, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Benjamin Stancil, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 451 (located in Havelock, N.C.), pled guilty to four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 8, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jeffrey Velfling and John Crosby, former Chief Steward and Assistant Steward, respectively, of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), each pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,758, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty pleas follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jeffrey W. Davies, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 183 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $90,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Nereida Norris, former Clerk Craft Director of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 98 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was sentenced to nine months in prison, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $25,956 in restitution, a $5,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  On February 5, 2016, Norris pled guilty to a one-count information for making a false statement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 31, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gonzales, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 300 (formerly 488-489; located in Lansing, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,726.  On January 19, 2016, Gonzales pled guilty to one count of making false entries in financial records required to be kept by labor unions, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jason Leach, former President of United Steelworkers of America Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was charged in a superseding indictment with making false statements and representation of a material fact knowing it to be false, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  On May 26, 2016, Leach pled guilty to the charge.  The indictment and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 24, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jeremy Leach, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers of America Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of making false statements and representation of a material fact knowing it to be false, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  On May 27, 2016, Leach pled guilty to the charge.  The indictment and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Mark P. Durinski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 294 (located in Limestone, Maine), was sentenced to one month of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $53,544.  On September 14, 2015, Durinski pled guilty to three counts of making false statements and entries on LM-Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On May 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Donn Pendergrass, former President of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 1191 (located in Mishawaka, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $33,435 in union funds , in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 19, 2016, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in Cleveland, Ohio, Alan Shaffer, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Transportation Division Local 792 (located in Elyria, Ohio), was indicted for one count of grand theft in the amount of $8,563, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02 A(3).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On May 13, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Raymond Fujii, former Executive Director for the Hawaii Painting & Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA), was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $1,234,713 in restitution.  On January 20, 2016, Fujii pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $1,483,800 from the Hawaii Painters Trade Promotion & Charity Fund and the PDCA, and one count of filing a false tax return.  The Trade Promotion & Charity Fund is a CBA-negotiated fund that comes out of hourly wages of members of Painters District Council 50 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii).  The fund is used to primarily fund the PDCA.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigative Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.

On May 10, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Assane Faye, National President/Executive Director for the United Security and Police Officers of America (USPOA), located in Toms River, N.J., was found guilty by a jury for charges relating to two counts of embezzling union funds over $350,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and seven counts of mail fraud over $7,000 arising from unemployment insurance fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  Faye was ordered by the court to immediately relinquish his union position as National President/Executive Director and remain under home confinement pending sentencing.  The guilty verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Gregory J. Hill, Jr., former Vice President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), was sentenced to four years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,232.  On January 21, 2016, Hill pled guilty to one count of Uttering-Forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a), in the amount of $581.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 4, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Shelly Sutton, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 477 (located in Wichita, Kans.), was sentenced to three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $78,778.  On February 17, 2016, Sutton pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Marcella Champion, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1831 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 for stealing $4,130 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Todd Culley, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 103 (located in St. Francisville, La.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On April 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central Division of the District of South Dakota, Kenneth Potter, former Treasurer of the South Dakota Staff Organization (located in Pierre, S.D.), was charged in a one-count information with falsification of financial records required to be kept by labor unions, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Potter was previously charged in a one-count indictment on March 15, 2016 with embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,130, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 20, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Charles Nelson, former Treasurer for the National Council of Security Police (NCSP), located in Yakima, Wash., was indicted for one count of embezzling over $140,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On April 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jeffrey Velfling and John Crosby, former Chief Steward and Assistant Steward, respectively, of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), were each charged in an indictment with one count of embezzling approximately $6,758 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 2458 (located in Minooka, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $63,263, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Not included in the charge, but for the purposes of computing his sentence under Guideline Section 1B1.2, Mascote stipulated to having stolen, and knowingly converted to his own, property of the United States valued at $510,973, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641.  The guilty plea follows investigations conducted by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Todd Culley, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 103 (located in St. Francisville, La.), was charged in a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Susan Haugen, former Treasurer of the South Dakota American Postal Workers of America (APWU) State Association (located in Huron, S.D.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Haugen previously paid restitution in the amount of $38,234.  On January 26, 2016, Haugen pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $30,783, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On April 6, 2016, in the Nassau County District Court in Mineola, New York, Charles Burke, former Treasurer of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 365 (located in Valley Stream, N.Y.), pled guilty to Scheme to Defraud 2 (a class A misdemeanor) and admitted to stealing $111,000 from Local 365 without the union’s permission, authority, or knowledge.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On April 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), William Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1119 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On April 6, 2016,in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, James Coffey, former President of United Steelworkers Local 5-887 (located in Newell, W.Va.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On December 11, 2015, Coffey pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,260, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Coffey paid $7,419 in restitution prior to his sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On April 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Robert J. Tuttle, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 173 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), pled guilty to making false entries in records required to be kept by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $11,275.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On April 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Daniel P. Ternitsky, Jr., former Financial Secretary of United Mine Workers Local 285 (located in Allison, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $10,680 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jeremy Leach, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was indicted on 12 counts of embezzlement totaling $3,111 in labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jason Leach, former President of United Steelworkers Local 13-669 (located in Pryor, Okla.), was indicted on nine counts of embezzlement totaling $2,524 in labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 4, 2016, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Hood River, Bonita Scherling, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7970 (located in Hood River, Ore.), Scherling pled guilty to a single count of Forgery in the 1st Degree (ORS 165.013) and a single count Identity Theft (ORS 165.800).  She was then sentenced to five years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,386 and a $500 fine.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Oscar Luevano, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Local Lodge 5050 (located in Covina, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds  in the amount of $132,939, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office – Las Vegas Resident Office.

On March 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Johnny L, Wilson, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was charged and pled guilty to a one-count information of embezzling $120,352 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 29, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James Adams, former Secretary Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 427 (located in Byram, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of making false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  Restitution will be ordered at sentencing.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On March 28, 2016, in Smith County Court, in the State of Texas, Stanley Buchanan, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 493 (located in Tyler, Tex.), pled guilty to credit card abuse, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.31 (b)(3).  He was then sentenced for a deferred adjudication, placed on community supervision for a period of three years, and was ordered to pay $6,406 in restitution and $348 in court costs.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Oscar Luevano, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Local Lodge 5050 (located in Covina, Calif.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office – Las Vegas Resident Office.

On March 24, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Simiel Campbell, former President of Transport Workers Union Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of making a material false statement and representation on the Form LM-3 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  An information filed on March 22, 2016, charged Campbell with one count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), superseded a one-count indictment filed on December 18, 2013, which charged Campbell with embezzling approximately $19,400 in union funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 24, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Terry Aters, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 7686 (located in Marston, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On October 7, 2015, Aters was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $153,434.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 23, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James Deamicis, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to one year and one day of confinement and one year of probation.  Deamicis was also ordered to pay $42,091 in restitution as well as a $700 special assessment and forfeiture.  On November 9, 2015, Deamicis was found guilty of three counts of extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951.  On November 30, 2015, Deamicis pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of government funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341 and 18 U.S.C. 641, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On March 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Bob Buford, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419 (located in Danville, Ill.), was indicted on one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $28,697 from the union’s savings account during 2010.  In addition, Buford was indicted on one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), with respect to the filing of the union’s LM-3 report for fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 17, 2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Arthur W. Boedecker, Jr., former Vice President of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 270 (located in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio), was indicted under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 2913.02(A)(3) for theft of more than $7,500, a felony in the fourth degree, for receiving unwarranted lost time payments from the union totaling $40,203.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Central Division, Kenneth Potter, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization, South Dakota Staff Organization (located in Pierre, S.D.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,130, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Sharon Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 807 (located in Columbia, S.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,823,  in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 15, 2016, in the Superior Court of Dougherty County in the State of Georgia, William Price, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1762 (located in Albany, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of Theft by Taking by a Fiduciary in the amount of $163,065, in violation of O.C.G.A.  42-8-60. He was then sentenced to 10 years of probation and was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution ($5,000 to be paid within 30 days) and $55 in court fees.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Northern Division, Timothy Roy Casperson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 249 (located in Menominee, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Casperson was also ordered to complete 200 hours of documented community service.  Casperson previously paid restitution in the amount of $10,062.  On December 3, 2015, Casperson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,650, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On March 11, 2016, in the Justice’s Court of Union Township, County of Humboldt, Nevada, Patrick Cunningham, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 229 (located in Winnemucca, Nev.), was charged with one count of felony theft, a violation of Nevada Revised Statute 205.0832 and 205.0835.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 10, 2016, in the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts, Esther LaFontant, former bookkeeper of Plumbers Local 12 (located in Boston, Mass.), was charged with three counts of larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 266, Section 30, totaling approximately $155,000.  LaFontant was also charged with falsifying entries in corporate books, in violation of MGL Chapter 266, Section 67.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

On March 8, 2016, in the Nassau County District Court in Mineola, N.Y., Charles Burke, former Treasurer of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 365 (located in Valley Stream, N.Y.), was arraigned in a two-count complaint for Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree, in violation of Section 155.40(1) of the Penal Law of the State of New York, a class c felony (1 Count) and Scheme to Defraud in the 1st Degree, in violation of Section 190.65(1)(b) of the Penal Law of the State of New York, a class e felony (1 Count), by stealing in excess of $111,000 from UWUA, Local 365.  The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 4, 2016, in the Superior Court of Arizona (Maricopa County), Therlen Benally, former Treasurer of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,220 and fees/assessments totaling $215.  On January 22, 2016, Benally pled guilty to facilitation of fraudulent schemes or artifices, in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 13-2310 and 13-1004; theft, in violation of A.R.S. 13-1802; and criminal possession of a forgery device, in violation of A.R.S. 13-2003(A)(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On March 4, 2016, in the Fulton County District Court (Atlanta), Nathan Lee, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Ways Employes (BMWE), IBT, Local 536 (located in Suwanee, Ga.), pled guilty to theft by taking, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-8-2, for embezzling $4,098.  Lee was then sentenced to five years of probation.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On March 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Juan Carlos Recinos, Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of Iron Workers Local 201 (located in Washington, D.C.), was indicted on seven counts of taking $18,700 in kickbacks from public works employees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 874.  The indictment alleges that Recinos falsely represented to several members that they needed to give him some of their back pay awards to pay for an attorney and then kept the money.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 1, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Cynthia Gale Angulo, former President of the Currency and Security Handlers Association (CASHA), located in Houston, Tex., was sentenced to 10 months of confinement, split into three months in custody and seven months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $61,272.  On August 27, 2015, Angulo pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in the amount of $61,200, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 26, 2016, in the Onondaga County Court in Syracuse, New York, Patrick Rommevaux, former business representative of Elevator Constructors Local 62 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.  He previously made restitution in the amount of $16,545.  On December 9, 2015, Rommevaux was indicted and pled guilty to one felony count of grand larceny in the fourth degree.  The sentencing follows an investigation from the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On February 23, 2016, in the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Benjamin F. Stancil, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 451 (located in Havelock, N.C.), was charged in an information with four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Elmer Ray Booker, former Financial Secretary of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1530 (located in Houston, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $42,018, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Malkia King and Adrian Lindsay, former President and Vice President, respectively, of the Benefit Fund Staff Association (BFSA), located in New York, N.Y., were each charged in a complaint with conspiracy and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of approximately $25,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow and investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 18, 2016, in the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Alton Alexander, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-479 (located in Plainwell, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of misdemeanor embezzlement of $200 or more, but less than $1,000, in violation of Michigan Compiled Laws 750.174(3)(a).  Alexander was then sentenced to six months of probation and was ordered to pay $2,553 in restitution, a $100 fine, and court and probation costs totaling $300.  Alexander previously paid restitution in the amount of $1,653.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Shelly Sutton, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 477 (located in Wichita, Kans.), pled guilty to one count of bank fraud in the amount of $93,094, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Danny L. Rawls, former member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (located in Shreveport, La.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,208.  On September 2, 2015, Rawls pled guilty to one count of making a false statement to a Department of Labor Investigator, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 16, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Karen McJimpson, former Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4004 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  An information filed on that date charging McJimpson with one count of failure to maintain union records superseded a one-count indictment filed on August 18, 2015, which charged McJimpson with embezzling approximately $19,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On February 12, 2016, in the 167th District Court of Texas, Richard McCullough, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6132 (located in Austin, Tex.), pled guilty to theft (greater than $20,000, but less than $100,000), in violation of Texas Criminal Code Section 31.03.  McCullough was then sentenced to one year of confinement (suspended), two years of community supervision, and was ordered to pay $292 in court costs, $60 a month in supervision fees, a $30 Crime Stopper fee, and a $100 Family Violence Center fee.  McCullough previously paid full restitution totaling $22,681.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 12, 2016, in the 167th District Court of Texas, Jessica McCullough, former Chief Steward of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6132 (located in Austin, Tex.), pled guilty to theft (greater than $1,500, but less than $20,000), in violation of Texas Criminal Code Section 31.03.  McCullough’s sentence was deferred contingent upon her completion of two years of community supervision.  She was ordered to pay $292 in court costs, $60 a month in supervision fees, a $30 Crime Stopper fee, and a $100 Family Violence Center fee.  McCullough previously paid full restitution totaling $7,556.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Nereida Norris, former Clerk Craft Director and Chief Steward of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 98 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 5, 2016, in the United Stated District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President and Business Agent of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), pled guilty to making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 4, 2016, in the Superior Court of Arizona (Maricopa County), Anne Susan, former business manager of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $18,056 in restitution.  On January 4, 2016, Susan pled guilty to theft, taking the identity of another, and forgery, in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1802, 13-2008, and 13-2002, respectively.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On February 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lawrence Moyer, President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6723 (located in Troy, Mich.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzling $2,599 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Nereida Norris, Clerk Craft Director of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 98 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information for making a false statement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Raymond Fujii, former executive director for the Hawaii Painting & Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $1,483,800 from the Hawaii Painters Trade Promotion & Charity Fund and the Association between 1997 and 2014.  The Trade Promotion & Charity Fund is a CBA-negotiated fund that comes out of hourly wages of members of Painters District Council 50 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii).  The fund is used to primarily fund the PDCA.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2016.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigative Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.

On January 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, John McCain, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1016 (located in Poplar Bluff, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $30,948 in labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Susan Haugen, former Treasurer of the South Dakota American Postal Workers of America (APWU) State Association (located in Huron, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $30,782, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 26, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Clinton Humphrey, former President and Business Manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 386 (located in Texarkana, Ark.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $51,812 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Humphrey then pled guilty to the charge.  The information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 25, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Helen Genal, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of the United Autoworkers (UAW) Fox Valley Area Community Action Program (CAP), located in Oshkosh, Wisc., was sentenced to six months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.  Genal was also ordered to pay $30,020 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On November 2, 2015, Genal pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 22, 2016, in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona, Therlen Benally, former Treasurer of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), pled guilty to Facilitation of Fraudulent Schemes or Artifices, in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 13-2310 and 13-1004; Theft, in violation of A.R.S. 13-1802; and Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device, in violation of A.R.S. 13-2003(A)(1), all Class 6 undesignated felonies.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On January 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Gregory J. Hill, Jr., former Vice President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), pled guilty to one count of uttering-forgery in the amount of $581, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 20, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Patrick Remigio, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2859 (located in Maricopa, Ariz.), was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and on two counts of false documents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office, Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 20, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Raymond Fujii, former executive director for the Hawaii Painting & Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA), was charged with one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $1,483,800 from the Hawaii Painters Trade Promotion & Charity Fund and the Association between 1997 and 2014.  In addition, Fujii was charged with one count of filing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1)), for underreporting his income in 2009.  The Trade Promotion & Charity Fund is a CBA-negotiated fund that comes out of hourly wages of members of Painters District Council 50 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii).  The fund is used to primarily fund the PDCA.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigative Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.

On January 20, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michelle Misso, former bookkeeper for Ironworkers Local 63 (located in Westchester, Ill.), was sentenced to three months in prison and one year of supervision.  She was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $31,161 (previously paid approximately $16,000) and a $25 special assessment.  On October 8, 2015, Misso pled guilty to making false entries in records required to be maintained by LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 20, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Lowell Wreh, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), waived an indictment and entered a plea of guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gonzales, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 300 (formerly Local 488-489), located in Lansing, Mich., pled guilty to making false entries in financial records required to be kept by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Heather Banhidy, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 120 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to two years of probation and 50 hours of community service, and she was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Banhidy previously made full restitution prior to her sentencing.  On October 26, 2015, Banhidy pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $13,906, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Joshua Lewis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Lodge 212 (located in Gillespie, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  On November 17, 2015, Lewis was indicted for one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The guilty plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 12, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, Gregory Paradis, former chief steward of the United Federation of Special Police and Security Officers (UFSPSO) Local 501 (located in Seabrook, N.H.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,493.  On October 2, 2015, Paradis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On January 12, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Herbert White, Jr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 8936 (located in Wilmington, Del.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $24,287 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 7, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Carolyn Hall, bookkeeper for Laborers Local 1197 (located in McLeansboro, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment.  Hall previously paid restitution in full.  On August 7, 2015, Hall pled guilty to one count of embezzling $26,291 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 6, 2016, in the United Stated District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President and Business Agent of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), was charged in an information with making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Christopher Headlee, former Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 50 (located in Durango, Colo.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $1,947 ($9,000 previously paid) and a $25 special assessment.  On October 14, 2015, Headlee pled guilty to one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, Edward Mason, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2274 (located in Saginaw, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $21,077 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On September 17, 2015, Mason pled guilty to one count of making false statements in an official certificate or writing, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 4, 2016, in the Maricopa County Superior Court of Arizona, Anne Susan, former business manager of Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), pled guilty to theft, taking the identity of another, and forgery, in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1802, 13-2008, and 13-2002, respectively. The sentencing is scheduled for February 4, 2016. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigative Office.

---

Source: Quoted verbatim from the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

On December 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jeffrey W. Davies, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 183 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was indicted for one count of embezzling over $100,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The union members’ past employment history led them to be affiliated with AFGE even though they are not currently federal or state employees.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Anchorage Field Office.

On December 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, John Hamilton, former business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), was charged in a nine-count indictment with one count of interference with commerce by extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951); one count of attempted structuring of financial transactions (31 U.S.C. 5324(a)(3)); one count of laundering of monetary instruments (18 U.S.C. 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) & (B)(ii)); one count of embezzlement of union funds (29 U.S.C. 501(c)); two counts of conspiracy to embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371 & 29 U.S.C. 501(c)); one count of conspiracy to commit theft from an employee or welfare benefit fund (18 U.S.C. 371 & 664); and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349).  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On December 15, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Dawn Colley, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 8-719 (located in Ashland, Ky.), pled guilty and was sentenced for making false entries in records required to be kept by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Colley was sentenced to two years of probation and she was ordered to pay restitution totaling $4,200 ($7,446 previously paid) and a $25 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Howard Royal, former President of Government Security Officers Local 304 (located on Harrisburg, Pa.), was sentenced to six months of house arrest followed by six months of supervised probation and he was ordered to pay $66,989 in restitution.  On July 17, 2015, Royal pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, James Coffey, former President of United Steelworkers Local 5-887 (located in Newell, W.Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,260, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On December 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Vincent, former President of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement with location monitoring and three years of probation, and he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $22,251 and a $425 special assessment.  On August 17, 2105, Vincent pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,272, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 13 counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The $22,251 in restitution consists of the embezzled amount and funds obtained through an unearned vacation advance/illegal loan from Teamsters Local 783 to which Vincent did not plead guilty.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Juan ‘Alex’ Cedeno, former President and Health & Welfare Fund Trustee of Steelworkers Local 4-318 (located in Edison, N.J.), was sentenced to three years of probation and 250 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay $33,583 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On March 6, 2015, Cedeno pled guilty to one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On December 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Donn Pendergrass, President of Steelworkers Local 1191 (located in Mishawaka, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzling approximately $33,435 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 8, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Robert J. Tuttle, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 173 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), was indicted for four counts of embezzling approximately $4,857 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On December 3, 2015, in the Smith County Court in the State of Texas, Stanley Buchanan, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 493 (located in Tyler, Tex.), was charged in an indictment for credit card abuse in the amount of $7,776, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.31(b)(3).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On December 3, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy Casperson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 249 (located in Menominee, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,650, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Estella Collier, former office secretary and bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 200 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to attend Gamblers Anonymous.  In addition, Collier was ordered to pay full restitution.  On August 11, 2015, Collier pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), in the amount of $12,933.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 1, 2015, in the Onondaga County Court in Syracuse, New York, Patrick Rommevaux, former business representative of Elevator Constructors Local 62 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was charged with one felony count of grand larceny in the fourth degree for stealing $16,545 from his union.  Rommevaux then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation from the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On December 1, 2015, in the Lucas County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, John Allen, former Treasurer of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1982 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was charged with one count of theft in the amount of $1,940, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James “Jimmy the Bull” Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, and one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641, for collection of $41,391 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Henry Shuler, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1892 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  On April 27, 2015, Shuler pled guilty to one count of embezzling labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Shuler paid $40,118 in restitution prior to his sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Michael Low, former Treasurer of Laborers Local 2097 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was sentenced to three years of probation, 18 days incarceration, and 104 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Low previously paid full restitution.  On March 26, 2015, Low was charged and pled guilty to one count of false statements to a federal agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, for embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,937.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 23, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Tiffany Fawn Randle, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 652 (located in Kalamazoo, Mich.), was sentenced to one day of imprisonment (with credit for time served) and two years of probation, and she was ordered to pay $23,727 in restitution.  On August 14, 2015, Randle pled guilty to one count of financial institution fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 19, 2015, in the Third Judicial District in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Daniel Correa, business agent for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 16 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was indicted for one count of embezzlement (over $20,000), in violation of NMSA 30-16-8.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after a one week trial, James “Jimmy the Bull” Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was found guilty of Hobbs Act extortion, attempted extortion, and extortion conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. Deamicis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2016.  The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Magelitz, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 415 (located in Vienna, Ill.), was indicted for one count of embezzling approximately $30,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Joshua Lewis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Lodge 212 (located in Gillespie, Ill.), was indicted for one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Stephanie Hicks, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2207 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was sentenced to six months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, and five years of supervised probation.  Hicks was also ordered to pay $83,927 in restitution and a $1,600 fine.  Hicks previously paid restitution in the amount of $8,000.  Hicks pled guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344, and eight counts of passing a forged security, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513, for a loss of $91,927.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On November 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Pamela Nessen, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 286 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and one year of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $58,087 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On June 11, 2015, Nessen pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Eric Givens, former Secretary-Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 Amtrak Police Labor Committee and FOP Lodge 189 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay approximately $127,000 in restitution and to forfeit approximately $12,000.  On June 24, 2015, Givens pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling at least $100,000 in total from the labor committee and lodge by fraudulently charging personal expenses and by withdrawing cash for personal use.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Earvin, former President of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (UFLEO), located in New Rochelle, N.Y., was sentenced to six months of home confinement, three years of probation, and 600 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay $28,012 in restitution.  On June 19, 2015, Earvin pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with ATM withdrawals from the union account for personal use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Shelly Sutton, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 477 (located in Wichita, Kans.), was indicted on one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 6, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Marcella Champion, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1831 (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, for stealing $4,130 from the union.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Helen Herold-Roden, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7603 (located in Meridian, Idaho), was sentenced to eight weekends in federal prison, six months of home confinement, 100 hours of community service, 60 months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,658 and a $100 special assessment.  On June 18, 2015, Herold-Roden pled guilty to one count of embezzling labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On November 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Helen Genal, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of United Autoworkers (UAW) Fox Valley Area Community Action Program (CAP), located in Oshkosh, Wisc., pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c).  On July 28, 2015, an indictment was filed charging Genal with embezzling $29,968 by issuing checks to self for false expenses.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On October 30, 2015, in the Greene County, Missouri Circuit Court, Jackie Nutter, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 15485 (located in Springfield, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of theft (value of property or services is $500 or more but less than $25,000), in violation of Missouri Statute RS:MO 570.030.  Nutter was then sentenced to five years in prison (suspended execution of sentence) and five years of probation.  Nutter previously paid full restitution in the amount of $12,284.  On September 19, 2014, Nutter was charged with theft.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 30, 2015, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Hood River, Bonita Scherling, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7970 (located in Hood River, Ore.), was indicted on one count of Theft in the 1st Degree, one count of Forgery in the 1st Degree, and two counts of Identity Theft, all Class C Felonies in violation of ORS 164.055, ORS 165.013, and ORS 165.800, respectively.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On October 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Jacquelyn Askew, former bookkeeper for Painters District Council 35 (located in Roslindale, Mass.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $18,720 in restitution, a $2,500 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  Askew previously paid restitution in the amount of $22,209.  On July 22, 2015, Askew pled guilty to one count of embezzling $40,930 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On October 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, Julie Skaggs, former office manager of International Associations of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 372 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to six months of home incarceration, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $67,874 and a $100 special assessment.  On July 15, 2015, Skaggs pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $51,491, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 27, 2015, in the Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Chad Petras, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 342-C (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of attempted theft, in violation of O.R.C. 2923.02, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail (suspended), one year of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,500 and a $150 fine.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 26, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Heather Banhidy, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 120 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On August 12, 2015, an indictment was filed charging Banhidy with embezzling $13,906 by failing to record cash receipts.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 23, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Anthony Frederick, former business manager of Laborers Local 657 (located in Washington, D.C.), Christopher Kwegan, co-owner of STS Construction, and Gary Cooper, co-owner of STS Construction, were indicted on embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); conspiracy to embezzle from a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; unlawful labor payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186; conspiracy to commit unlawful labor payments, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; honest services fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1346; money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957; and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The indictment alleges, among other things, that Frederick paid nearly $1.1 million to STS Construction for minimal renovations done on the union administrative building and $580,000 to STS Construction, which was gross overpayment, for expediting permits on the union training center being worked on by another construction company.  The indictment also alleges that STS Construction paid $225,000 for a down payment on a house for Frederick and more than $600,000 to a corporation owned in part by Frederick’s wife.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On October 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James Adams, former Secretary Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union) Local 427 (located in Byram, Miss.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $45,043 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of making false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Richard Molczyk, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union) Local 493 (located in Fort Dodge, Iowa), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,196 and a $100 special assessment.  On April 13, 2015, Molczyk 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 Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), Brian W. Scott, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 503 (located in Monroe, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), William Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1119 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, and two counts of making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On October 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Christopher Headlee, former Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 50 (located in Colorado Springs, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 13, 2015,in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Robin Pirrello, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1637 (located in Erie, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $22,184 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On October 8, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Northern Illinois, Michelle M. Misso, former bookkeeper for Ironworkers Local 63 (located in Broadview, Ill.), pled guilty to an information for one count of making a false entry in a book, record, report, and statement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Misso pled guilty to the factual basis that her false record was one of several methods she used to embezzle $47,161 from the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 8, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Dawn Colley, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 8-719 (located in Ashland, Ky.), was charged in a three-count indictment for embezzling $7,201 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, David Deitrick, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 10-1338 (located in Shamokin, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,993 and a $100 special assessment.  On April 23, 2015, Deitrick pled guilty to an information charging one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Terry Aters, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 11-7686 (located in Marston, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $153,434 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 6, 2015,in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, James Coffey, Jr., former President of United Steelworkers Local 5-887 (located in Newell, W.Va.), was charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling $7,098 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.

On October 5, 2015, in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona, Anne Louise Susan, former business manager of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was charged in a 24-count indictment for Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, in violation of Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) 13-2310, a class 4 felony (1 count); Theft, in violation of A.R.S. 13-1802, a class 3 felony (1 count); Forgery, in violation of A.R.S. 13-2002, a class 4 felony (21 counts); and Taking the Identity of Another, in violation of A.R.S. 13-2008, a class 4 felony (1 count).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigative Office.

On October 5, 2015, in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona, Therlen Mayne Benally, former Treasurer of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1386 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was charged in a 29-count indictment for Facilitation of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 13-2310 and 13-1004, a class 6 felony (1 count); Theft, in violation of A.R.S. 13-1802, a class 6 felony (1 count); and Forgery, in violation of A.R.S. 13-2002, a class 4 felony (27 counts).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigative Office.

On October 2, 2015, in the United States District Court District of New Hampshire, Gregory Paradis, former Chief Steward of the United Federation of Special Police and Security Officers (UFSPSO), located in Seabrook, N.H., pled guilty to one count of embezzling $13,493 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 30, 2015, in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Maria Del Cupolo, former Bookkeeper for International Association of Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA) Local 300 (located in Oakland, Calif.), pled guilty to a single count of grand theft with an excessive loss over $65,000, in violation of California Penal Code 487(a).  Del Cupolo was then sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $96,842.  On December 2, 2015, Del Cupolo received an additional sentence of one year in Santa Rita County jail.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 30, 2015, in the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, a criminal complaint was filed charging Alton Alexander, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-479 (located in Plainwell, Mich.), with one count of misdemeanor embezzlement of $200 or more but less than $1,000, in violation of Michigan Compiled Laws 750.174(3)(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On September 28, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Christopher Headlee, former Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 50 (located in Colorado Springs, Colo.), was charged in an indictment for one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment was unsealed on October 14, 2015.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Paul Stewart, former Vice President of the Detroit Police Officers Association (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Restitution is to be determined at a future hearing.  On February 23, 2016, Stewart was additionally ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution.On December 8, 2014, Stewart was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud through bribes and kickbacks.  The evidence at trial showed that Detroit’s two retirement systems lost more than $97 million on pension deals corrupted by bribes and kickbacks taken or paid by Stewart and his co-defendants in return for votes on investment decisions made by the boards of trustees of the two pension systems, of which Stewart was a member.  During the conspiracy, Stewart accepted more than $48,000 in cash, trips, meals, drinks, and other things of value in return for his support on pension deals proposed by the givers of the bribes.  The sentencing follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,011 and a fine of $1,000.  On June 29, 2015, Flaherty pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud for defrauding the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Assistance of unemployment insurance benefits.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On September 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, Edward Mason, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2274 (located in Saginaw, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of making false statements in an official certificate or writing, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Mark P. Durinski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 294 (located in Limestone, Maine), pled guilty to three counts of making false statements and entries on LM-Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  Durinski agreed to make restitution in the amount of $53,544 as part of this plea.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Sergio Rascon, Jr., former bookkeeper assistant for LIUNA Local 300 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On June 9, 2015, Rascon pled guilty to one count of embezzling $2,417 in labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and DOL’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Richard Johnson, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1433 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay $273,489 in restitution and a $425 special assessment.  On June 2, 2015, Johnson pled guilty to a five-count information for Embezzlement of Union Assets (three counts), in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); Forgery (one count), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and False Reporting (one count), in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigative Office and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, John Jones, former Financial Secretary of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 59 (located in Spokane, Wash.), was sentenced to two months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,762 and a $100 special assessment.  Jones had previously made restitution payments.  On June 11, 2015, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $44,878 in restitution and a $5,000 fine.  On June 10, 2015, Florez pled guilty to a one-count indictment for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing following follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 3, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jeremy Bolte, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) Lodge 800 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $12,500 and a special assessment of $1,000.  On October 29, 2014, Bolte pled guilty to 10 counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Danny L. Rawls, former member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (located in Shreveport, La.), pled guilty to one charge of making a false statement to an OLMS investigator, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Steven Minella, former President and Business Agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4, for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951) by another Local 324 official.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On September 1, 2015, in the United States District Court of South Carolina, Sharon Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 807 (located in Columbia, S.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,823, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C 439(c); one count of wire fraud in the amount of $178,330, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; and one count of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices, in violation of 18  U.S.C. 1029(a)(2).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 1, 2015, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft of at least $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Criminal Law Article, Section 7-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  The indictment was the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 31, 2015, in the Hennepin County Court of Minnesota, Dean Johnson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 899 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft by swindle, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52.  The complaint alleges that Johnson stole $2,036 between January 2013 and August 2013.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Minneapolis Airport Police.

On August 31, 2015,in the Hennepin County Court of Minnesota, Edward Barker, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 899 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft by swindle, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52.  The complaint alleges that Barker stole $1,790 between March 2013 and July 2013.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Minneapolis Airport Police.

On August 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Cynthia Gale Angulo, former President of the Currency and Security Handlers Association (CASHA), located in Houston, Texas, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $61,200 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On August 27, 2015, in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County Pennsylvania, Rae Dawn Grillo, former Treasurer of the Charleroi Area Education Association (CAEA), located in Charleroi, Pa., pled guilty to theft of $65,963 in association funds, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 3921(a).  Grillo was then sentenced to nine months of electronic monitoring, five years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution in the amount $8,175.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michelle Misso, former bookkeeper of Ironworkers Local 63 (located in Broadview, Ill.), was charged in a one-count information with making a false entry on a check, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael C. Trembulak, former President of Utility Workers Union Local 475 (located in Rochester, Pa.), was sentenced to five months of incarceration, followed by six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount $31,528.  On March 4, 2015, Trembulak had previously pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Karen McJimpson, former Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4004 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling approximately $19,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Vincent, former President of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,272 and 13 counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On August 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Tiffany Fawn Randle, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 652 (located in Kalamazoo, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of financial institution fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), for using the proceeds of forged union checks for personal benefit.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, Gregory Paradis, former Chief Steward of United Federation of Special Police and Security Officers (UFSPSO) Local 501 (located in Seabrook, N.H.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gonzales, President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 300 (formerly Local 488-489), located in Lansing, Mich., was charged with one count of embezzling $6,720 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsifying financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Heather Banhidy, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 120 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was indicted for one count of embezzlement in the amount of $13,906, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On August 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Estella Collier, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 200 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On July 28, 2015, an information was filed charging Collier with embezzling $12,933 by writing unauthorized checks payable to herself and her credit union as well as using the union’s bank account to make personal purchases from online merchants.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 10, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.Va.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409.  On June 12, 2015, McCallister pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Mark P. Durinski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 294 (located in Limestone, Maine), was charged in a three-count information with making false statements and entries on LM-Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On August 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Carolyn Hall, bookkeeper for Laborers Local 1197 (located in McLeansboro, Ill.), pled guilty to embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On April 23, 2015, Hall was indicted for one count of embezzling $26,491 in union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 6, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Jimmy L. Bynum, Jr., President of American Allied Workers Skilled Trades (AAWST) Local 944 (located in Pembroke Township, Ill.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Maxine Davis, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1953 (located in Barksdale, La.), was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.  Davis previously paid restitution in the amount of $4,875.  On July 27, 2015, Davis pled guilty to one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 28, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Helen Genal, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the United Autoworkers (UAW) Fox Valley Area Community Action Program (CAP), located in Oshkosh, Wisc., was charged with one count of embezzling $29,968 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of making a materially false statement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On July 28, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Estella Collier, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 200 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged in an information with one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Collier is charged with embezzling $12,933 by writing unauthorized checks payable to herself and her credit union as well as using the union’s bank account to make personal purchases from online merchants.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Maxine Davis, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1953 (located in Barksdale, La.), was charged with one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  She then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Tiffany Fawn Randle, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 652 (located in Kalamazoo, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with financial institution fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2), for using the proceeds of forged union checks for personal benefit.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 23, 2015, in the Clark County, Indiana, Circuit Court, an information was filed against Diana Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 84807 (located in Jeffersonville, Ind.), for ten counts of felony forgery, in violation of I.C. 35-43-5-2(b)(1), and one count of felony theft, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 22, 2015, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Jacqueline Askew, a former bookkeeper for Painters District Council 35 (located in Roslindale, Mass.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $40,930 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On July 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shirley Johns, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1953 (located in Barksdale, La.), pled guilty to one count of false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  She was then sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.  Johns previously paid restitution in the amount of $7,190.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Howard Royal, former President of Government Security Officers Local 304 (located in Harrisburg, Pa.), was charged and pled guilty to one count of wire fraud resulting in misappropriation of union funds in the amount $66,989.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 15, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, Julie Skaggs, former office manager for International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 372 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $51,491, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shirley Johns, former Secretary Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1953 (located in Barksdale, La.), was charged in a one-count information with false statements, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2458 (located in Minooka, Ill.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $62,263 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Curtis Bullick, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3254 (located in Bunker Hill, Ind.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $2,107 and a special assessment of $25.  On March 31, 2015, Bullick pled guilty to a one-count information for taking away with intent to steal property of another within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 6, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Ira Alper, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) District 9 (located in Madison, Wis.), was sentenced to four months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release including six months home detention.  Alper was ordered to pay restitution of $41,568 and a $100 special assessment.  On October 13, 2013, Alper pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 1, 2015, in the State of Ohio, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Thomas Wolfer, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84729 (located in Fayetteville, Ohio), was sentenced to three years of community control and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution plus court costs.  On March 19, 2015, Wolfer pled guilty to one count of felony theft, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(2).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Hamilton County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office.

On July 1, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Glenn Robert Smith, former comptroller for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (located in Warren, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $499,087 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 1, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rocco Miranti, Business Manager of Allied Novelty and Production Workers Local 223 (located in New York, N.Y.), Johnnie Miranti, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 223, and Louis Smith, former President of  Teamsters Local 810 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.),  were each charged with one count of conspiring to solicit and receive kickbacks to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, conspiring to embezzle from an employee benefit plan, and conspiring to commit theft or embezzlement in the amount of $1,000,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Police Department Organized Crime Unit, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 1, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Alfonso Rodriguez,  former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 117 (located in Southworth, Wash.), was sentenced to three years of probation and 160 hours of community service and order to pay restitution of $34,601.  On March 20, 2015, Rodriguez pled guilty to one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 29, 2015, in the Bexar County 175th Judicial District Court, Cathy Gaffney, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 14 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was indicted on one count of Theft Between $1,500 and $20,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for collection of $21,011 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On June 26, 2015, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Juanita Phillips, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Home Care Employees Local 389 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year of imprisonment. On September 16, 2014, Phillips pled guilty to one count of grand larceny in the third degree.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, William Magee, former President of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 252G (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was sentenced to three years of probation, with six months home detention, and ordered to pay $71,908 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On February 11, 2015, Magee pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville Office.

On June 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Eric Givens, former Secretary-Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 Amtrak Police Labor Committee, the national union representing Amtrak police officers, and an affiliated organization, FOP Lodge 189, (both located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling at least $100,000 from the labor committee and lodge by fraudulently charging personal expenses and by withdrawing cash for personal use. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Jacqueline Askew, a former bookkeeper for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 35 (located in Roslindale, Mass.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $40,930 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On June 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Steven Minella, former President and business agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with misprision of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4, for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion (18 U.S.C. 1951) by another Local 324 official.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On June 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Earvin, former President of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (UFLEO), a union representing special inspectors employed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City, pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, in the amount of $28,012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 19, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata, former fund administrator of United Craft and Industrial Workers Local 91 (located in Williston Park, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was order to pay $126,858 in forfeiture and a $100,000 fine.  On November 24, 2014, Annunziata pled guilty to a violation of 29 U.S.C. 1111 (persons prohibited from holding certain positions in relation to an employee benefit fund).   The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Henry Mayer, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 852 (located in Yakima, Wash.), was sentenced to two years of probation.  Mayer paid $16,971 in restitution prior to his sentencing.  On April 1, 2015, Mayer 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 San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Helen Herold-Roden, former Secretary-Treasurer for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7603 (located in Meridian, Idaho), was charged with and pled guilty to a single count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling over $138,000 from the labor union.  The sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2015.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Cynthia Gale Angulo, former President of the Currency and Security Handlers Association (located in Houston, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $61,200, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy Casperson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 249 (located in Menominee, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $9,650 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On June 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Russell Cameron Hill, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 780 (located in New Bern, N.C.), was sentenced to 24 months of probation with home detention for a period not to exceed 180 consecutive days, and was ordered to pay a $1,200 fine and a $100 assessment. On March 11, 2015, Hill pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 12, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.V.), pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20.  The sentencing is scheduled for August 10, 2015. The plea follows an investigation by the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, John P. Jones, former Financial Secretary for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) Local 59 (located in Spokane, Wash.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling over $12,000 from the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On June 11, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Hancock County, Indiana, Marcia K. Shull, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 661 (located in Greenfield, Ind.), was sentenced to 180 days of house arrest, 550 days of probation, and ordered to pay $168 in fines and costs.  Shull previously paid restitution totaling $18,250.  On May 7, 2015, Shull pled guilty to one count felony forgery, in violation of IRC 35-43-5-2(b)(1). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 11, 2015, in the United States Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Pamela Nessen, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 286 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $58,598, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), pled guilty to theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction in the amount of $44,878, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On June 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Sergio Rascon, Jr., former bookkeeper assistant for Laborers Local 300 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,417, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 8, 2015, in Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, Rodney Horne, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 34 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of theft over $500, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Code.  Horne was then sentenced to five years of imprisonment, all of which was suspended, and 36 months of unsupervised probation, and was also ordered to pay $6,045 in restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department.

On June 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Richard Johnson, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1433 (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), was charged with three counts of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charges relate to an embezzlement scheme that resulted in a loss of $273,489 in union assets.  Johnson then pled guilty to all five counts.  The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 26, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Salvatore E. Mauro, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1236 (located in Salisbury, N.C.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $8,831 and a $25 assessment.  On February 9, 2015, Mauro pled guilty to one count of creating a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 21, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Sergio Rascon, Jr., former bookkeeper assistant for Laborers Local 300 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,417, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 21, 2015, in the Buchanan County Circuit Court, Missouri, Dennis Fuston, former business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 545 (located in St. Joseph, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,768 and a $25 assessment.  On April 16, 2015, Fuston pled guilty to felony theft/stealing (value of property or services is $500 or more but less than $25,000) in violation of RSMO 570.030.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis Office.

On May 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Shiryll Durham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1687 (located in Mountain Home, Tenn.), was sentenced to time served and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,640 and a $25 assessment.  On January 21, 2015, Durham pled guilty to one count of knowingly taking and carrying, with the intent to steal, the personal property of another within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Aide Spade, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 (located in Littleton, Colo.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $14,234 plus an additional $5,000 fine.  Spade previously paid $44,935 in restitution.  On October 14, 2014, Spade pled guilty to one count of making and using a false document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jesse E. Morgan, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was sentenced to 21 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,011 and a $100 assessment.  On October 7, 2014, Morgan pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 7, 2015, in the Hancock County, Indiana Circuit Court, Marcia K. Shull, former Financial Secretary of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 661 (located in Greenfield, Ind.), pled guilty to one count felony forgery, in violation of IRC 35-43-5-2(b)(1). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati- Cleveland District Office.

On May 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, John P. Jones, former Financial Secretary for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) Local 59 (located in Spokane, Wash.), was indicted on a single count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment followed an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On May 4, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Leonard Bridge, II, former business manager for Elevator Constructors Local 131 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to one year in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,877.  On September 2, 2014, Bridge 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 Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Sharon Ratcliff, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6150 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $79,526 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 15, 2015, Ratcliff pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Cynthia Collins, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 12 (located in Athens, Ga.), was sentenced to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,345 and a special assessment of $100.  On January 21, 2015, Collins pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On April 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Henry Shuler, former Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 1892 (located in Houston, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and paid restitution in the amount of $40,118.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 23, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, David Deitrick, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 10-1338 (located in Shamokin, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $8,993 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 23, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Carolyn Hall, former bookkeeper for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1197 (located in McLeansboro, Ill.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $26,491 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, John Perry, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to 30 months of prison, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $12,500 fine.  On July 13, 2015, Perry was ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution.  On November 19, 2014, Perry was convicted of one count of willfully permitting Joseph Burhoe to serve as a prohibited representative of Teamsters Local 82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 504.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefit Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On April 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Joseph Burhoe, a former representative of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to 70 months of prison and three years of supervised release.  On July 13, 2015, Burhoe was ordered to pay $6,695 in restitution.  On November 19, 2014, Burhoe was convicted of one count of willfully serving as a prohibited representative of Teamsters Local 82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 504.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefit Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On April 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Ray L. Lineweber, former legislative director for the United Transportation Union Nebraska State Legislative Board (located in Omaha, Nebr.), was sentenced to four months in prison, followed by an additional four months of electronic monitoring, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $102,907 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 9, 2015, Lineweber pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $102,907 from the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, Edward Mason, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2274 (located in Saginaw, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with making false statements in an official certificate or writing, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, David Deitrick, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 10-1338 (located in Shamokin, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of $8,993 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Richard Molczyk, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union) Local 493 (located in Fort Dodge, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzling  union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, David Deitrick, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 10-1338 (located in Shamokin, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $8,993 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 1, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Henry Mayer, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 852 (located in Yakima, Wash.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 31, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend, Curtis Bullick, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3254 (located in Bunker Hill, Ind.), pled guilty to a one-count information for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2015.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Assane Faye, the founder and National President of the United Security Police Officers Association (USPOA), located in Washington, DC, was charged in an indictment with two counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c), and seven counts of unemployment fraud, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1341.   Faye was charged with embezzling over $300,000 from the union beginning in 2010.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Earvin, former President of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (UFLEO), located in Bellerose, N.Y., was charged in an indictment with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for allegedly using an ATM card to make hundreds of cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account for personal use and defrauding the union of approximately $48,012.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 26, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Michael Low, former Secretary Treasurer of Laborers Local 2097 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged and pled guilty to a one-count information of making a false statement to a federal agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, for embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,937.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Henry Mayer, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 852 (located in Yakima, Wash.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Choi Hawks, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 6066 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was sentenced to six months of home detention, five years of supervised probation, and was ordered to attend financial counseling and fraud counseling, and have a mental health evaluation.  Hawks previously paid full restitution of $11,196.  On December 17, 2014, Hawks pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Andrea Hobgood, former secretary for Ironworkers Local 58 (located in New Orleans, La.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $3,600 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  Hobgood previously paid $14,039 in restitution.  On March 12, 2014, Hobgood pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Alfonso Rodriguez, former Financial Secretary of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 117 (located in Southworth, Wash.), pled guilty to one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and accepted responsibility while also agreeing to pay restitution in the amount of $34,601.  The sentencing is set for June 5, 2015.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 19, 2015, in the State of Ohio, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Thomas Wolfer, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84729 (located in Fayetteville, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of 5th degree felony theft, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(2).  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Hamilton County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office.

On March 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Elmer Ray Booker, former Financial Secretary of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1530 (located in Houston, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling over $42,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend, Curtis Bullick, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3254 (located in Bunker Hill, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Gent, former office manager for Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 12, Industry of Western Pennsylvania Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund (JATF), located in Pittsburgh, Pa., was sentenced to three years of probation with the first 10 months served as home detention.  Gent was also ordered to pay total restitution of $30,297 at a rate of not less than 10% of gross monthly earnings with the first payment due within 30 days.  Gent must also pay for the cost of electronic monitoring during home detention.  On April 23, 2014, Gent pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union training funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On March 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Alfonso Rodriguez, former Financial Secretary of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 117 (located in Southworth, Wash.), was indicted on one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On March 6, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Juan ‘Alex’ Cedeno, former President of Steelworkers Local 4-318 (located in Edison, N.J.), pled guilty to one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The investigation disclosed that from April 2009 through October 2011, Cedeno embezzled $93,965 in union and health & welfare funds.  Cedeno filed false LM reports in connection with the embezzlement of union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On March 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Timothy Sanchez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 906 (located in Topeka, Kans.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $50,156.  On September 12, 2014, Sanchez pled guilty to one count of Interstate Transportation of Money Obtained by Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 4, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael Trembulak, former President of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Rochester, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $31,528, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 4, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division, Gregory J. Hill, Jr., former Vice President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), was charged in a nine-count indictment.  Hill was charged with one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of over $12,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2; one count of conspiracy to forge securities and embezzle money from a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; and seven counts of uttering forged checks, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 4, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Shreveport Division, Danny L. Rawls, former member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2297 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), was charged in a nine-count indictment.  Rawls was charged with one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of over $12,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2; three counts of uttering forged checks in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and one count of conspiracy to forge securities and embezzle money from a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 3, 2015, in the Summers County Court of West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers, IBT, Division 101 (located in Talcott, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment with felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, which shall have come into possession, or been placed under his care or management, by virtue of his office, place or employment in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 3, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Jeffrey Jones, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 6066 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $7,649.  On November 20, 2014, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern Illinois, Kimberly Hesla, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 474 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a special assessment of $25.  On November 4, 2014, Hesla pled guilty to one count of a false statement in a labor union financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, Stephanie Hicks, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2207 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was indicted on eight counts of bank fraud for embezzling approximately $132,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344; eight counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and three counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028(a)(1).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On February 26, 2015, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Hardin County Circuit Court, Thomas Wilson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 83 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), was charged in a one-count indictment for felony theft by unlawful taking over $10,000.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Defense, Criminal Investigative Service.

On February 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, David Hart, former Financial Secretary/Business Agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony (18 U.S.C. 4) for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion by another Local 324 official (18 U.S.C. 1951).  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On February 23, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Henry Shuler, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1892 (located in Houston, Tex.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 18, 2015, in the Buchanan County, Missouri Judicial Court, Dennis Fuston, former business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 545 (located in St. Joseph, Mo.), was charged with theft of union funds (more than $500 and less than $25,000), in violation of RS:MO 570.030, a Class C Felony.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 18, 2015, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Washington County, a criminal complaint was filed charging Rae Dawn Grillo, former Treasurer of the Charleroi Area Education Association (CAEA), an affiliate of the NEA/PSEA, located in Charleroi, Pa.,with one felony count of Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition and two felony counts of Theft by Deception, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 3921(a) and 3922(a)(1) respectively.  Grillo embezzled $65,963 in association funds.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, David Hart, former Financial Secretary/Business Agent of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324 (located in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with one count of misprision of a felony (18 U.S.C. 4) for failing to report to appropriate authorities the commission of extortion by another Local 324 official (18 U.S.C. 1951).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On February 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division, William Magee, former President of Bakery, Tobacco & Grain Local 252 (located in Memphis, Tenn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $74,388, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2015.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On February 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Shiryll Durham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1687 (located in Mountain Home, Tenn.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in the amount of $2,651, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing is scheduled for May 18, 2015.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville Office.

On January 21, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Evelyn Romero, President of United Industrial and Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was charged in a 39-count indictment for conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371); theft in connection with health care totaling $158,709 (18 U.S.C. 669); embezzlement of union funds totaling $4,282 (29 U.S.C. 501(c)); violating the prohibition against certain persons holding office (29 U.S.C. 504); and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Employment Benefits and Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 21, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, John S. Romero, Sr., former President, and John J. Romero, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of United Industrial and Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., were charged in a 30-count indictment for conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371); theft in connection with health care totaling $158,709 (18 U.S.C. 669); false statement on Form LM-3 (18 U.S.C. 1001); and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Employment Benefits and Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 21, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Danae Romero, Trustee of the United Industrial and Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was charged in a 29-count indictment for conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371); theft in connection with health care totaling $158,709 (18 U.S.C. 669); and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Employment Benefits and Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 21, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, Cynthia Collins, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 12 (located in Athens, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Ann Marie Shaffer, former dues clerk for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $340,267 and a $100 special assessment.  On August 7, 2014, Shaffer pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $101,059.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 15, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Sharon Ratcliff, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6150 (located in Dallas, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $79,526, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, an information was filed against Salvatore E. Mauro, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1236 (located in Salisbury, N.C.), charging him with one count of creating a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  On January 14, 2015, Mauro pled guilty to the information.  The indictment and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 13, 2015, in the Perry County Court of Common Pleas, Brian Stoneburner, former Treasurer for Bricklayers Local 44 (located in Newark, Ohio), was sentenced to 90 days of incarceration, five years of probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to make full restitution of $13,235.  On November 4, 2014, Stoneburner pled guilty to one count of grand theft.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Cedric Hughes, former Treasurer of the United Union of Professionals (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was sentenced to probation for five years and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,193, a fine of $2,000, and a special assessment of $100.  On September 8, 2014, Hughes pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Ray L. Lineweber, former legislative director for the United Transportation Union Nebraska State Legislative Board (located in Omaha, Neb.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $102,907 in union funds.  On November 19, 2013, Lineweber was indicted on one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; and 15 counts of false records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On January 8, 2015, in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, a criminal complaint was filed charging Maria Del Cupolo, former bookkeeper for Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 300 (located in Oakland, Calif.), with five felony counts, including one count of Grand Theft with an excessive loss of over $65,000, and four counts of money laundering, in violation of California Penal Code 487(a) and 186.10(a) respectively.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On January 8, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert Mays, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 561 (located in Lancaster, Ohio), was sentenced to probation for three years, 208 hours of community service, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $24,833.  On September 12, 2014, Mays pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 7, 2015, in the McCracken County, Kentucky Circuit Court, David Lynch, former President and Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 383 (located in Paducah, Ky.), was sentenced to three years of incarceration (suspended to 30 days in county jail while on work release) and a minimum of two years of probation with probation continuing until restitution of $15,805 is paid in full.  On October 14, 2014, Lynch pled guilty to felony theft by unlawful taking of more than $500 but less than $10,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On January 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jonathan Smith, former Financial Secretary of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2247 (located in Juneau, Alaska), was sentenced to four months of home detention, five years of probation, 250 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $41,770.  On August 8, 2014, Smith pled guilty to a single count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On January 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dale T. Hull, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 261 (located in Herington, Kans.), was sentenced to time served, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,189 and a fine of $2,500.  On September 29, 2014, Hull pled guilty to a single count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On December 11, 2014, in the 10th District Court of Calhoun County, Michigan, a criminal complaint was filed charging Edward Feld, former President of Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 374 (located in Battle Creek, Mich.), with one count of felony embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Anthony Davis, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), was sentenced to 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $42,119 and a $100 assessment.  On September 11, 2014, Davis was found guilty by jury trial of one count of embezzlement, in violation 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis Office.

On December 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, in the amount of $59,709.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On December 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, after a two-month jury trial, Paul Stewart, former Vice President of the Detroit Police Officers Association (located in Detroit, Mich.), was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud through bribes and kickbacks.  The evidence at trial showed that Detroit’s two retirement systems lost more than $97 million on pension deals corrupted by bribes and kickbacks taken or paid by Stewart and his co-defendants in return for votes on investment decisions made by the boards of trustees of the two pension systems, of which Stewart was a member.  During the conspiracy, Stewart accepted more than $48,000 in cash, trips, meals, drinks, and other things of value in return for his support on pension deals proposed by the givers of the bribes.  Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2015.  The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On November 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Terry Thomas, former President of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), IBT Local 231M (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was sentenced to five months of home confinement, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,747 and a fine of $25.  On July 15, 2014, Thomas pled guilty to one count of willfully withholding a record required to be kept by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville Office.

On November 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Milton Hilliard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 287 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement with electronic monitoring, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $34,612 and a fine of $4,000.  On August 28, 2014, Hilliard pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 24, 2014, in the Eastern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata pled guilty to violating 29 U.S.C. 1111 (persons prohibited from holding certain positions related to an employee benefit fund).  In 2011, Annunziata was sentenced to prison for his participation in an extortion scheme, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951, following a DOL investigation of his activities while the fund administrator for the plans of the United Craft and Industrial Workers Local Union 91, an independent union located in Williston Park, N.Y., that represents primarily school bus drivers and matrons.  The current plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 24, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Gent, former office manager for Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 12, Industry of Western Pennsylvania Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund (JATF), located in Pittsburgh, Pa., pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with embezzling $30,297, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2015.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On November 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Jeffrey Jones, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 6066 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $7,649 from the union.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Pamela Nessen, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 286 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $58,598 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment was sealed until Nessen self-surrendered on January 12, 2015.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2014, in the 299th District Court of Travis County, Texas, Richard McCullough, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6132 (located in Austin, Tex.), was charged with Felony Theft in the value of $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code Section 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 19, 2014, in the 299th District Court of Travis County Texas, Jessica  McCullough, former Chief Steward of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6132 (located in Austin, Tex.), was charged with Felony Theft in the value of $1,500 or more, but less than $20,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code Section 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 19, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after six days of jury deliberation and a seven week trial, John Perry, former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was found guilty of multiple counts of Hobbs Act extortion, extortion conspiracy, racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.  Perry was also found guilty of one count of willfully permitting Joseph Burhoe to serve in a prohibited union position as a representative of Teamsters Local 82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 504.  Perry is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2015.  The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On November 19, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after six days of jury deliberation and a seven week trial, Joseph Burhoe, a former Representative of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was convicted of multiple counts of Hobbs Act extortion, extortion conspiracy, racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.  Burhoe was also convicted of one count of willfully serving in a prohibited union position as a representative of Teamsters Local 82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 504.  Burhoe is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2015.  Burhoe also has a separate pending trial based on his being charged with three counts of mail fraud for being overpaid unemployment insurance benefits.  The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department.

On November 18, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Raymond Norville, former New Jersey contractor and owner of RLL Unique Homes Inc., was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $98,600 in restitution.  On June 11, 2014, Norville pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Authorities charged that Norville stole at least $100,000 from International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1233 (located in Newark, N.J.).  In addition, Norville defrauded a home owner of nearly $100,000 for materials that he neither delivered to the work site nor provided proof that he had purchased.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

On November 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Sharon Ratcliff, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6150 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was charged in an information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Choi Hawks, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 6066 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $10,744 from the union.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Reda Overton, former Executive Secretary to the General Chairman of the Locomotive Engineers, IBT, GCA 4 (located in Independence, Ky.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $206,056 and a $100 special assessment.  On May 20, 2014, Overton pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On November 5, 2014, in the Adams County Wisconsin District Court, Christopher Zawikowski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3495 (located in Grand Marsh, Wis.), pled no contest to one count of theft in a business setting of less than $2,500, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b), and was then sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,400.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On November 4, 2014, in the Perry County Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Brian K. Stoneburner, former Treasurer for Bricklayers Local 44 (located in Newark, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of grand theft in the amount of $13,235.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 4, 2014, in the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Susan Haugen, former Treasurer of South Dakota Postal Workers Union (located in Huron, S.D.), was charged in a three-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $36,309, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On November 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kimberly Hesla, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 474 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to filing a false report with the Secretary of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 30, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Michael E. Sewell, the owner and operator of MESCO, a contractor that did business with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $89,222.  On August 27, 2014, Sewell pled guilty to one count of falsifying a document required to be kept by ERISA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027, for knowingly underreporting the hours of work for MESCO employees in documents required to be kept under ERISA as part of the records of employee welfare benefit plans and employee pension benefit plans.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 29, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jeremy Bolte, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Lodge 800 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was charged in an information and pled guilty to 10 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c).  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kimberly Hesla, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 474 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was charged in an information with filing a false report with the Secretary of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Rena Opre, former Secretary-Treasurer for Workers United, SEIU Local 323 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was sentenced to a $250 fine and $25 special assessment.  On May 14, 2014, Opre pled guilty to filing a false report with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 15, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, an indictment was filed against Shiryll L. Durham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1687 (located in Mountain Home, Tenn.), charging her with two counts of mail fraud totaling $2,651, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On October 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Aide Spade, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 (located in Littleton, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of making and using a false document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Mary Grace Gossett, former office assistant for Bakery Workers Local 26 (located in Denver, Colo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $41,622 and a $300 assessment.  On July 17, 2014, Gossett pled guilty to three counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 7, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jesse E. Morgan, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Jeffrey Jones, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 6066 (located in Chesapeake, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $7,649 from the union.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 1, 2014, in District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County, Rodney Horne, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 34 (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged with theft of $500 or more, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104, for stealing $4,525 from the union.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 30, 2014, in the 71st District Court of Harrison County Texas, Jerry Ragster, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3057 (located in Marshall, Tex.), pled guilty to Felony Theft, in violation of Texas Penal Code Section 31.03 (e)(4)(A), and signed a six-month deferred adjudication order.  Ragster also paid full restitution of $3,372.  On November 21, 2013, Ragster was indicted for theft of $3,372 in union funds, in violation of Texas Penal Code 31.03.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 30, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Patricia Moore, former employee and Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union of Protective Services Associations (NUPSA), located in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 150 days home confinement with electronic monitoring (some exceptions for movement), four years of supervised probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $107,346 and a $100 assessment.  On October 27, 2011, Moore pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud from NUPSA and the National Union of Law Enforcement Associations, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing 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 September 29, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dale Hull, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 261 (located in Herington, Kans.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Amy Atherton, former bookkeeper for Laborers Local 366 (located in Sheffield, Ala.), was sentenced to six months of confinement, six months of home detention, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $174,283.  On June 17, 2014, Atherton pled guilty to one count providing false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Robert Vargeson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 88329 (located in Gaines, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $6,013 in restitution.  On April 24, 2014, Vargeson pled guilty to making false entries in required union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On September 19, 2014, in the County Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska, Mark Whetstone, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3928 (located in Lincoln, Neb.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay $4,811 in restitution, a $59 fine, and $630 in fees.  On May 13, 2014, Whetstone pled no contest and was found guilty of one count of theft by deception, in violation of Nebraska Revised Statute 28-512.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 19, 2014, in the Greene County, Missouri Circuit Court, Jackie Nutter, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 15485 (located in Springfield, Mo.), was charged with theft for stealing $12,284 in union funds, in violation of RS:MO 570.030, a class C felony.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 17, 2014, in the Hancock County, Indiana Circuit Court, an information was filed against Marcia K. Shull, former Financial Secretary of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local 661 (located in Greenfield, Ind.), for one count of felony theft, in violation of IRC 35-43-4-2(a), and one count of felony forgery, in violation of IRC 35-43-5-2(b)(1).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 17, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, JC Stamps, former Executive Director and Founder of the National Union of Protective Services Associations (NUPSA) and the National Union of Law Enforcement Associations (NULEA), both located in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to nine months of confinement in a community correctional facility, three years of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $192,091.  On June 23, 2014, Stamps pled guilty to theft from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664, for embezzling from the two unions and NUPSA’s health and welfare fund.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 17, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Jeanine Breaux, former secretary/bookkeeper for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1846 (located in Metairie, La.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $82,414 and a $100 special assessment.  On March 12, 2014, Breaux pled guilty to a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 16, 2014, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Juanita Phillips, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 389 – Home Care Employees (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty during her trial to one count of grand larceny in the third degree.  The sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2014. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On September 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, James Jones, former business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 898 (located in San Angelo, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.  Jones paid full restitution of $11,164 prior to his sentencing.  On April 3, 2014, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,164, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On September 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert Mays, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 561 (located in Logan, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $24,833, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 11, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, a federal jury issued a guilty verdict to Anthony Davis, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), for one count of embezzlement.  Evidence at the trial established that Davis created numerous false vendor invoices to further his scheme to embezzle $40,659.  The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a guilty verdict.  On April 23, 2014, Davis was indicted on one count of embezzling from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing has been set for December 8, 2014.  The trial and guilty verdict follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On September 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Henry Hull, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, IBT Local Lodge 654 (located in Southaven, Miss.), was sentenced to one year of home confinement with electronic monitoring, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 and an assessment of $100.  On June 3, 2014, Hull pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On September 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Cedric Hughes, former Treasurer of the United Union of Professionals (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds in the amount of $15,193, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 4, 2014, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Criminal Division, Celia Ferrand, former payroll clerk for International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 135 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of Felony Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, in violation of Indiana Code Section 35-43-4-2, and was then sentenced to 730 days of probation and was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution and a $4 court fee.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On September 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Paul Vargas, former Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 102-F (located in NAS Lemoore, Calif.), pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft totaling $120, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  He was then sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation, 250 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,065 (in monthly payments of $400), a $1,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On September 2, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David L. Barr, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, and Plastics (GMP) Local 99 (located in Monaca, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and to attend an alcohol addiction treatment program.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,745 at a rate of not less than 10% of his gross monthly earnings and a $100 special assessment fee.  On April 16, 2014, Barr pled guilty to embezzling $5,688 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia – Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Milton Hilliard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 287 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $34,612 from the union by making personal purchases on the union’s debit card and cash withdrawals from the union’s account.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Michael E. Sewell, the owner and operator of MESCO, a contractor that did business with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of falsifying a document required to be kept by ERISA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027, for knowingly underreporting the hours of work for MESCO employees in documents required to be kept under ERISA as part of the records of employee welfare benefit plans and employee pension benefit plans.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Lewis, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3585 (located in Canton, Ill.), was sentenced to four months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release with the first eight months being home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution of $77,469 and a $100 assessment.  On April 14, 2014, Lewis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 26, 2014, in the 10th Judicial Circuit in Jefferson County, Alabama, an indictment was filed against John K. Clifton, former Unit Griever of the Steelworkers Local 1013 (located in Fairfield, Ala.), charging him with one count of theft of property in excess of $2,500, in violation of Alabama Code 13A-8-3.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Don McMahon, former Treasurer for Civilian Technicians Association Independent (CTAI), Tennessee State Council for Air (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was sentenced to one month of imprisonment, three years of supervised release with the condition of one year home detention with electronic monitoring during the first year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $11,928 in restitution and a $100 fine.  On May 16, 2014, McMahon pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On August 19, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Richard Molczyk, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 493 (located in Omaha, Neb.), was indicted in a sealed indictment on five counts of embezzlement totaling $13,196 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment was unsealed on September 4, 2014 and Molczyk made his initial court appearance on September 22, 2014.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On August 15, 2014, in the Brown County Wisconsin Circuit Court, Arthur Homa, former President of Steelworkers Local 2-47 (located in Green Bay, Wis.), was charged with one count of felony theft of an amount between $2,500 and $5,000, in violation of Wisconsin Statute 943.20(1)(b) & (3)(bf).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On August 13, 2014, in the Westchester County Criminal Court in White Plains, New York, Frank Gluberman, former Treasurer of the Greenburgh Teachers Federation (GTF), located in Hartsdale, N.Y., pled guilty to one count of grand larceny in the second degree in the amount of $784,865.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

On August 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the State of Alaska, Jonathan Smith, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters Local 2247 (located in Juneau, Alaska), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,770, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On August 7, 2014, in the State of Oregon, County of Clatsop, Brandon Kent, former Treasurer for United Steelworkers Local 12-1097 (located in Westport, Ore.), pled guilty to two counts of theft in the first degree, in violation of ORS 164.55.  Kent was then sentenced to 30 days in prison, three years of supervised probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,911 and a $200 fine.  The sentencing followed an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On August 7, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Ann Marie Shaffer, former dues clerk for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $101,059.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 4, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California Division, Fred Correll, former Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) District Council 2 (located in Fullerton, Calif.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 with interest.  A sum of $500 must be paid immediately and the balance of the fine was ordered to be paid in monthly installments of $500 during the period of probation.  The payments will begin 30 days after the commencement of supervision.   On April 29, 2014, Correll pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of filing a false tax return when he failed to report the embezzled income on his 2009 tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS.

On August 4, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Ryan Sherard, former President of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) District Council 2 (located in Fullerton, Calif.), was sentenced to three years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.  On April 23, 2014, Sherard pled guilty to one count of making a false statement in a labor union financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), when he failed to report in the union’s LM-2 report approximately $9,600 that he received from the union.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS.

On August 4, 2014, in the Circuit Court of the City of Portsmouth, Eric Barnett, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 171 (located in Portsmouth, Va.), was sentenced to four years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $10,212.  On May 7, 2014, Barnett pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of 18.2-111 of the Code of Virginia.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 31, 2014, in the Perry County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Brian K. Stoneburner, former Secretary-Treasurer of Bricklayers Local 44 (located in Newark, Ohio), was indicted on one count of grand theft in excess of $7,500, but less than $150,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 30, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dale T. Hull, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 261 (located in Herington, Kans.), was charged in a five-count indictment for embezzling in excess of $14,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On July 29, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Milton Hilliard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 287 (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $25,575 from the union.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 29, 2014, in the United States Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael C. Trembulak, former President of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Rochester, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $31,528 during the period April 19, 2012 through September 18, 2012, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 24, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 644 (located in Cameron, Ill.), was sentenced to four years of probation with the first six months being supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $24,625 and a $100 assessment.  On March 20, 2014, Davis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 24, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Michael E. Sewell, the owner and operator of MESCO, a contractor that did business with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of falsifying a document required to be kept by ERISA, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1027, for knowingly underreporting the hours of work for MESCO employees in documents required to be kept under ERISA as part of the records of employee welfare benefit plans and employee pension benefit plans.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 21, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Michael W. Couch, former Business Manager for Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $8,867 in restitution.  On March 11, 2014, Couch pled guilty to willful concealment of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On July 18, 2014, in the State of Washington, County of Clark, William Hainsey, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 249 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), pled guilty to a single count of theft in the first degree, in violation of RCW 9A.56.030.  He was then sentenced to nine months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $45,574 and a $500 fine.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

On July 16, 2014, in the United States Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John Vetterly, Jr., former President of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Rochester, Pa.), was sentenced to nine months of house arrest with electronic monitoring, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $26,605 plus interest and a fine of 10% of the funds embezzled or $2,660.  On March 20, 2014, Vetterly pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $26,605, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 15, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Jacob Barkemeyer, former Treasurer and Local Chairman of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local Lodge 172 (located in Los Lunas, N.M.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,608, a $1,000 fine, and a $25 assessment.  On January 2, 2014, Barkemeyer pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with a false entry in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On July 15, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Eric Givens, former Secretary-Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 189 Amtrak Police Labor Committee and FOP Lodge 189 (located in New York, N.Y.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds and making false statements to a federal investigator, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1001, for embezzling at least $100,000 in total from the labor committee and lodge by fraudulently charging personal expenses, by withdrawing cash for personal use, and by taking steps to hide his crimes.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 11, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kenneth Marshall, Jr. was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $18,851.  On March 6, 2014, Marshall pled guilty to bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash counterfeit checks drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Nyaunu-Wi Meatia Palmer was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, 50 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $9,836.  On April 9, 2014, Palmer pled guilty to bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a counterfeit check drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Robert Mays, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 561 (located in Logan, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $24,833, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On July 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, an indictment was filed against Cynthia Collins, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 12 (located in Athens, Ga.), charging her with one count of embezzlement totaling $23,345, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by the labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On July 1, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Thomas Vincent, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was charged in a 19-count indictment for embezzling $17,272 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); making illegal loans to himself totaling $23,760, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503; and falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 26, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Harold Ray, former Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 469 (located in Mobile, Ala.), and former Secretary of the NALC Alabama State Association (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was sentenced to two months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, three years of supervised release (including eight months of home confinement), and was ordered to pay $31,954 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 20, 2014, Ray pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On June 24, 2014, in the State of Ohio, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Thomas Wolfer, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84729 (located in Fayetteville, Ohio), was indicted for felony theft of property or services worth $7,500 or more in union funds.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Hamilton County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office.

On June 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, JC Stamps, former Executive Director and Founder of the National Union of Protective Services Associations (NUPSA), and the National Union of Law Enforcement Associations (NULEA), both located in Washington, D.C., pled guilty to one count of theft from an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664, for stealing $194,611 from the two unions and NUPSA’s health and welfare fund.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 13, 2014, in the McCracken County, Kentucky Circuit Court, David Lynch, former President and Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 383 (located in Paducah, Ky.), was indicted for theft of more than $10,000 in union funds.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On June 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Dianna Woodall was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and was also ordered to pay restitution of $9,836.  On March 26, 2014, Woodall pled guilty to bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a counterfeit check drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Joseph Lombardo, Founder and Managing Director of Prim Capital Corporation, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $200 special assessment.  On November 14, 2013, Lombardo pled guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice relating to his attempt to defraud the National Basketball Players Association (located in New York, N.Y.), of $3 million through the use of a fraudulent retention contract.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada,​ ​Aurora Rios, former cashier for Laborers Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, six months of home confinement, and three years supervised release.  Rios was also ordered to pay $11,500 in restitution and $2,175 in fines.  On April 28, 2010, Rios was charged with 21 counts of embezzling approximately $167,500 and three counts of falsifying union records.  She pled guilty on April 10, 2012.   The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, JC Stamps, former Executive Director of the National Union of Protective Services Association (NUPSA), located in Washington, D.C., was charged in a criminal information with embezzlement of $86,170 from the union’s health and welfare fund, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664 (theft from an employee benefit plan).  The charges are the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 6, 2014, in the Superior Court of Chatham County, Georgia, Steven C. Anderson pled guilty to one count of forgery in the first degree, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-9-1(b), and one count of theft by deception, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-8-3, for embezzling from the United Steelworkers Local 1087 (located in Riceboro, Ga.).  Anderson was then sentenced to 10 years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,830 and a $350 special assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On June 5, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mary Craigen, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement, two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $8,975.  On November 20, 2012, Craigen pled guilty to count one of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Aide Spade, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 (located in Littleton, Colo.), was indicted on four counts of falsely underreporting union disbursements paid to her, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James E. Charleston, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one year and one day of imprisonment followed by 18 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $102,784.  On January 28, 2014, Charleston pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, J.D. Richey, former Secretary Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Lodge 3025 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,300.  On February 21, 2014, Richey pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 21, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Carolyn Kaufman, a principal of Prim Capital Corporation, was sentenced to six months of home confinement with monitoring, three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and was fined $25,300.  On December 11, 2013, Kaufman was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and perjury related to her co-defendant Joseph Lombardo’s attempt to defraud the National Basketball Players Association (located in New York, N.Y.), of $3 million through the use of a fraudulent retention contract.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 15, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,909 and a $100 fine.  On December 18, 2013, Hoffman pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,909, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On May 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Charleston Division of the District of South Carolina, Timothy A. Gamble, former President of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 378 (located in Aynor, S.C.), was charged with embezzling $9,345 in union funds between May 2010 and May 2013, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On May 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Stone, former bookkeeper for Boilermakers Local Lodge 374 (located in Hammond, Ind.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $9,170 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On February 7, 2014, Stone 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 Chicago District Office.

On May 13, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,546 and a $100 fine.  On December 19, 2013, Branca pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,546, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On May 13, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Mary Grace Gossett, former office assistant for Bakery Workers Local 26 (located in Denver, Colo.), was charged in a criminal information with three counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On May 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Linda Ryan, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 208 (located in Irving, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $54,416 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 30, 2014, Ryan pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On May 7, 2014, in Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, Eric Barnett, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 171 (located in Portsmouth, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of 18.2-111 of the Code of Virginia.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Portsmouth Police Department.

On May 7, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, James Babcock, former Financial Secretary of United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $24,854 in restitution.  On January 16, 2014, Babcock pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 5, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Juan ‘Alex’ Cedeno, former President and Health & Welfare Fund Trustee of Steelworkers Local 4-318 (located in Edison, N.J.), was arrested following a criminal complaint was filed charging him with one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The investigation disclosed that from April 2009 through October 2011, Cedeno allegedly embezzled a total of $93,965 in union and employee benefit funds.  Cedeno used the debit card to incur numerous unauthorized, inappropriate, and personal charges.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 2, 2014, in the Stearns County Court of Minnesota, James Kiser, former Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 165 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), was sentenced to five years of probation, 30 days in jail with credit for one day served (to be served by way of home detention), and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,918 and a $50 fine.  On March 14, 2014, Kiser pled guilty to one felony count of theft by swindle of over $1,000, in violation of Minnesota Theft Statute 609.52.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 29, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Edward Martin Mosher, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 458 (located in Plant City, Fla.), was sentenced to time served in prison followed by three years of supervised release with standard and special conditions.  Mosher had been incarcerated for 11.5 months prior to being released.  Mosher was also ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $43,941.  On January 22, 2014, Mosher pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 29, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California Division, Fred Correll, former Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) District Council 2 (located in Fullerton, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of filing a false tax return when he failed to report the embezzled income on his 2009 tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2014.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS.

On April 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Udean Forbes-Payton, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2500 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged with embezzling $5,562 in union funds between December 2006 and May 2011, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 24, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Robert Vargeson, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 88329 (located in Galeton, Pa.), pled guilty to a misdemeanor information for false entry or willful concealment of books and records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), as a result of a loss to the union in the amount of $6,373.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Ryan Sherard, former President of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) District Council 2 (located in Fullerton, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of making a false statement in a labor union financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), when he failed to report in the union’s LM-2 report approximately $9,600 that he received from the union.  The sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2014.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the IRS.

On April 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ronald Karr, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2359 (located in Sugar Grove, Ohio), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine.  Karr previously paid restitution in full.  On December 11, 2013, Karr pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $158,150, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On April 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Gent, former office manager for the Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 12 Journeyman-Apprentice Training Fund (JATF) for the Sheet Metal Industry of Western Pennsylvania (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was indicted for one count of embezzling $30,297, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On April 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Anthony Davis, President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $40,659 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Britta Duncan, former Treasurer of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 5 (located in Portland, Ore.), was sentenced to eight months of home detention, five years of probation, mental health counseling, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $43,183 and a $500 fine.  On October 8, 2013, Duncan pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kristie McClarren, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3061 (located in Crestline, Ohio), was sentenced to 18 months of confinement followed by two years of supervised release with standard and special conditions.  McClarren was also ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $152,639.  On January 17, 2014, McClarren pled guilty to embezzlement of $152,639, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 22, 2014, in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Nathan Lee, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Local 536 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was charged with one count of theft by taking in the amount of $3,074, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-8-2.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On April 16, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David L. Barr, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 99 (located in New Brighton, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $5,688, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2014.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 16, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jonathan Smith, former Financial Secretary of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBCJ) Local 2247 (located in Juneau, Alaska), was indicted for one count of embezzling $40,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 15, 2014, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Criminal Division, Celia Ferrand, former payroll clerk for International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 135 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was indicted for theft; receiving stolen property of $8,094 in union funds.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On April 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, James Edwin Hedges III, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 201 (located in Trinidad, Colo.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $16,205 in restitution.  On February 24, 2014, Hedges pled guilty to a three-count information charging him with falsifying annual labor union financial reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On April 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Robert Vargeson, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 88329 (located in Galeton, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with falsification of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On April 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Nyaunu-Wi Meatia Palmer pled guilty to one count of bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a $9,836 counterfeit check drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 7, 2014, in the 184th Judicial District Court, Houston County, Texas, Kenneth Smith, former President of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 208 (located in Houston, Tex.), pled guilty and then was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,300 fine.  On October 18, 2013, Smith was charged with felony theft in the value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, in violation of Texas State Penal Code Section 31.03.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On April 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, James Jones, former business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 898 (located in San Angelo, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,164 in both union and JATC funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Lewis, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3585 (located in Canton, Ill.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of approximately $77,469, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On April 14, 2014, Lewis signed a waiver of indictment and pled guilty to the information.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Duane Rill, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Berry Metal Employees’ Association (located in Cranberry, Pa.), was sentenced to six months of home detention with electronic device monitoring commencing immediately, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution in the amount of $896 and a $100 special assessment.  Rill previously made partial restitution in the amount of $12,600.  On November 22, 2013, Rill pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,496, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 26, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Dianna Woodall pled guilty to bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a $9,836 counterfeit check drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 25, 2014, in the State of New Jersey, County of Burlington, Michelle Garber, former office employee of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1778 (located in Wrightstown, N.J.), was indicted before the Grand Jury and charged with one count of Theft by Deception (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-4; one count of Misapplication of Entrusted Property (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:21-15; and Elements of Computer Theft (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-25c in an amount in excess of $500 but less than $75,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald Martin, former bookkeeper for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 9 (located in Denver, Colo.), was sentenced to five months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $30,338 and a $200 assessment.  At the time of his sentencing, Martin also petitioned the court for an exemption from the Section 504 bar prohibiting him from serving as a union official or employee for 13 years following his conviction; the judge denied his request.  On November 14, 2013, Martin pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 20, 2014, in the United States Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John Vetterly, Jr., former President of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Rochester, Pa.), pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $26,605, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On October 8, 2013, Vetterly was indicted for embezzlement and conspiracy to embezzle union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 644 (located in Galesburg, Ill.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On July 23, 2013, Davis was charged in an indictment with embezzling $27,712 in union funds.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Harold Ray, former secretary for National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 469 and the Alabama State Association, located in Mobile, Ala. and Birmingham, Ala., respectively, pled guilty to count one of the indictment to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 31, 2014, Ray was indicted in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling $38,565 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Rena Opre, former Secretary Treasurer for Workers United, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 323 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was charged in an information with one count of failing to disclose a material fact in a report filed with the Secretary of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 19, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, Julie Skaggs, former office manager for International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 372 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $51,491 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On March 17, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Jesse Madrigal, former Treasurer of the Independent Oil and Chemical Workers Union (IOCW) (located in Kansas City, Kans.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Madrigal already paid full restitution in the amount of $30,607.  On November 27, 2013, Madrigal pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement of union funds totaling $24,227, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 14, 2014, in the Stearns County Court of Minnesota, James Kiser, former Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 165 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of over $1,000, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52.  On December 18, 2012, Kiser was charged with four felony counts of theft by swindle totaling a theft of $5,919.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 13, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Nyaunu-Wi Meatia Palmer was charged in a criminal information with one count of bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a counterfeit check for more than $1,000 drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 13, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Dianna Woodall was charged in a criminal information with one count of bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for participating in a scheme to cash a $9,836 counterfeit check drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Jeanine Breaux, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 1846 (located in Metairie, La.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On February 3, 2014, Breaux was charged in a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Andrea Hobgood, former secretary for Ironworkers Local 58 (located in New Orleans, La.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 27, 2014, Hobgood was charged in a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 12, 2014, in the Hennepin County (Minnesota) District Court, Jason Brown, former shop chairman of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 87140 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of over $1,000, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52.  Brown was then sentenced to one year and one day confinement (stayed for five years), but ordered to serve 90 days of confinement in addition to five years of probation. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,905 less whatever restitution he previously paid.  Brown may not possess a firearm and must provide a DNA sample.  Brown will be allowed to serve his time either at a workhouse with work release or at home with electronic home monitoring.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 11, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Michael W. Couch, former Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was charged in an indictment with false entry and willful concealment of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Couch pled guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On March 7, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Melissa Gustafson, former bookkeeper for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84110 (located in Silvis, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of home confinement, three years of probation, three months of curfew, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Gustafson already paid full restitution of $12,059.  On August 16, 2013, Gustafson pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On March 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Janet Posey, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $250 fine.  On October 22, 2013, Posey pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  Posey previously made full restitution of $3,026.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Linda Bland, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $947 in restitution and a $250 fine.  On October 22, 2013, Bland pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kenneth Marshall, Jr. pled guilty to one count of bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, for cashing two counterfeit checks totaling $18,851 drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jesse E. Morgan, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707  (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was indicted on 29 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling $185,000 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 19, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Joseph Hulstedt, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Local Lodge 1046 (located in Oswego, Ill.), pled guilty to making a false entry in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Hulstedt was then sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.  Hulstedt had previously paid full restitution in the amount of $6,836.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Rufino Sanchez, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-10 – Air Traffic Controllers Assistants (located in Aurora, Ill.), was sentenced to four years of probation, six months of home detention (special condition of probation), and was ordered to pay $18,765 in restitution, $18,765 in forfeiture of property, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.  On March 22, 2013, Sanchez pled guilty to mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 12, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Leonard Bridge, II, former business manager for Elevator Constructors Local 131 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was indicted on 20 counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On February 12, 2014, in the Franklin County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Kimberly Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transport Workers Union Local 12 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in an amount greater than $1,000 but less than $7,500, and one count of forgery.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On February 7, 2014, in the New York County (Manhattan) Criminal Court in New York, New York, Juanita Phillips, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 389 – Home Care Employees (located in New York, N.Y.), was indicted for theft of union funds in the amount of $15,273.  The charges included one count of grand larceny, four counts of forgery, and four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 7, 2014, in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Stone, former bookkeeper for Boilermakers Local Lodge 374 (located in Hammond, Ind.), was charged in an information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On the same date, Stone pled guilty to the embezzlement charge in the amount of $9,169.  The information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 5, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Angela G. Webster, former office secretary for United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 943 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was sentenced to six years of  probation and was ordered to pay $23,015 in restitution.  On November 5, 2013, Webster pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 3, 2014, in the 16th Judicial District Court, St. Mary’s Parish, Patrick Parker, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 638C (located in Franklin, La.), pled guilty to theft of $1,500 or more, a violation of LA R.S. 14:67.  Parker was then sentenced to five years at hard labor (suspended), three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,480 and $1,375 in fines.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On February 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Adam Raimer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1027 (located in Fresno, Calif.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution amount of $18,429 and a $200 special assessment.  Raimer had previously paid restitution in the amount of $23,000.  On September 20, 2013, Raimer pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,429, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle Office.

On February 3, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Jeanine Breaux, former secretary/bookkeeper for United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1846 (located in Metairie, La.), was charged in a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 31, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Harold Ray, former secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 469 (located in Mobile, Ala.), and former secretary of the NALC Alabama State Association (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $38,565 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.

On January 30, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Linda Ryan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 208 (located in Irving, Tex.), pled guilty to embezzling $54,416 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 23, 2014, Ryan was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Shelly Roanhorse, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3601 (located in Claremore, Okla.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,565 in restitution.  On October 21, 2013, Roanhorse pled guilty to a one count indictment charging her with making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James E. Charleston, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  A superseding indictment filed on August 15, 2013 charged Charleston with four counts of mail fraud and one count of theft on government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Andrea Hobgood, former Secretary for International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 58 (located in New Orleans, La.), was charged in a one-count bill of information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 23, 2014, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, David Westgard, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 65 (located in Mendota Heights, Minn.), was sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,241.  Westgard had previously paid restitution in the amount of $22,719.  On November 12, 2013, Westgard pled guilty to one count of Theft – Indifferent to Owner Rights.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On January 22, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville, Reda Overton, former Executive Secretary of Locomotive Engineers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 4-175 (located in Cynthiana, Ky.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling approximately $206,056 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 21, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Edward Martin Mosher, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-458 (located in Plant City, Fla.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $65,895, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On January 17, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kristie McClarren, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3061 (located in Crestline, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $152,639, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 16, 2014, in the 421st Judicial District Court, Caldwell County, Texas, David Martinez, former Secretary Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 267 (located in Austin, Tex.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,512 and a $1,500 fine.  On April 12, 2013, Martinez was charged with felony theft in the value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, in violation of Texas State Penal Code 31.03.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 16, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, James Babcock, former Financial Secretary of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $24,854, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 15, 2014, in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Texas, James Jones, former Business Manager and Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 898 (located in San Angelo, Tex.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,551, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kenneth Marshall Jr. was indicted on one count of bank theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), and one count of aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2 for cashing two counterfeit checks totaling $18,851 drawn on the bank account of Marine Engineers Benevolent Association District 1 (located in Washington, D.C.).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 10, 2014, in the Oklahoma County Court for District 7, Stephanie Johnson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 465D (located in Kansas City, Kans.), was charged in a one-count information with forgery and a warrant was issued for her arrest.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On January 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Henry Hull, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Lodge 654 (located in Southaven, Miss.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $8,240 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Don McMahon, former Treasurer of Civilian Technicians Association Independent (CTAI) Tennessee State Council for Air (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud totaling $3,543, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On January 9, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark Valerio, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 249 (located in Geneva, N.Y.), and former officer of IBEW System Council U-7 (located in Johnson City, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year of probation and 500 hours of community service.  Valerio was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $39,049 and a $500 fine.  On September 18, 2013, Valerio pled guilty to a one-count misdemeanor 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 Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On January 8, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, Natasha J. Bever, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4202 (located in Rantoul, Ill.), was sentenced to one year plus one day in prison and three years of supervised release.  Bever was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $55,759 and a $100 special assessment.  On June 28, 2013, Bever pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $149,404, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 7, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael Pontician, former Financial-Secretary of Steelworkers Local 480 (located in Pottsville, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,626.  On August 28, 2013, Pontician pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records to conceal an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,546, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting another, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  On December 18, 2013, Branca was charged in an information with embezzling union funds and aiding and abetting.  The information also alleged forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 18, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Ann Marie Shaffer, former dues clerk for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $101,059, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 18, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Simiel Campbell, former President of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 2014 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $19,433 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 18, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,909, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting another, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  On December 17, 2013, Hoffman was charged in an information with embezzling union funds and aiding and abetting.  The information also alleged forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c).  The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On December 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bernard Nolter, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 635 (located in Mount Carmel, Pa.), was sentenced to one year of probation.  On August 29, 2013, Nolter pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records to conceal an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Nolter had previously made restitution in the amount of $7,262.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division, Calvin Sanders, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 638C (located in Franklin, La.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,028 and a $100 special assessment.  On August 8, 2013, Sanders pled guilty to a one-count bill of information for embezzling $24,028 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On December 12, 2013, in the Criminal Court of Nebraska, Lancaster County, Mark Whetstone, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3928 (located in Lincoln, Nebr.), and AFGE Leadership Council 119 (located in Humble, Tex.), was charged with theft by deception, a Class 3 felony, for misappropriating more than $1,500 of union funds, in violation of Nebraska Revised Statute 28-512.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On December 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, David Kellner, former President of Transport Workers Local 2020 (located in Grand Island, N.Y.), was sentenced to six months of home detention with electronic monitoring and two years of probation.  Kellner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,226, a fine of $2,000, and a special assessment of $25.  On September 12, 2013, Kellner pled guilty to a one-count misdemeanor of making a false statement on an annual report to conceal an embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.

On December 11, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Carolyn Kaufman, a principal of Prim Capital Corporation, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and perjury related to her co-defendant Joseph Lombardo’s attempt to defraud the National Basketball Players Association (located in New York, N.Y.) of $3 million through the use of a fraudulent retention contract.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 11, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ronald Karr, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2359 (located in Sugar Grove, Ohio), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $158,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On December 6, 2013, in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit of Georgia, Dorothy Gardner, former Financial Secretary of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1803 (located in Covington, Ga.), was indicted for fiduciary theft by taking $1,604 in union funds, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-8-2, and 16-8-12.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.

On December 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Cedric Earl Hughes, former Staff Union Treasurer of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, United Union Professionals (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted on five counts of wire fraud and one count embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively.  Hughes, who served in his position from March 2009 through June 2010, wrote unauthorized checks to himself and made unauthorized cash withdrawals and debit card transactions with the union’s debit card totaling $15,194.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On December 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, an information was filed charging Kristie McClarren, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3061 (located in Crestline, Ohio), with one count of embezzling $152,639, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and DOL’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 27, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Jesse Madrigal, former Treasurer of the Independent Oil and Chemical Workers Union (located in Kansas City, Kans.), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement of approximately $24,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 21, 2013, in the Harrison County Court in Harrison County, Texas, Jerry Ragster, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3057 (located in Marshall, Tex.), was indicted for theft of $3,372 in union funds, in violation of Texas Penal Code 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On November 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Duane Rill, Secretary-Treasurer for the Berry Metal Employees’ Association (located in Cranberry, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $13,496, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2014.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hector Lopez, President of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to pay $800,371 in restitution and forfeiture of $371,000 for a total financial obligation of $1,171,371.  On April 9, 2013, Lopez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, and one count of filing false tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Internal Revenue Service.

On November 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Danny L. Hubbard, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1380 (located in Panama City, Fla.), was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $91,600 in restitution and a $2,400 special assessment. On August 8, 2013, Hubbard pled guilty to 24 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans and Atlanta District Offices.

On November 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Ray L. Lineweber, former Legislative Director for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Nebraska State Legislative Board (located in Omaha, Nebr.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $102,907 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); 14 counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; and 14 counts of false records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On November 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ronald Karr, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2359 (located in Sugar Grove, Ohio), was charged in an information for embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $158,150, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On November 14, 2013, in the Hennepin County Court of Minnesota, Jason Brown, former Shop Chairman of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 87140 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft by swindle, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52.  The complaint alleges that Brown stole $3,905 between September and December 2012.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 14, 2013, in the New York State Court for New York County, Neil Cardoso, former President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1241 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to one to three years in prison and was ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution.  On October 25, 2013, Cardoso pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 12, 2013, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, David Westgard, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 65 (located in Mendota Heights, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft – indifferent to owner rights.  On November 8, 2012, Westgard was charged with theft by swindle of over $5,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On November 7, 2013, in the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, Eric Barnett, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 171 (located in Portsmouth, Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of 18.2-111 of the Code of Virginia.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Portsmouth City Police Department.

On November 5, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Angela G. Webster, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 943 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), pled guilty to an indictment charging her with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On November 1, 2013, 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 was sentenced to six months of home confinement, three years of probation and was ordered to pay $112,477 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On February 14, 2013, Petro pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds on a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.

On November 1, 2013, in the Zanesville, Ohio Municipal Court, James DeVolld, former Financial Secretary of Painters Local 356 (located in Zanesville, Ohio), pled nolo contendere to 50 counts of theft totaling $2,375.  DeVolld was then sentenced to 10 days in prison, two years of probation, and was ordered to make full restitution.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 31, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Carolyn Kaufman, a principal of Prim Capital Corporation, was charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice and perjury related to her co-defendant, Joseph Lombardo, and Kaufman’s attempt to defraud the National Basketball Players Association (located in New York, N.Y.), of $3 million through the use of a fraudulent retention contract.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Jacob Barkemeyer, former Treasurer and Local Chairman for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local Lodge 172 (located in Los Lunas, N.M.), was indicted for embezzling $8,131 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

On October 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Michael Zaborski, former Secretary Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1962 (located in Fremont, Ohio), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay the outstanding restitution in the amount of $39,829.  On June 19, 2013, Zaborski pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,226, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.

On October 22, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Janet Posey, President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia – Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 22, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Linda Bland, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia – Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Shelly Roanhorse, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3601 (located in Claremore, Okla.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, James Babcock, former Financial Secretary of United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $24,000 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 11, 2013, in the 187th Judicial District Court of Bexar County of Texas, WD Whiting, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1757 (formerly located in San Antonio, Tex.), pled no contest to a one-count bill of information for Misapplication of Fiduciary Property between $500 – $1,500, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,456, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The indictment also alleges forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c).  On October 25, 2013, Branca self-surrendered.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On October 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,456, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The indictment also alleges forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c).  On October 24, 2013, Hoffman was arrested.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

On October 8, 2013, in the United States Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John Vetterly, Jr., former President of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was indicted for conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Vetterly was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of $26,605.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 8, 2013, in the United States Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John Baranski, former Secretary-Treasurer of Utility Workers Local 475 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was indicted for conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Baranski was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,246.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Los Angeles, Tyrone Ricky Freeman, former President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 6434 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $123,539 and a $1,100 special assessment.  On January 28, 2013, Freeman was convicted of four counts mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; one count making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1014; and six counts of embezzlement of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On October 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Ira Alper, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) District 9 (located in Madison, Wis.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $76,768, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On August 5, 2013, an information was filed against Alper for the same charge.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 1, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Oscar Berry, former President of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union (GMP) Local 284 (located in Longview, Tex.), was sentenced to 12 months and one day of incarceration and three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $124,181 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On April 24, 2013, Berry pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

On October 1, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald Martin, former bookkeeper for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 9 (located in Denver, Colo.), was charged in an information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 30, 2013, in the 4th Judicial District Court, County of Rusk, Texas, Roberto Macias, Jr., former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2759 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,775 and interpreter fees.  On November 8, 2012, Macias was charged with felony theft in the third degree for a value of $2,800, in violation of Texas State Penal Code Section 31.03.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 25, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Gregory E. Brown, former Treasurer of Steelworker Local 777 (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was sentenced to two years of probation with six months home confinement and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On June 18, 2013, Brown pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,587, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 25, 2013, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk County District Court, Linda Weed, former office secretary for Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 534 (located in Dorchester, Mass.), pled to sufficient facts and a Continuance Without a Finding of one count of Larceny of Property over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Law, C. 266, s. 30.  Weed was then sentenced to one month of probation and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,294.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 24, 2013, in the State of Texas, 118th District Court, Howard County, Carl Green, former Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals (SPFPA) Local 126 (located in Big Springs, Tex.), was charged with unlawfully appropriating property of another.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, William Mochrie, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-28 (located in Castleton, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was required to pay a court assessment of $25.  Mochrie is also forbidden to obtain any new lines of credit, and, if directed by the U.S. Probation Department, to participate in credit counseling.  He was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution totaling of $14,569.  On May 22, 2013, Mochrie pled guilty to making false entries in labor union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 18, 2013, in the United States District Court Western District of Texas, Johnny Torres, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics (GMP) Local 259 (located in Waco, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and the remaining restitution of $1,947.  On July 18, 2013, Torres pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,947, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 18, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark Valerio, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 249 (located in Geneva, N.Y.), and former officer of IBEW Council U-7 (located in Johnson City, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), for each separate union organization.  The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Bonnie S. Heraty, former Treasurer of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Greater Chicago Area Port Council (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of probation including six months of home detention and was ordered to pay $12,974 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On May 20, 2013, Heraty pled guilty to one count of making a false entry on a union document, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Gregory Taylor, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1233 (located in Newark, N.J.), was sentenced to six months in prison and six months of home confinement for misusing union funds by issuing himself a check for four weeks of unauthorized and improper vacation pay.  Taylor was also ordered to pay $71,000 in restitution.  On February 5, 2013, Taylor pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On September 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, David Kellner, former President of Transport Workers Local 2020 (located in Grand Island, N.Y.), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making a false statement on an annual report to conceal an embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 10, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Derrick Alexander, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1422 (located in Charleston, S.C.), was charged in an indictment with one count of embezzlement totaling $54,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); two counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count of creating a false record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 5, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wayne Patrick Boudoin, former President of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 709 (located in New Orleans, La.), was sentenced to two years of probation, including six months of home confinement, for embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Boudoin was also ordered to pay restitution, in the amount of $16,398.  Boudoin had previously made restitution in the amount of $20,988.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Angela G. Webster, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 943 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was indicted for embezzling $13,015 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Shelly Roanhorse, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3601 (located in Claremore, Okla.), was indicted for making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Michael W. Couch, former business manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local 270 (located in Tulsa, Okla.), was indicted for embezzling $12,825 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Bonnie Nixon, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge W443 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Nixon was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,368.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bernard Nolter, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 635 (located in Mount Carmel, Pa.), pled guilty to an information charging him with falsifying union records to conceal an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David Barr, former Secretary-Treasurer for Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers International Union (GMP) Local 99 (located in New Brighton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,688, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael Pontician, former Financial-Secretary of Steelworkers Local 480 (located in Pottsville, Pa.), pled guilty to an information charging him with falsifying union records to conceal an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dawn Carson, former office manager for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBCJA) Local 247 (located in Portland, Ore.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $5,509.  On March 14, 2013, Carson pled guilty to a single count of embezzling labor union assets, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On August 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Malvin J. Bergeron, former President and Secretary Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) Local 537M (formerly located in Marrero, La.), was sentenced to four years of probation for embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Bergeron was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,041 and a $3,000 fine.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Illinois Central Division, Melissa Gustafson, former bookkeeper for International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers – Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 84110 (located in Moline, Ill. and Davenport, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $12,059 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 16, 2013, Gustafson was indicted for the same charge.  The sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2013.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 14, 2013, in the Medina County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court, Christopher Wheeler, former President of International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP) Local 43 (located in Wadsworth, Ohio), was indicted on two counts of theft in the amount of $3,769.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Frank Juarez, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6768 (located in Plano, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation with 180 days of home detention and was ordered to pay $21,151 in restitution and an assessment of $100.  On February 7, 2013, Juarez was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division, Calvin Sanders, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 638C (located in Franklin, La.), was charged and pled guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for embezzling $24,028 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Danny L. Hubbard, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1380 (located in Panama City, Fla.), pled guilty to 24 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta and New Orleans District Offices.

On August 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for Eastern District of Kentucky, Mark Gilbert, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 805 (located in Florence, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $8,467 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Gilbert was indicted on the same charge on June 13, 2013.  The sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2013.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Janet Posey, President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 VA (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was indicted on one count of concealment of embezzled funds on federal property of more than $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Stansbury, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1765 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount $18,662.  On January 9, 2013, Stansbury pled guilty to one count of theft in a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Linda Bland, Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 VA (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was indicted on one count of concealment of embezzled funds on federal property of more than $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 5, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Ira Alper, former Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) District 9 (located in Madison, Wis.), was charged in an information for embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $76,768, in violation 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 5, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Harold Washington, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 105 (located in Chula Vista, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.  On April 24, 2013, Washington pled guilty to embezzling over $38,000 and falsifying LM financial reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  Washington previously paid full restitution.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Homeland Security Office of Professional Responsibility, and United States Customs and Border Protection.

On July 31, 2013, in the Adams County Wisconsin District Court, Christopher Zawikowski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3495 (located in Grand Marsh, Wis.), was charged with one count of theft in a business setting of less than $2,500, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b).  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 30, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Rocha, former Political Director for the Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000.  Rocha had previously made restitution in the amount of $12,449.  On March 20, 2013, Rocha pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Jacquelyn Pugh-Rodgers, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation with six months of community confinement and was ordered to pay $35,663 in restitution and a special assessment of $100.  On March 15, 2013, Pugh-Rodgers pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 24, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, J.D. Richey, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Lodge 3025 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 23, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of  Illinois at Peoria, Robert Davis, former  Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 644 (located in Galesburg, Ill.), was indicted for embezzling $27,712 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 18, 2013, in the United States District Court Western District of Texas, Johnny Torres, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics (GMP) Local 259 (located in Waco, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds  in the amount of $9,947, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On May 14, 2013, Torres was indicted on the same charge.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Timothy Harper, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2326 (located in Great Lakes, Ill.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment followed by three months of supervised release under home confinement with electronic monitoring.  Harper was also ordered to make full restitution of $15,837.  On April 17, 2013, Harper pled guilty to one count of theft on a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 17, 2013, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Jason D’Errico, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 827 (located in East Windsor, N.J.), was indicted for two counts of third degree theft by deception, one count in the amount of $58,954 for false lost time claims received from Local 827 and the other count for purchasing a vehicle with funds belonging to the Passaic County Labor Board.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Jeffrey Beresford, former business manager and Financial Secretary of Plumbers Local 83 (located in Wheeling, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $4,507 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On April 10, 2013, Beresford pled guilty to falsifying local union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  On July 18, 2013, Beresford paid full restitution.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Jeffrey Beresford, former business manager and Financial Secretary of Plumbers Local 83 (located in Wheeling, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $4,507 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On April 10, 2013, Beresford pled guilty to falsifying local union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  On July 18, 2013, Beresford paid full restitution.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kristine Stephens, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper for Painters Local 567 (located in Sparks, Nev.), was sentenced to 10 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, five years of probation, and 100 hours community service, and was ordered to pay $81,564 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 5, 2013, Stephens pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On July 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kristine Stephens, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper for Painters Local 567 (located in Sparks, Nev.), was sentenced to 10 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, five years of probation, and 100 hours community service, and was ordered to pay $81,564 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On March 5, 2013, Stephens pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On July 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Sofia Gonzalez, former bookkeeper for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 925 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $40,087.  On April 25, 2013, Gonzalez pled guilty to a single count of embezzling labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Sofia Gonzalez, former bookkeeper for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 925 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $40,087.  On April 25, 2013, Gonzalez pled guilty to a single count of embezzling labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 11, 2013, in the Circuit Court’s First Municipal District of Cook County, Illinois, Anna Ippolito, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 734 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of theft and one count of forgery.  On May 9, 2013, Ippolito was indicted on three counts of forgery and one count of theft totaling more than $10,000 and less than $100,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Chicago Police Department.

On July 10, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Tracey R. Tigner, former office secretary for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 91 (located in Merrillville, Ind.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.  Tigner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,462 and a special assessment of $100.  On April 19, 2013, Tigner pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 10, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Tracey R. Tigner, former office secretary for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 91 (located in Merrillville, Ind.), was sentenced to three months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.  Tigner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,462 and a special assessment of $100.  On April 19, 2013, Tigner pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 10, 2013, in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, William Geisler, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, and Plastics & Allied Workers International Union (GMP) Local 45 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of attempted theft.  Geisler was immediately sentenced to 10 days of incarceration (suspended) and was ordered to pay the outstanding restitution of about $896.  Geisler previously made restitution payments totaling $3,400.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Francisco Smalls, President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2263 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $6,726 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On January 28, 2013, Smalls pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On July 2, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Cora Carper, former clerical employee for the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIA), located in Lanham, Md., was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of probation.  Carper agreed that the total embezzlement amount was $502,586 and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $495,286.  On April 5, 2013, Carper pled guilty to embezzling at least $200,000 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 28, 2013, in the United States District Court Central District of Illinois, Natasha J. Bever, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4202 (located in Rantoul, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $117,378, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On January 10, 2012, Bever was indicted on the same charge.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 25, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Small, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 712 (located in Beaver, Pa.), was sentenced to 10 months of home detention, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,285.  The restitution amount included $19,800 in audit fees incurred by the union.  The Court ruled that the auditing fees were allowed to be included in the restitution amount after considering the victim impact statement and the financial losses to the union.  On February 25, 2013, Small pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in the amount of $55,485, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 24, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central Division for the District of Utah, Sheila Brown, former Treasurer of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Independent Chapter 67 (located in Ogden, Utah), pled guilty to one count of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 666, and was sentenced to 12 months of probation.  A restitution hearing is scheduled to take place in the next 90 days.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, James Killingsworth and Billie Jo Killingsworth, former President and former Treasurer, respectively, of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84555 (located in Webberville, Mich.), were each sentenced to six months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and were ordered to pay $19,197.02 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On February 21, 2013, each pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencings follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paulette McClure, former Financial Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 36 (located in Port Gibson, Miss.), was sentenced to three months incarceration, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $3,161.82 in restitution.  On March 19, 2013, McClure pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513.  The embezzlement count was dismissed at the time of sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Michael Zaborski, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1962 (located in Fremont, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,226.54, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 13, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Mark Gilbert, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 805 (located in Florence, Ky.), was indicted for embezzlement of $8,467.10 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 3, 2013, in the 396th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, Kady Tucker, former office secretary of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 575 (located in Euless, Tex.), received deferred adjudication at sentencing. Tucker was sentenced to five years of probation, and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and make restitution in the amount of $2777. On the same date, Tucker pled guilty to three counts of forgery, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.21. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 30, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wayne Patrick Boudoin, former President of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 709 (located in Houma, La.), pled guilty to a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,367.96, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Malvin J. Bergeron, former President and Secretary Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) Local 537M (formerly located in Marrero, La.), pled guilty to a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 29, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Joseph Allen, former Secretary-Treasurer for National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 588 (located in Athens, Ga.), was sentenced to one year in prison, one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,000.  On March 20, 2013, Allen pled guilty to one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 28, 2013, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Cynthia Yancey, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3840 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to misdemeanor theft, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  On the same date, Yancey was sentenced to court costs.  She previously made restitution in the amount of $4,255.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 22, 2013, in the United States District Court, Northern District of New York, William Mochrie, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 28 (located in Castleton, N.Y.), pled guilty to making false entries in labor union records.  On May 8, 2013, an information was filed charging Mochrie with falsifying union records.  Mochrie has agreed to make restitution in the amount of $13,763.05.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 21, 2013, in the Criminal Court for Hamilton County, State of Tennessee, Clarence Howard, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 789 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $26.50 special assessment after he pled guilty to one count of theft of property over $1,000.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Bonnie S. Heraty, former Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, Greater Chicago Area Port Council (located in Joliet, Ill.), pled guilty to a one count information for making a false entry on a union document, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Robert L. Carr, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Business Manager of Plumbers Local 228 (located in Yuba City, Calif.), was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and his wife, Theresa A. Carr, was sentenced to 3 months in prison.  The Carrs were also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution.  On February 17, 2012, the Carrs pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to misappropriate labor union funds and two counts of misappropriation of labor union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On May 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Owen Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer for Civilian Technicians Association Chapter 117 (located in Jacksonville, Ark.), was sentenced to three years probation, assessed a $100 special assessment, and ordered to pay $18,023 in restitution.  On October 18, 2012, Smith pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,012.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 14, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Duane Rill, Secretary-Treasurer of Berry Metal Employees’ Association (located in Cranberry, Pa.) was indicted for embezzlement of $13,496.00 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 14, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Johnny Torres, Jr., former Financial Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers Local 259 (located in Waco, Tex.), was indicted for embezzlement of $9,947 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 13, 2013, in the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey, Stephen P. Arena, former President of Novelty and Production Workers Local 148 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was sentenced to six months in jail and six months home confinement for embezzlement of union funds.  Arena has made full restitution of $193,000 to the union, but was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine to the court.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 9, 2013, in the Circuit Court’s First Municipal District of Cook County, Illinois, Anna Ippolito, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 734 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was indicted on three counts of forgery and one count of theft totaling more than $10,000 and less than $100,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Chicago Police Department.

On May 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, William Mochrie, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 04-28 (located in Castleton, N.Y.), had an information filed against him for falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 6, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Melody Wouden, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2342 (located in Ft. Meade, S.D.), was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation. On January 15, 2013, Wouden pled guilty to one count of larceny in an amount under $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 7(3) and 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On May 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Malvin J. Bergeron, former President and Secretary Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) Local 537M (formerly located in Marrero, La.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of $4,041.88 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 2, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Connie Sayne, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3050 (located in Hagerstown, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $25,699.53, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Sayne was sentenced the same date to three years probation, six months home monitoring, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $25,699.53, and was fined $100. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 1, 2013, in New Jersey Superior Court, Cumberland County, Maria Navarro, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers (GMP) Local 219 (located in Millville, N.J.), was indicted on one count of forgery, 2C:21-a(1); one count of theft, 2C:20-3, in the amount of $13,729 in union funds; and one count of uttering, 2C:21-1b. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 1, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Michael Zaborski, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1962 (located in Fremont, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,226.54.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 30, 2013, in the 111th District Court of Webb County, Texas, Manuel Luebbert, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 1563 (located in Laredo, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of misapplication of fiduciary property, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.45.  On the same date, Luebbert was sentenced to five years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $3,580.68 in restitution and attend an anti-theft class.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 25, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Joseph Lombardo, the founder and managing director of Prim Capital Corporation, was charged with attempting to defraud the National Basketball Players Association (located in New York, N.Y.), of $3 million through the use of a fraudulent retention contract. The complaint also charges Lombardo and Carolyn Kaufman, a principal at Prim, with obstructing a grand jury investigation. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 24, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Harold Washington, former President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 105 (located in Chula Vista, Calif.), was charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 1001 for making false statements on an LM-3 Report by failing to report allowances and disbursements he received from Chapter 105. Washington pled guilty to the count on the same date. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

On April 24, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Oscar Berry, former President of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers Union (GMP) Local 284 (located in Longview, Tex.), signed a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of embezzling $124,181.77 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 23, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Wayne Patrick Boudoin, former President of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 709 (located in Houma, La.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,367.96, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Tracey R. Tigner, former office secretary for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 91 (located in Merrillville, Ind.), pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On February 7, 2013, Tigner was indicted on the same charge.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 16, 2013 in the Superior Court of Huntington County, Indiana, Charlotta Hammons, former representative of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2209 (located in Roanoke, Ind.), was sentenced to one year probation, with 120 days on house arrest/electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay various fees and costs totaling $266.  Hammons had previously made restitution in the amount of $1329 to the union.  On March 5, 2013, Hammons pled guilty to one count of conversion.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 11, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Bonnie Nixon, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge W443 (located in Laurel, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $15,981 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 10, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Jeffrey Beresford, current Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Plumbers Local 83 (located in Wheeling, W.Va.), pled guilty to falsifying local union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 10, 2013, in the 421st Judicial District of Texas, David Martinez, former Financial Secretary of the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 267 (formerly located in Lockhart, Tex.), was indicted for theft of property valued between $1,500 and $20,000, in violation of the Texas Penal Code 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 10, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Joseph Grygorcewicz, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1566 (located in Tonawanda, N.Y.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to make full restitution and continue to undergo counseling for his gambling addiction.  On November 29, 2012, Grygorcewicz pled guilty to embezzling $39,990 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 9, 2013, 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 sentenced to 17 months of incarceration, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution of over $200,000.  On January 3, 2013, Rathke pled guilty to embezzling over $190,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 9, 2013, in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), was sentenced to 90 days in jail, five years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,065 and various fees and costs totaling $1,198.  On October 10, 2012, Ikerd pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 9, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hector Lopez, former President of Metal Polishers Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, and one count of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201.  The plea agreement requires Lopez to make restitution totaling over $1.1 million.  He will be sentenced in August 2013.  On September 18, 2012, Lopez was arrested and arraigned on a 15-count indictment that included a charge of conspiracy to embezzle $750,000 from the local’s employee benefit plan.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employment Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.

On April 9, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Patricia Race, former President of United Auto Workers Local 959 (located in Fremont, Ohio), was sentenced to six months probation and was ordered to pay a $250 fine.  On November 21, 2012, an information was filed charging Race with one count of filing a false LM-3 report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, Barbara Ellen Holland, a former bookkeeper/secretary of Plumbers Local 62 (located in Castroville, Calif.), was charged in a one-count information with false entry in or willful concealment of books and records (Class A misdemeanor), in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On April 8, 2013, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Cynthia Yancey, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3840 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft of union funds in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(1).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Caleb Gray-Burriss, founder and President of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 76 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised probation.  Gray-Burriss was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and to pay restitution to the union of $252,376.42.  On December 4, 2012, Gray-Burriss was found guilty by a jury following a trial on 18 counts, including six counts of mail fraud for theft from the union’s pension plan, six counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, one count of criminal contempt, one count of tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion, one count of failure to file LM reports, one count of filing false LM reports, and one count of failing to maintain union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 5, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Cora Carper, former clerical employee of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (located in Lanham, Md.), pled guilty to embezzling at least $200,000 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Carper admitted writing checks to cash from the union’s political action committee fund and making false entries in the union’s computerized ledger that indicated that the checks were written for donations to political candidates, expense reimbursements, or conference expenses.  On November 14, 2012, Carper was indicted for embezzling $502,586 from the union.  The final loss amount will be determined at sentencing on June 4, 2013.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 4, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to eight months home confinement, five years probation, participation in a financial education program, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution totaling $27,098.62.  On November 29, 2012, Walker 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 March 28, 2013, in the Superior Court of Dougherty County, Georgia, William Price, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1762 (located in Albany, Ga.), was charged with one count of theft by taking by a fiduciary of a value in excess of $25,000, in violation of Georgia Code Title 16, 16-8-2.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), was sentenced to three years of probation and five months home confinement, and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $4,914.  On November 16, 2012, Rysz pled guilty to a one count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 27, 2013, in the Rock County Wisconsin District Court, Lyle Vance, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 412-U (located in Beloit, Wis.), pled no contest to theft in a business setting of less than or equal to $2,500, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b).  Vance was sentenced to pay a $250 fine and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $794.56, plus court costs.  The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 27, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Britta Duncan, former Secretary-Treasurer for International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 5 (located in Portland, Ore.), was charged with embezzling $43,500 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and with the falsification of financial documents and the failure to file required reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a) and (c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 22, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Rufino Sanchez, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-10 (formerly located in Ronkonoma, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud resulting in a loss of union funds in the amount of $18,565 in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey, David Caivano, former Treasurer of Novelty Workers Local 148 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was sentenced to three years probation on one count of taking unauthorized loans in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503(a) and (c).  Caivano must make restitution in the amount of $110,000 to the local union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, an information was filed against Perry Dino Martini, former Financial Secretary of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) Local ZME (located in Memphis, Tenn.), charging him with one count of possession of a forged security in violation of 18 U.S.C 513(a).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Rocha, former political director of the United Steelworkers (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.) pled guilty to one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) in the amount of $418.68 for a trip to Detroit for a Stanley Cup hockey game which included expenses for mileage, per diem, and two hotel rooms.  Rocha acknowledged responsibility for the other 17 counts of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) in the 18 count indictment.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paulette McClure, former Financial Treasurer for the United Government Security Officers of America Local 36, (located in Pattison, Miss.), pled guilty to a two-count indictment of embezzling $8,166.13 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Jacquelyn Pugh-Rodgers, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  Pugh-Rodgers was previously indicted on July 17, 2012 with one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 on a federal enclave in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661 and two counts of mail fraud.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 15, 2013, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts BMC Department, Boston, Massachusetts, James Dalton, former Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Carpenters Northeast Regional Council of Millwrights (located in Allston, Mass.), was indicted on one count of larceny over $250, totaling $15,297, in violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 266, Section 30.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On March 12, 2013, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Pierce, Katrina Hall, a former Secretary-Treasurer for Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 389 (located in Puyallup, Wash.) was sentenced to 30 days in jail, six months probation, fined $500, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $10,995.  Hall pled guilty to a single count of theft in the 1st degree in violation of WA RCW 9A.56.020 (1)(b)/9A.56.030 (1)(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 7, 2013, in the 377th Judicial District Court of Victoria County, Larry Lanier Lacy, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1205 (located in League City, Tex.), was charged with one count of felony theft, in the amount of $64,110.03, and one count of felony misappropriation of fiduciary/financial property, in violation of Texas Statutes 31.03 and 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 1, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dawn Carson, former office manager for United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 247 (located in Portland, Ore.) was charged via information with one count of embezzling $6,900 in union funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 1, 2013, in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas (Ohio), Jill Ragland, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Chapter 782 (located in Chillicothe, Ohio), was sentenced to one day in the Ross County Jail, one year of probation, 40 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,385 and a $250 fine.  On December 18, 2012, Ragland pled guilty to one count of theft, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 27, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Sofia Gonzalez, former bookkeeper for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 95 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was charged with embezzling $40,087 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 26, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kevin Jones, former President of the Metropolitan Campus Police Officers Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 20 weekends of incarceration, 120 days of electronic monitoring, and four years of probation.  Jones was also ordered to pay restitution of $28,504.27.  On November 6, 2012, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 25, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Small, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 712 (located in Beaver, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in excess of $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, James Killingsworth and Billie Jo Killingsworth, former President and former Treasurer, respectively, of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84555 (located in Webberville, Mich.), each pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $19,197.02, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 20, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Fauquier County, Virginia, Daniel Kramer, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-45 (located in Newport News, Va.), pled guilty to one count of disorderly conduct, in violation of Virginia Code 18.2-415, for stealing $472.73 from the union.  Kramer was then sentenced to 12 months in jail, all of which was suspended, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay a fine of $2,500, of which $2,000 was suspended.  Kramer was also barred from holding a position in the union for 13 years.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert Stephenson, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local 2903 (located in Westville, Ind.), was sentenced to one year of supervised probation including six months of home confinement and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.  On November 13, 2012, Stephenson pled guilty to one count of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), by failing to disclose over $18,000 of union funds that he disbursed for his personal use.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 19, 2013, in the 290th Judicial District Court of Bexar County, WD Whiting, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1757 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), was charged with one count of felony theft, with an aggregate value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, and one count of felony misappropriation of fiduciary/financial property, in violation of Texas Statues 31.03 and 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 14, 2013, 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.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds on a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

On February 13, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John McNamee, President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 829 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.  On October 16, 2012, McNamee pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $150,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On February 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Frank Juarez, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6768 (located in Plano, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,290.73, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Tracey R. Tigner, former office secretary for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 91 was charged with embezzling union funds from IUPAT Local 460 (located in Merrillville, Ind.), 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 Inspector General.

On February 1, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Lawrence E. Minas, former General Chairman for United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment 449 (located in Munster, Ind.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and was ordered to pay 10% of his monthly income in restitution.  On September 20, 2012, Minas pled guilty to a one-count information for embezzling union funds in the amount of $71,160, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Dorris Taylor, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $27,098.62 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On November 1, 2012, Taylor 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 January 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Los Angeles, a jury found Tyrone Ricky Freeman, former President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Locals 6434 and 434-B (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), guilty of four counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; seven counts of embezzlement and/or theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution, in violation of 18 U.S.C 1014; and two counts of subscribing to a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1) following a 10-day trial.  On July 31, 2012, Freeman was indicted by a federal grand jury.  The sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2013.  The guilty verdict follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On January 25, 2013, in the United States District Court in New Jersey, David J. Caivano, former Secretary-Treasurer of Novelty Workers Local 148 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), pled guilty to taking unauthorized loans in excess of $2,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 503 (a) and (c).  The sentencing is scheduled for April 2013.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 24, 2013, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to four years and 60 days in jail with four years of the jail term suspended and seven years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,326.62.  On October 30, 2012, Shell pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code 18.2-111.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 24, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Curtis Reed, former staff representative of the Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to eight months of incarceration to run concurrent with a sentence he is currently serving in the state of Minnesota.  On September 18, 2012, Reed pled guilty to a one count indictment for embezzling $3,694.32 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  He previously paid full restitution of $3,694.32.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 17, 2013, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Clark, David Currie, former President and Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2583 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), pled guilty to a single count of theft in the 2nd degree, in violation of WA RCW 9A.56.020 (1)(a)/9A.56.040 (1)(a).  Currie was then sentenced to 30 days in jail and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $6,552 and a $500 fine.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 16, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Melissa A. Gustafson, former bookkeeper for International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers – Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 84110 (located in Davenport, Iowa and Moline, Ill.), was charged with embezzling $12,059.37 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joya Mills, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2500 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  Mills previously paid restitution in the amount of $11,600.  On October 3, 2012, Mills pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On January 15, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Melody Wouden, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2342 (located in Ft. Meade, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of larceny in an amount under $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 7(3) and 661.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 9, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois,  Christopher S. Stansbury, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1765 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to embezzlement in a federal enclave for taking $499 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  On December 19, 2012, an information was filed charging Stansbury with the same crime.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General.

On January 9, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Northern Division, Shelia S. Brown, former Treasurer of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 67 (located in Ogden, Utah), was charged in a two-count indictment for embezzling $20,705.21 in union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(A), theft from a program receiving federal funds.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On January 9, 2013, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, BMC Department, David Beard, President of Laborers Local 381 (located in Charlestown, Mass.), pled to sufficient facts to a Continuance Without a Finding (CWOF) for three counts of Larceny Over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Law c266 s30.  Beard agreed to make restitution in the amount of $7,709.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On January 8, 2013, in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, Chad Petras, former Secretary Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 342C (located in Rising Sun, Ind.), was indicted on one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $1,000 or more, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02(A)(2)[F5].  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Aundrea Valerio, former dispatcher for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution.  On September 19, 2012, Valerio pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Ava Ramey, former trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 (located in Bowie, Md.), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $379,000.  On June 25, 2012, Ramey pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Connie Sayne, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3050 (located in Hagerstown, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,699.53, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 4, 2013, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Pierce, Katrina Hall, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Lodge 389 (located in Puyallup, Wash.), was charged in an information with one count of theft in the 1st degree, in violation of WA RCW 9A.56.020 (1)(b)/9A.56.030 (1)(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 4, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Cleo Wilson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1856 (located in Dallas, Tex.), was sentenced to 12 months of incarceration, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution of $29,856.19 and a $100 special assessment.  On March 19, 2012, Wilson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,856.19, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On January 3, 2013, 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.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling over $190,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On August 2, 2011, Rathke was indicated on 10 counts of embezzling approximately $200,000 in union funds beginning in November 2004 and continuing until March 2009.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 2, 2013, in the State of Texas, 396th District Court in Tarrant County, Kady Tucker, former office secretary for Transport Workers Local 575 (located in Euless, Tex.), was charged with one count of intent to defraud or harm another, possess with intent to pass a forged writing knowing such writing to be forged.   The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On January 2, 2013, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, BMC Department, Linda Weed, former office secretary for Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 534 (located in Boston, Mass.), was charged with one count of larceny over $250 totaling $7,294.73, in violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 266, Section 30.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On December 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $41,246.95 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On March 15, 2012, a jury found Jackson guilty of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,246.95, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On December 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Gregory E. Brown, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 777 (located in Memphis, Tenn.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement totaling $6,587.57, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 18, 2012, in Stearns County Court of Minnesota, James Kiser, former Directing Business Representative of Machinists District Lodge 165 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), was charged with four felony counts of theft by swindle, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.  The complaint alleges that Kiser stole $5,919 from Local 165 between January 2010 and February 2012.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Manuel Nogueira, former Recording Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000 and a $200 special assessment.  On April 27, 2011, Nogueira pled guilty to one count of conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), one count of embezzlement (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and one count of aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On December 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Mark Morgan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2584 (formerly located in Fremont, Ind.), was sentenced to three years of probation including eight months of home detention with electronic monitoring.  Morgan was also ordered to pay $17,616.70 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On August 20, 2012, Morgan 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 Detroit District Office.

On December 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gloria Dickinson, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 30 days of home confinement, five years of probation, and 40 hours of community service.  She was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $21,713.32.  On September 14, 2012, Dickinson pled guilty to one count of making false statements on an LM report, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, in order to conceal her embezzlement.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Bryan Lowry, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 33 (located in Forrest City, Ark.), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making a false writing, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1013, and was then sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,114 in restitution.  The charge and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Bonnie Nixon, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge W443 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,981.66, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office.

On December 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paulette McClure, former Financial Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 36 (located in Pattison, Miss.), was charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling $8,166.13 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office.

On December 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Claude Huff, former President and business manager of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $110,348.39 and a special assessment of $100.  On September 4, 2012, Huff pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 5, 2012, in the Hamilton County Criminal Court for the State of Tennessee, Clarence Howard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 789 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was indicted on one count of theft of property valued at over $1,000, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated 39-14-103.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Caleb Gray-Burriss, President of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (located in Washington, D.C.), was found guilty by a jury following a trial on 18 counts including six counts of mail fraud for theft from the union’s pension plan, six counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, one count of criminal contempt, one count of tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion, one count of failure to file LM reports, one count of filing false LM reports, and one count of failing to maintain union records.  The total amount of loss attributed to Gray-Burriss’ actions is more than $250,000.  The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 29, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $19,774.13, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 29, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Joseph Grygorcewicz, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1566 (located in Tonawanda, N.Y.),  pled guilty to embezzling $39,989.72 from his union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Grygorcewicz admitted to writing checks to himself and forging the signature of the union president on the union’s checks.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 28, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kristine Stephens, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper for Painters Local 567 (located in Sparks, Nev.), was charged with embezzling approximately $80,000 in union funds by stealing over-the-counter cash dues payments, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On November 26, 2012, in the Adams County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Randy G. Paulson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sub-Lodge 1125 (located in Adams, Wis.), was ordered to pay $264 in restitution, a $486 fine, and a $37.50 restitution surcharge by January 25, 2013.  On the same date, Paulson entered a no contest plea to one count of theft in a business setting of less than $2,500.  Paulson previously paid restitution totaling $2,245 prior to sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Patricia Race, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 959 (located in Fremont, Ohio), was charged in a one-count indictment with knowingly failing to disclose a material fact in the union’s annual financial report Form LM-3, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Grayewski, former Chairperson of Utility Workers Local 223 – Office, Professional & Technical Division (located in Dearborn, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $9,794.76 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On August 24, 2012, Grayewski pled guilty to one count of failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 16, 2012, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Clark, David Currie, former President and Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2583 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), was charged in an information with two counts of theft in the 2nd degree, in violation of WA RCW 9A.56.020 (1)(a)/9A.56.040 (1)(a).  The charges followed an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Joseph Allen, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 588 (located in Athens, Ga.), was indicted on one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344; one count of providing a false statement to a credit union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1014; one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and six counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,107.73, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Cora Carper, former Political Action Committee (PAC) Fund Manager for the Insulators International Union (located in Lanham, Md.), was charged in a six-count indictment with embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for allegedly embezzling $502,586 from the union by writing more than 300 checks to cash from the PAC fund.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, James Killingsworth and Billie Jo Killingsworth, former President and former Treasurer, respectively, of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84555 (located in Webberville, Mich.), were each charged in a one-count information with aiding and abetting each other in embezzling $19,197.02 in union funds by making unauthorized ATM and cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account and using the money for their personal expenses, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 14, 2012, in the Hennepin County Court of Minnesota, Dennis Earley, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 87140 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle over $5,000, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52, SUBD. 2(4), SUBD. 3(2).  Earley was then sentenced to 10 days in a work house, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.  As a condition of probation, Earley will not be allowed to hold union office.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert A. Stephenson, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2903 (located in Westville, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  Stephenson pled guilty to willfully failing to disclose approximately $18,000 of union funds he disbursed for his personal use.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Danny L. Hubbard, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1380 (located in Panama City, Fla.), was charged in a 24-count indictment with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta and New Orleans District Offices.

On November 8, 2012, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, David Westgard, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 65 (located in Mendota Heights, Minn.), was charged with theft by swindle of over $5,000.  The complaint alleges that Westgard stole union funds in the amount of $22,710 between August and December 2011.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 8, 2012, in the 4th Judicial District Court, County of Rusk, Texas, Roberto Macias, Jr., former president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2759 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was charged with 3rd degree felony theft of $2,800, in violation of Texas Penal Code Section 31.03.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On November 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Forbes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 1129 (located in Cartersville, Ga.), was sentenced to eight months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,952.57.  On August 28, 2012, Forbes 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 Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On November 7, 2012, in the Texas 176th Criminal District Court, Kemberly Fields, a former Texas commissioned law officer and former President of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 300 (located in Harris County, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of confinement and was ordered to pay $5,644.40 in restitution and a $5,000 fine.  On November 5, 2012, a jury found Fields guilty following a trial for aggregate theft from a nonprofit organization, in violation of Texas Criminal Statute Section 31.03.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 6, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kevin Jones, former President of the Metropolitan Campus Police Officers Union (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $28,504.96 from the union by making withdrawals at the bank and at ATMs and by making personal purchases on the union's debit card.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Doris Taylor, former Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Robert Misuraca, former District 4 Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $266.53 in remaining restitution plus a $100 special assessment.  Misuraca was also ordered to participate in programs for mental health assessment, alcohol rehabilitation, and gambling.  On June 25, 2012, Misuraca pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,566, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 30, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Tim Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more for embezzling money from a union, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Melody Wouden, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2342 (located in Ft. Meade, S.D.), was charged in a two-count indictment with providing a false statement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, and larceny in an amount under $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 7(3) and 661.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.  

On October 22, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Patton, former President and Vice President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 4469 (located in Johnstown, Pa.), pled guilty to withholding financial records required to be maintained by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Patton was then sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  Patton had previously paid restitution of $1,705.41.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 22, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kevin Jones, former President of Metropolitan Campus Police Officers Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $28,504.96, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert K. Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), was ordered to pay $5,742.85 in restitution, a $500 fine, and a $25 special assessment.  On April 18, 2012, Lauermann pled guilty to a one-count information for filing false reports with the Railroad Retirement Board, in violation of 45 U.S.C. 231(l).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Owen Daniel Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Civilian Technicians Association Chapter 117 (located in Jacksonville, Ark.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,023, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Smith then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On October 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Kelley Dull, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2904 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), and former President of AFGE Council 171 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to six months of incarceration, three years of supervised probation (up to six months of which will be home detention with electronic monitoring), and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,118.66 and a $100 special assessment.  On February 1, 2012, Dull pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On October 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John McNamee, President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 829 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $150,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On October 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rachel Lanham, former office secretary for Machinists District Lodge 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to six months of home confinement followed by three years of supervised release.  Lanham was also ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $104,867.45 and pay a $100 special assessment.  On June 30, 2012, Lanham pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 10, 2012, in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  On July 9, 2012, a complaint was filed charging Ikerd with the same crime.  The sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2013.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 9, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rebecca Mercer, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 284 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,822.22, and a $600 special assessment.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 3, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Andrew Irwin, former business manager and Financial Secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 72 (located in Waco, Tex.), was sentenced to 10 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $27,321.63 in restitution, a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  On June 28, 2012, Irwin pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,096, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On October 3, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joya Mills, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2500 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  On September 20, 2011, Mills was charged with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Victor Rovani, III, former business representative for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 454 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to three years of probation including one year of home confinement for three counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,322.  In addition, Rovani was ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 to be paid in $100 monthly installments, a special assessment of $300, and the cost involved for the required electronic monitoring equipment.  Rovani previously paid restitution to the union.  On April 30, 2012, Rovani pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Andy Alerte, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $5,100 and a $25 assessment.  On March 14, 2012, Alerte pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain records and one count of making false entries.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On October 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Roody Lespinasse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $20,818 and a $25 assessment.  On February 21, 2012, Lespinasse pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On October 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ronald Witt, former business manager and JATC Trustee of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 450 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release.  Witt was also ordered to pay $198,333.10 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On January 19, 2012, Witt pled guilty to one count of conspiring to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On September 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Graciela Jimenez, Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2263 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution $7,919 in restitution and a $25 assessment.  On June 26, 2012, Jimenez pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 26, 2012, in the District Court for Webb County, Texas, 111th Judicial District, Manuel Luebbert, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) Local 1563 (located in Laredo, Tex.), was charged with one count of breach of fiduciary property totaling $5,670, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, an information was filed charging Robert Hill, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1271 (located in Billerica, Mass.), with 27 counts of embezzlement of labor union funds totaling $8,650, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation including six months of home detention with electronic monitoring.  Dompier was also ordered to pay $11,793.89 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On May 10, 2012, Dompier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative for Machinists Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.  Agee had previously paid full restitution of $26,139.13.  On May 10, 2012, Agee 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 Washington District Office.

On September 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, four former members of Teamsters Local 82 (a merged union previously located in South Boston, Mass.), former Secretary-Treasurer John Perry, and members James “Jimmy the Bull” Deamicis, Joseph “Jo Jo” Burhoe, and Thomas Flaherty, were charged in a 30-count indictment including charges of RICO, Hobbs Act Extortion, Prohibition Against Persons from Holding Office, Mail Fraud, Aiding and Abetting, and other federal forfeiture charges.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Boston Police Department.

On September 19, 2012, in the District Court for Hunt County, Texas, 196th Judicial District, Rosalin Dukes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3607 (located in Greenville, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of credit/debit card abuse and was then sentenced to five years of deferred adjudication probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $18,598.34 in restitution, $285 in court costs, and a $50 Crime Stoppers fee.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Greenville Police Department.

On September 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Aundrea Valerio, former dispatcher for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The guilty plea stems from a $320,000 embezzlement scheme involving Valerio and two other former union employees who were also charged and convicted separately. On April 28, 2010, Valerio was charged with embezzling approximately $13,500.  Valerio is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2013.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 18, 2012, in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona (Navajo County), Christina Carr, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7008 (located in Show Low, Ariz.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and was ordered to pay $5,853.19 in restitution.  On July 10, 2012, Carr pled guilty to one count of theft, a class 6 open-ended felony, in violation of Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 13-1802(A)(2), 13-1801, 13-701, 13-702, and 13-801.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On September 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Curtis Reed, former staff representative for the Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling $3,694.32 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hector Lopez, former President of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.) and the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Local 8A-28A Welfare Fund, was arrested and arraigned on a 15-count indictment with charges of conspiracy to embezzle $750,000 from the local's employee benefit plan, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, structuring financial transactions, and tax evasion.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.

On September 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Rickey Harper, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 769 (located in El Dorado, Ark.), was sentenced to five years of probation with the first six months including home confinement with electronic monitoring and was ordered to pay $20,853.72 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  Harper must pay at least 10% of his net income every month or $25.   Full restitution must be made prior to his probation ending.  On February 3, 2012, Harper pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, David Ing, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 860 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to four months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $200 special assessment.  Ing previously paid restitution of $79,291.24.  Ing was further ordered to undergo treatment for his gambling addiction and was restricted from engaging in any gambling activities, legal or illegal, while serving his sentence.  On May 31, 2012, Ing pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of structuring cash transactions to evade reporting requirement, in violation of 31 U.S.C. 5324(a)(3).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.

On September 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gloria Dickinson, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.  The OLMS investigation revealed that the defendant overstated the amount of assets on the union's 2008 LM report.  The loss amount related to this offense was $21,713.32.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Libby M. Stegner, former administrative assistant for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1319 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment.  Stegner paid full restitution in the amount of $41,321.25 on the day of sentencing.  On May 30, 2012, Stegner pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Kevin Threat, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-84 (located in Alexandria, Va.), was sentenced to 60 days of home detention, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $15,505.  On March 12, 2012, Threat pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed charging Lawrence E. Minas, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 449 (located in Palos Heights, Ill.), with one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $71,160, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Rocha, former Political Director of the United Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was indicted on 18 counts of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $6,971.19, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 10, 2012, in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Illinois, William Adrian, former Business Manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 (located in Belleville, Ill.), was sentenced to 366 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $102,572.78 and a $200 special assessment.  On March 30, 2012, Adrian pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and theft from an employee pension or welfare plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Laura Dixon, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration followed by two years of supervised release.  Additionally, Dixon was ordered to undergo mental health and alcohol counseling and was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $170,216 and a $100 special assessment.  On March 13, 2012, Dixon pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 7, 2012, 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 sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $1,287 in restitution and a $25 assessment.  On January 26, 2012, Valentine pled guilty to one count of filing false union reports with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Sheila Valentine, spouse of Vance Valentine, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $1,287 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On January 23, 2012, Valentine 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 New Orleans District Office.

On September 6, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Gloria Dickinson, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421 (located in Washington, D.C.), with one count of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, for overstating the amount of assets on the union's 2008 LM report.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 5, 2012, 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 sentenced to six months of incarceration (suspended), one year of probation, and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,358.  On August 21, 2012, Davis pled guilty to one count of theft.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 4, 2012, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Missouri, Michael Palmer, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 1379 (located in Fulton, Mo.), was sentenced to 120 days of confinement, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,931 and a $200 fine.  On April 4, 2012, Palmer pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Claude Huff, former Business Manager/President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 (located in Dayton, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The amount will not exceed $110,348.49.  On February 14, 2012, Huff was indicted for the same charge.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 4, 2012, in the First Judicial Parish Court of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Lori Fowler, former office manager for Carpenters Local 764 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), pled guilty to one count of forgery and one count of high grade felony theft in the amount of $25,117.74.  Fowler was then sentenced to five years at hard labor, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 28, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Forbes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 1129 (located in Cartersville, Ga.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  On the same day, Forbes pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and the Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On August 28, 2012, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Clark, William Hainsey, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 11 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), was charged with a single count of theft in the first degree, in violation of WA 9A.56.020 (1)(a)/9A.56.030(1)(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On August 24, 2012, in the Berrien County (Mich.) Circuit Court, Linda Caldwell, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 383 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a non-profit organization of $200 or more but less than $1,000. Caldwell was then sentenced to pay a total of $435 in fines, fees, and court and state costs. Caldwell previously paid full restitution of $700.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Marqueeta Tibbs, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 437 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $34,903.53 and a special assessment of $100.  On January 25, 2012, Tibbs pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Zeffrey Tibbs, spouse of Marqueeta Tibbs, former office secretary of Carpenters Local 437 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), was sentenced to six months of home confinement, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  On February 24, 2012, Tibbs pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Grayewski, former Chairperson of Utility Workers Local 223 – Office, Professional & Technical Division (located in Dearborn, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Stacy Johnson, former cashier for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for embezzling funds from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c), and one year in prison for falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), to be served concurrently.  Johnson will be on supervised release for one year following her release.  Johnson was also ordered her to pay $53,500 in restitution.  On April 4, 2012, a jury found Johnson guilty following a trial.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 22, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Darrell Goldsby, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-2140S (located in Pleasant Grove, Ala.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay the remaining restitution in the amount of $5,569.15 and a $600 special assessment.  On March 8, 2012, Goldsby pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,869.15, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and five counts of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 21, 2012, 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), pled guilty to one count of theft from a union of more than $500 and less than $5,000.  Davis was also ordered to pay $1,358.26 in restitution.  On August 7, 2012, Davis was convicted by a jury of grand theft following charges brought by the U.S. Department of Defense – Defense Finance and Accounting Service Criminal Investigations Branch.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the U.S. Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

On August 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Tammy Greene, former Financial Secretary for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 83793 (located in Selma, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,500 and a $100 special assessment.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a second superseding indictment was returned charging Caleb Gray-Burriss, President of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (NASPSO), located in Washington, D.C., on multiple counts.  The superseding indictment charges Gray-Burriss with two additional counts of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling $68,374.99 from the union and one count of conspiracy to embezzle, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Gray-Burriss was previously indicted on four counts of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling more than $116,000, six counts of mail fraud totaling more than $102,000, one count of criminal contempt; two counts of tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion; one count of failure to file reports required by the LMRDA; one count of falsification of reports required by the LMRDA; and one count of failure to maintain records in sufficient detail required by the LMRDA.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On August 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Terence J. “T.J.” Bonner, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Border Patrol Council 83 (located in Laredo, Tex.), was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, and 11 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The indictment also states that Bonner illegally obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds to which he was not entitled and provides notice of forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c).  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, Customs and Border Protection - Internal Affairs, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On August 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stennett Bernard, former President of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and electronic monitoring and five years of probation.  Bernard was also ordered to pay restitution of $175,312 and a special assessment of $200.  The restitution amount was increased to include the amount of money Bernard conspired to pay his co-conspirators.  On May 31, 2012, Bernard pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On August 14, 2012, in the Berrien County, Michigan Circuit Court, a criminal complaint was filed charging Linda Caldwell, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 383 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), with one count of embezzlement from a non-profit organization of $200 or more but less than $1,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Paul Morales, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1477 (located in Taylor, Mich.), was sentenced to three years of probation (including the completion of 15 hours per week of community service for the first year of probation) and was ordered to pay $25,329.39 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On April 18, 2012, Morales pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records of unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $22,829.39, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).   The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 9, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Adam C. Raimer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1027 (located in Fresno, Calif.), was indicted on the following four counts: one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $41,429.65, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); two counts for filing false financial reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count for the unauthorized use of an Office Depot Credit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2).  Raimer was arrested on December 20, 2012.  The indictment and arrest follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Doris Taylor, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 6, 2012, in the Hennepin County Court of Minnesota, Dennis Earley, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 87140 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with one count of theft by swindle over $5,000, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52, SUBD. 2(4), SUBD. 3(2).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Pete Irwin, former administrative assistant for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 72 (located in Waco, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and five years of probation.  Irwin was also ordered to pay $19,774.70 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On June 7, 2012, Irwin was indicted for falsifying a financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and pled guilty.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 1, 2012, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Cowlitz, Sean Heuer, former office assistant for the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 536 (located in Longview, Wash.), was charged with a single count of theft in the second degree, in violation of WA 9A.56.040(1)(a), and three counts of forgery, in violation of WA 9A.60.020(1).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Tyrone Freeman, former President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 6434 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted on four counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341; seven counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $29,416.62, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making false statements to a federally insured institution, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1014; and three counts of subscribing to a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Loretta Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3491 (located in Gary, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of concealing and withholding financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Brown was then sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to make restitution of $3,929.51.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 13, 2012, in the Superior Court of Washington, County of Jefferson, Michael Morgensen, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 12-175 (located in Port Townsend, Wash.), pled guilty to both forgery and theft in the third degree, in violation of Washington RCW 9A.60.20 and 9A.56.020.  Morgensen was then sentenced to 364 days in jail and was required to make restitution of $7,000.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Rufino Sanchez, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3 10 (located in Ronkonoma, N.Y.), was indicted and an arrest warrant issued for 22 counts of mail fraud related to the misappropriation of $15,723 in union funds.  On August 16, 2012, Sanchez was arrested and arraigned.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 27, 2012, 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 sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $15,407.77 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On October 27, 2011, Rios pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 27, 2012, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex County District Court, Lynda Nordyke, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1302 (located in Lynn, Mass.), pled guilty to one count of larceny over $250, in the amount of $1,438, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266, Section 30.  Nordyke was then sentenced to 30 days of probation and was required to make restitution of $1,438.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On July 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Tammy Allen, former Secretary-Treasurer of Retail Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 184 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was sentenced to five months of confinement, five months in a residential re-entry facility, and three years of supervised probation upon release.  Allen was also ordered to pay $45,766.81 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On October 17, 2011, Allen 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 July 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Angelo Schifino, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 532 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation, 50 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Schifino had previously paid full restitution of $9,917.  On March 19, 2012, Schifino pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James Charleston, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), Jacquelyn Pugh-Rodgers, former Vice President, and Mary Craigen, former Secretary-Treasurer, were each charged in a five-count indictment with one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 on a federal enclave, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, and two counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Lanny F. Pauley, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1412 (located in Garden City, Kans.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $14,898.51 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On September 12, 2011, Pauley 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 July 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Pamela S. Hinzman, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1580 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $22,304.22 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 10, 2012, in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona (Navajo County), Christina Carr, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7008 (located in Show Low, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of theft (Class 6 felony), in violation of the State of Arizona Statute 13-1802(A)(2).  Carr pled guilty to embezzling $5,853.19 in union funds by misusing the union debit card and writing union checks for personal purposes.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigative Office.

On July 9, 2012, in the 19th District Court of Wayne County, Michigan, a felony complaint was filed charging Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), with one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 3, 2012, in the First Judicial Parish Court of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Lori Fowler, former office manager for Carpenters Local 764 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), was charged with one count of theft in the amount of $25,417.74, in violation of Louisiana Revised Statute 14:67.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 28, 2012, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, BMC Department, a criminal complaint was filed against David Beard, current President and Business Manager of Laborers Local 381 (located in Charlestown, Mass.), charging him with three counts of Larceny Over $250 in the amount of $7,709, in violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 266, Section 30.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On June 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Clayton, former Financial Secretary of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 708 (located in Durand, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with making false entries in union records by preparing and submitting false lost time vouchers resulting in him receiving $1,186.80 to which he was not entitled, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Linda Purdy, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 708 (located in Durand, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with making false entries in union records by preparing and submitting false lost time vouchers resulting in her receiving $2,787.40 to which she was not entitled, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Grayewski, former Chairperson of Utility Workers Local 223 – Office, Professional, & Technical Division (located in Dearborn, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Ava Ramey, former Trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 (located in Bowie, Md.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling at least $379,000 from the union.  Ramey wrote more than $80,000 in union checks to herself and cash, purchased more than $70,000 in merchandise on the union’s debit card, withdrew more than $60,000 from union accounts at ATM machines, withdrew in person or transferred to her personal account more than $100,000 of union funds, and wrote more than $60,000 in union checks to her family members.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rachel Lanham, former secretary for the Machinists District Lodge 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  On June 5, 2012, an information was filed charging Lanham with embezzling $104,876.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Jonathan S. Deutsch, former Trustee of the West Virginia Heavy and Highway Construction Industry Fund (located in Charleston, W.Va.), pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, specifically for making a false statement to a financial institution to conceal a fraudulent $120,000 loan.  Deutsch was then sentenced to two years in prison, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $118,429.88 in restitution.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On June 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Diana Frey, former President of the Cincinnati Organized and Dedicated Employees (CODE), located in Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced to 51 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $758,056 and a $100 assessment.  On September 21, 2011, Frey pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 7, 2012, in the Carroll County Court, Ohio, Jayne Dixon, former President of Workers United Local 17-T (located in Carrollton, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft.  Dixon was then sentenced to 15 days of home confinement with electronic monitoring, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $2,000.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 5, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, a criminal information was filed charging Ava Ramey, former Trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 (located in Bowie, Md.), with one count of embezzling $379,000 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 5, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Small, former bookkeeper for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 712 (located in Beaver, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling in excess of $10,000 of the monies, funds, property and assets of a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 5, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging , former secretary for the Machinists District Lodge 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $104,876.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Edward Kozusko, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 443 (located in Youngstown, Ohio), was sentenced to one week of confinement and three years of supervised release, the first eight months of which include home confinement with monitoring.  In addition, Kozusko was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $12,613.20 and a $6,000 fine.  On March 21, 2012, Kozusko pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 1, 2012, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Cleveland, Ohio, Tony Cummings, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 735 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in the amount of $6,451 and 10 counts of forgery.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, David M. Ing, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 860 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $83,293.19, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of structuring cash transactions to evade reporting requirement, in violation of 31 U.S.C. 5324(a)(3).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office and the Internal Revenue Service.

On May 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Kenneth Aurecchia, former Vice President of Plumbers International and former business manager for Plumbers Local 51 (located in East Providence, R.I.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement (including electronic monitoring), three years of probation, 150 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a fine of $40,000.  Aurecchia paid restitution totaling $107,515 prior to sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division.

On May 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stennett Bernard, former President of Steelworkers Local 421-04 (located in Brockton, Mass.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On May 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Stephen Arena, former President of Novelty Workers Local 148 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement in the amount of $193,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On May 30, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, William Adrian, former business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 (located in Belleville, Ill.), pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and theft from an employee pension or welfare plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 30, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Libby Stegner, former administrative assistant for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1319 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,321.25.  Stegner was charged on May 16, 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 29, 2012, in the Circuit Court for Fauquier County, Virginia, Daniel Kramer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Fire Fighters Local 45 (located in Newport News, Va.), was charged in an indictment with one count of grand larceny, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-95.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 23, 2012, in the Adams County Wisconsin Circuit Court, Randy G. Paulson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sub-Lodge 1125 (located in Adams, Wis.), was charged with one count of misdemeanor theft in an amount less than $2,500, in violation of Wisconsin Statute 943.20(1)(b)&3(a).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 22, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Carole Reeves, former office manager for Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 23 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to three years of probation and was fined $6,000 after pleading guilty to a single count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for knowingly and willfully embezzling labor union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On May 21, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was charged in an indictment with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Thomas Coffey, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 912 (located in Lexington, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in unions records between 2005 and 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Coffey was then sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.  He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,358.21 and pay a $25 assessment.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, a criminal complaint was filed charging Joseph Palumbo, former President of Firefighters Local 100 (located in Newport, R.I.), with embezzlement and fraudulent conversion in the amount of $1,541.91, in violation of Rhode Island General Laws 11-41-3.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On May 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Mark Morgan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2584 (formerly located in Fremont, Ind.), was charged in a two-count indictment for embezzling union funds.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed charging Libby Stegner, former administrative assistant for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1319 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), with one count of embezzling union funds totaling more than $41,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The information alleges that Stegner embezzled $41,861 in union money by failing to deposit funds and stealing cash she received from union members for dues and other items.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Carol Wethington, former Secretary-Treasurer of Plant Protection Local 103 (located in Dearborn, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  Wethington previously paid restitution.  On February 2, 2012, Wethington pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 14, 2012, in the Pennington County South Dakota District Court, William Bilger, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3365 (located in Rapid City, S.D.), pled guilty to petty  theft greater than $400 and less than $1,000.  Bilger was subsequently sentenced on the same date to pay restitution in the amount of $2,137 within one year, to obey all laws, and to pay grand jury costs.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, James J. Kearney Jr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Iron Workers Local 45 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release.  In addition, Kearney was ordered to make full restitution (the amount to be determined at a later date) and pay a $100 special assessment.  On November 11, 2011, Kearney pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $561,365.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On May 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative for Machinists Local Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,181.62, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Thomas M. Chavez, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 12-659 (located in Questa, N.M.), was sentenced to three years of probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $16,965.54 and a $100 special assessment.  On December 2, 2011, Chavez pled guilty to one count of embezzling $16,965.54 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 7, 2012, in the St. Louis County District Court of Minnesota, James Michael Hill, former Treasurer of Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC-IBT) Local 76-C (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of felony theft by swindle of over $5,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On May 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Andrew Irwin, former business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 72 (located in Waco, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $47,096.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lisa Barnes, former bookkeeper for Plasterers & Cement Masons (OPCM) Local 514 (located in Madison Heights, Mich.), was charged in a one-count information with falsification of union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 1, 2012, 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 sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $257,590.26 restitution and a $200 special assessment.  Milewski is required to surrender to prison officials on May 21, 2012.  On August 9, 2011, Milewski pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of embezzling assets of a health care benefit program, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 30, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Victor Rovani III, former business representative for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 454 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,322.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 27, 2012, in the Common Pleas Court of Ross County (Ohio), Jill Ragland, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Chapter 782 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), was charged in an indictment with one count of theft in the amount of $1,385, a fifth degree felony.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative of Machinists Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,181.62, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, an indictment was returned charging Salvador Camey, former employee of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), with 16 counts of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling $7,258.92, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Los Angeles, Calif.

On April 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Paul Morales, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1477 (located in Taylor, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records of unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $22,829.39, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  On February 29, 2012, an information was filed charging Morales with the same crime.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), pled guilty to a one-count information for filing false reports, in violation of 45 U.S.C. 231(l).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Thomas Coffey, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 912 (located in Lexington, Ky.), was charged in a one-count information for making false entries in the union records during the years 2005 through 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 17, 2012, in the Harris County, Texas District Court, Kemberly Fields, former President of Security Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA), Local 300 (located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tex.), was charged and arrested for embezzling approximately $23,000 in union funds, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45 – Misapplication of Fiduciary Property.  The charge and arrest follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Aurora Rios, former cashier for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to 21 counts of embezzlement and three counts of falsifying union records.  The guilty plea stems from a $320,000 embezzlement from the local involving Rios and two other former employees of the local, each of whom were charged and tried separately.  On April 28, 2010, Rios was charged with embezzling approximately $167,500.  Rios is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 10, 2012, 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.), was sentenced to four months of home confinement and three years of probation.  On December 15, 2011, Guynn pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, in connection with an embezzlement of $16,081.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 9, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Northern Division, Graven Townsend, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-462 (located in Prattville, Ala.), was sentenced to serve five years of probation and five months at Dismas Charities.  Townsend was also ordered to pay additional restitution owed in the amount of $80,970.76 and a fine of $100.  On December 21, 2011, Townsend 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 9, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Michael Martin, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3093 (located in Norwalk, Conn.), was sentenced to five years of probation, the first six months of which Martin must spend in home confinement with electronic monitoring.  Martin was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,201.  Martin previously pled guilty to one count of Theft by Mail by an Employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On April 9, 2012, in the Crawford County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Richard Clemons, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Steelworkers Local 332 (located in Upper Sandusky, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in an amount exceeding $5,000 but less than $100,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 6, 2012, in the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia, Joseph Meizlik, former President of Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 454 (located in Fort Lee, Va.), was sentenced to four years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $9,122.44 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 6, 2012, Meizlik pled guilty to one count of embezzling $9,122.44 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Stacy Johnson, former cashier for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), was found guilty by a jury of 12 counts of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and three counts of falsifying records union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The trial stemmed from a $320,000 embezzlement from the local involving Johnson and two other former local employees, each of whom are being tried separately.  On April 28, 2010, Johnson was charged with embezzling approximately $45,500.  Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2012.  The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 29, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Tammy Greene, former Financial Secretary for the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 83793 (located in Selma, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement totaling $31,076.07, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 29, 2012, in the Morgan County Circuit Superior Court (Indiana), Cynthia Collier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Carpenters Local 2177 (formerly located in Scottsburg, Ind.), was sentenced 60 days of home detention and two years of probation.  Collier made full restitution in the amount of $2,053 at sentencing.  On February 23, 2012, Collier pled guilty to theft in the amount of $2,053, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2(a).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District, John Gianonne, former Vice President of Teamsters Local 706 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three months of home confinement, one year of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  Gianonne previously paid restitution.  On December 7, 2011, Gianonne pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement of union funds totaling $11,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Edward Kozusko, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 443 (located in Youngstown, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $12,613.20.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 15, 2012, in the Justice Court, Las Vegas Township, Clark County Nevada, Rose Marie Sotak, former President/Business Agent and acting Financial Secretary Treasurer of  Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1758 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), was charged with one count of felony theft.  The complaint includes a warrant for Sotak’s arrest with a cash and surety bail of $10,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was found guilty by a jury of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,246.95.  On July 13, 2011, Jackson was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On March 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of falsification of union financial reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count of falsification of union financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, 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.), was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Porter also was ordered to pay $143,457.50 in restitution and a $300 special assessment.  On June 30, 2011, after a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Porter on all 107 counts of an indictment charging her with 105 counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Edward Kozusko, former Treasurer of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 443 (located in Youngstown, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $12,613.20.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Laura Dixon, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters (located in Cleveland, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  On February 23, 2012, an information was filed charging Dixon with embezzling between $70,000 and $170,218.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Kevin Threat, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-84 (located in Alexandria, Va.), pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, for stealing $15,505 from the union.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Pamela S. Hinzman, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1580 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $26,260.68.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 6, 2012, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), was sentenced to 15 days of confinement, two years of probation, and ordered to write a letter of apology to Local 631.  Perez was also ordered to pay additional restitution of $95.80, a $500 fine, and $90 in court fees.  She previously made restitution of $1,144.  On February 6, 2012, Perez pled guilty to theft, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 6, 2012, 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 sentenced to four months of community confinement, four months of home confinement, and three years of probation.  In addition, McKnight was ordered to pay $54,603.52 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  McKnight had previously paid approximately $16,000 in restitution.  In November 2011, McKnight pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling approximately $68,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, a criminal information was filed charging Kevin Threat, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-84 (located in Alexandria, Va.), with one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States in excess of $1,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 29, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed against Paul Morales, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1477 (located in Taylor, Mich.), charging him with one count of willfully failing to maintain union records for unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $22,829.39.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 28, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Mary Lynn Otten, former Secretary-Treasurer of Musicians Local 26 (located in Peoria, Ill.), was sentenced  to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $5,032.50 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On November 15, 2011, Otten pled guilty to filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Francis Mazzella, employer for members of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), waived indictment and pled guilty to a two-count information charging Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 371.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Poutoa Tuiolemotu, former Financial Secretary for Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers (GMP) Local 50 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to one year of probation, 90 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $17,250.  Tuiolemotu was charged with one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for knowingly and willfully embezzling labor union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Zeffrey Tibbs, spouse of Marqueeta Tibbs, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 437 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union finds in the amount of $84,903, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Zeffrey Tibbs was indicted on September 21, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 24, 2012, 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.), was sentenced to five years of probation with the first six months served in home confinement.  She was also ordered to pay restitution of $36,489.68 at $100 a month.  On October 17, 2011, Hensley 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 Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jose L. Caraballo-Figueroa, former President of Sindicato Obreros Unidos del Sur (located in Salinas, P.R.), was sentenced to 21 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release.  On March 16, 2011, Figueroa 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 Atlanta District Office.

On February 23, 2012, in the State of Texas, El Paso County, William Dempsey, President of Fire Fighters Local 294 (located in Las Cruces, N.M.), was indicted for theft of property of more than $1,500 but less than $20,000, in violation of Texas Penal Code Section 31.03.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, an information was filed charging Laura Dixon, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters (located in Cleveland, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $170,216, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 23, 2012, in the Morgan County Circuit Superior Court of Indiana, Cynthia Collier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Carpenters Local 2177 (formerly located in Scottsburg, Ind.), pled guilty to theft in the amount of $2,053, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2(a).  Collier was previously charged with theft on August 5, 2011.  Collier’s sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2012.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Roody Lespinasse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 04-421 (located in Brockton, Mass.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a).  On February 21, 2012, an information was filed charging Lespinasse with the same crime.  Lespinasse agreed to make restitution in the amount of $20,818.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 21, 2012, in the Green Lake County Wisconsin Circuit Court, Nancy Kumbier, former President and Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1144 (located in Berlin, Wis.), was sentenced to 12 months of probation and was ordered to pay $3,505 in restitution.  On the same date, Kumbier entered an Alford plea for one count of theft in a business setting of between $2,500 and $5,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 21, 2012, in the New York State Court for New York County, Neil Cardoso, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1241 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was indicted with a charge of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, P.L. 155.40 (1) for allegedly using an ATM card to make unauthorized withdrawals of approximately $75,000 in cash from the union’s account.  Cardoso was arrested on February 28, 2012 by investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and arraigned on March 2, 2012.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 20, 2012, in the General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division for the State of North Carolina, County of Durham, Terry L. Wagner, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2923 (located in Durham, N.C.), was indicted for embezzlement totaling between $7,312 and $7,845.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Brandon Borders, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 997 (located in Camp Hill, Pa.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement followed by 24 months of probation.  He was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 and a $100 special assessment.  Borders had already paid restitution of $12,551.16.  On September 23, 2011, Borders pled guilty to one count of embezzlement.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Steven Boyles, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 189 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was sentenced to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment and a $2,500 fine.  On September 7, 2011, Boyles pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, a Class C Felony.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Robert L. Carr, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Business Manager of Plumbers Local 228 (located in Yuba City, Calif.), and his wife Theresa A. Carr, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to misappropriate labor union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and two counts of misappropriation of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Robert and Theresa Carr agreed to pay restitution totaling $120,000 and asked the court for a 30-month and 3-month sentence, respectively.  The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On February 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John McNamee, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of Stage & Picture Operators Local 829 (located in New York, N.Y.), was arrested following the filing of a criminal indictment for embezzling approximately $240,000 in union funds and filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  From January 2004 through February 2011, McNamee is alleged to have used the union’s corporate credit cards to make personal charges.  The arrest and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Conley, former President and Vice President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1738 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), was charged in a two-count indictment for embezzling $15,432.26 in union funds and falsifying union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Guy Masocco, former President of Steelworkers Local 897 (located in Cheektowaga, N.Y.), was sentenced to 10 months of home confinement, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay $31,701 in restitution.  On August 29, 2011, Masocco pled guilty to embezzling from his union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Claude Huff, former Business Manager/President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in an amount exceeding $100,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 9, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Jose M. Rivera, former President and Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 710 (located in Newark, N.J.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay the remaining balance of restitution.  The sentencing follows a guilty plea by Rivera regarding one count of accepting an illegal loan as an officer from a union over $14,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 7, 2012, in the Navajo County Superior Court, Christina Carr, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Worker Union (APWU) Local 7008 (located in Show Low, Ariz.), was indicted on one count of theft or embezzlement of an amount greater than $4,000, a Class 3 Felony, in violation of ARS §§ 13-1802(A)(2), 13-1801, 13-701, 13-702, and 13-801.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On February 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Curtis Reed, a former staff representative of the Steelworkers, AFL-CIO (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $3,694.32 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Robert Misuraca, a former staff representative of the Steelworkers, AFL-CIO (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $17,566.21 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 6, 2012, in the Polk County, Minnesota Circuit Court, Michelle Jean Nelson, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7272 (located in Erskine, Minn.), was sentenced to 45 days of confinement, 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $4,634.22, a $100 fine, and $160 in special assessments and fees.  On November 4, 2011, Nelson pled guilty to theft by false representation.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 6, 2012, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), pled guilty to theft, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Carol Wethington, former Secretary-Treasurer of Plant Protection Local 103 (located in Dearborn, Mich.), pled guilty to making false entries in union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  Wethington was charged with the same offense in a one-count information on September 20, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Kelly Dull, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2904 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $32,118.66, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On January 26, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joseph Barnes, former National Director for the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Union (located in Washington, D.C.), was indicted on four counts of embezzlement from a labor organization in the amount of $4,380, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office with assistance from the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 26, 2012, in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Helen Stupka, former office secretary for the Ohio State Plumbers Association (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to 11 months of confinement (suspended), four years of community control, and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $13,372.91.  On December 14, 2011, Stupka pled guilty to one count of theft.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 26, 2012, 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.), pled guilty to one count of filing false reports with the Secretary of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Tommy Harris, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1230 (located in Griffin, Ga.), was sentenced to four years of probation, 11 months of electronically monitored home confinement, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $24,646.82 in restitution (of which $4,646.82 was outstanding) and a $100 special assessment.  On November 17, 2011, Harris pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $24,646.82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Marqueeta Tibbs, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 437 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of $84,903, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  Tibbs was indicted on September 21, 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 24, 2012, in the United States District Court of Rhode Island, Kenneth Aurecchia, former Regional Vice President of the Plumbers International Union and former business manager for Plumbers Local 51 (located in East Providence, R.I.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $107,515 and one count of filing a false tax return in the amount of $17,886.  The guilty plea follows a change of plea hearing that was filed on December 1, 2011. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Treasury’s Providence Office.

On January 23, 2012, in the Fountain County Indiana Circuit Court, Brianna Gates, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 7-975 (located in Fairmount, Ill.), pled guilty to two counts of Theft, Class D Felonies.  Gates was then sentenced to three years of probation, 50 hours of community service for each year of her sentence, and was ordered to pay the remaining balance of $1,729 toward the total restitution amount of $3,975.  The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Sheila Valentine, spouse of Vance Valentine, former Secretary-Treasurer of  United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 23, 2012, 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 sentenced to five years of probation which includes 10 months of home detention with electronic monitoring (with the exception of work).  Ford was ordered to pay $174,100 in restitution and a $125 special assessment.  On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On January 20, 2012, in the State of Louisiana, 26th Judicial District, Parish of Bossier, John Wayne Walker, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2000 (located in Shreveport, La.), was sentenced  for felony theft.  Walker’s sentence was deferred pursuant to Article 893 for five years.  He has also been placed on active probation for five years with the following special conditions: (1) comply with Article 893; (2) make restitution of $16,057.75 over probation period; (3) pay $75 per month for supervision fees; and (4) pay a fine of $500 and cost over probation.  On January 20, 2012, Walker pled guilty to one count of felony theft of $16,057.75 in union funds, in violation of Louisiana Revised Statute 14:67.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ronald W. Witt, former business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 450 (located in Houston, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On January 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Joseph Pavone, former President of Laborers Local 560 (located in Waltham, Mass.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $6,466 in restitution and a $1,000 fine.  On October 19, 2011, Pavone pled guilty to three counts of receipt of an unlawful labor payment, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Carole Reeves, former office manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local 23 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $19,000 in labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Linda Favela, former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 6703 (located in Riverside, Calif.), was charged with five counts of embezzlement totaling $12,510, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Alyson Harmon, former office assistant and bookkeeper for the now defunct Carpenters Local Union 281 (located in Binghamton, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $29,876.57 in restitution.  On September 23, 2011, Harmon pled guilty to embezzling $20,481.57 in cash receipts from Local 281.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Jennine Prince, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Iron Workers Local 3 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $494,598.89 and a $100 special assessment.  Prince was permitted to voluntarily surrender to begin her prison sentence, but not later than March 30, 2012.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Michael Martin, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3093 (located in Norwalk, Conn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of mail by an employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the amount of $11,320.61, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1709.  In addition, Martin admitted to embezzling $8,880.78 in union funds.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the USPS’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Victor Rovani III, former business representative of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 454 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was indicted and an arrest warrant issued for three counts of embezzlement totaling $8,322, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of deprivation of a union member’s rights pertaining to internal union matters.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, Natasha J. Bever, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4202 (located in Rantoul, Ill.), was indicted on one count of issuing unauthorized payroll checks to herself in the amount of approximately $117,378, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 9, 2012, 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.), was sentenced to three years of probation, including eight months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,932.07.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 6, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Joseph Meizlik, former President of Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 454 (located in Fort Lee, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $9,122.44 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 4, 2012, 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.), was sentenced to five months of home confinement, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution and a $100 special assessment.  On September 19, 2011, Lancaster pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $68,403, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Pamela S. Hinzman, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 1580 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $26,260.68 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

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.

On December 29, 2010, Phillip Akins, former Financial Secretary and Treasurer of Mine Workers Local 1987 (located in Jasper, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement for an amount more than $9,500.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, an information was filed against Christy Nicole Freeman, former Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), charging her with making a false entry in a record required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, an information was filed against Katherine Nannette Jones, a former employee of IBEW Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), charging her with making a false entry in a record required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, an information was filed against James Drury, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3121 (located in Hialeah, Fla.), charging him with embezzling union funds between December 2005 and March 2009 in the amount of $306,757.53.  An arraignment was held on December 27, 2010.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office (Atlanta District Office) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 20, 2010, Gloria Porter, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) IAM Army Military Council (AMC) and former President of NFFE Local 2049 at White Sands Missile Range (located in Las Cruces, N.M.), was indicted in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico on 105 Counts of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (Wire Fraud), one count of 18 U.S.C. 1341 (Mail Fraud), and one count of 18 U.S.C. 1028(a)(1) (Aggravated Identity Theft).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, James Correll, former President of the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 238 (located in Morrison, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of probation with the first six months to be served in home detention and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,286.  On August 19, 2010, Correll pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 15, 2010, in Anoka County (Minnesota) District Court, Brenda Olson, former office secretary for Carpenters Local 851 (located in Anoka, Minn.), was charged with theft of over $5,000.  The complaint alleges that Olson stole union funds in the amount of $19,350.31.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Paula Dorsey, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $180,000.  On August 11, 2010, Dorsey pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Connie Ball, former Secretary-Treasurer of Bakery and Tobacco Workers Local 531 (formerly located in London, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,754.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 7, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 13, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Jo Ann Duffy, former Project Organizer for the Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 36 months probation, 50 hours of community service, and counseling for gambling.  Duffy was also ordered to pay restitution of $13,738 to the bonding company at $50 per month.  On September 1, 2010, Duffy pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $13,738 from the union in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing followed an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 10, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, an information was filed charging Poutoa Tuiolemotu, former Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 50, with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On December 10, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, an information was filed charging Kim Hirschkorn, former Treasurer of Postal Workers Local 709, with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On December 9, 2010, in the United States District Court, Trenton, New Jersey, Shawn Clark, former Business Agent of Carpenters Local 455 (located in Somerville, N.J.), was sentenced to 28 months incarceration and three years supervised release. Clark was also ordered to make restitution for an amount between $72,000 and $102,000, which will be determined by the Honorable Judge Thompson. On May 17, 2010, in a trial held in the United States District Court, Trenton, New Jersey, jurors found Clark guilty on 15 counts of embezzling union funds and conspiracy to improperly spend Local 455’s funds for his own personal use and the use of others during the approximate period between December 2000 and December 2007, in violation of LMRDA Section 501(c) and Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371.  Clark used an American Express credit card issued to the union to make more than 450 charges totaling more than $65,000 at 14 different gentlemen's clubs in central New Jersey. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Newark Resident Investigator Office.

On December 7, 2010, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Tamara Schultz, former Benefits Coordinator for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of first degree theft for wrongfully obtaining and using property of a value of $1,000 or more from NTEU.  Following the plea, Schultz was sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended), one year unsupervised probation, and she was ordered to pay a $50 special assessment fee. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 6, 2010, 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.), 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. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On December 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for Minnesota, Cory Carroll, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), was sentenced to five years probation, and required to submit to two random periodic drug tests, supply a DNA sample, and refrain from gambling and using alcohol or other controlled substances.  Carroll was also ordered to pay restitution of $35,362.41 and a $100 special assessment fee.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Dan Cassidy, former Clerk Craft Director of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 189 (located in Little Rock, Ark.), was sentenced to one year of probation, 40 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $200 assessment. On August 3, 2010, Cassidy pled guilty to wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, a Class C Felony. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

On November 30, 2010, in Dakota County District Court of Minnesota, Jonathan David Thompson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 333 (located in Rosemount, Minn.), was sentenced to 364 days in jail (361 were stayed and a credit of three days was given for three days served) and two years probation for financial transaction card fraud of over $2,500.  Thompson was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service, pay $455 in court related fees, supply a DNA sample, and write a letter of apology to Division 333.  Thompson was also ordered to pay restitution of $11,841.76 to Division 333 and to pay $9,650.93 to Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland.  On September 17, 2010, Thompson pled guilty to one felony count of financial transaction card fraud of over $2,500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.), was sentenced to two years probation, and she was ordered to make restitution of $3,340.  On September 1, 2010, Means-Swanson pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records so that her theft of union funds would go undetected.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 23, 2010, 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.), pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $450.00. Weihert admitted that he embezzled $17,256.  He was ordered to make restitution to Local 4845 and to pay a $5,000 fine. Weihert is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2011.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 22, 2010, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a criminal complaint was filed charging Tamara Schultz, former Benefits Coordinator for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) (located in Washington, D.C.), with one count of first degree theft for wrongfully obtaining and using property of a value of $1,000 or more from NTEU. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Frank Kmiec, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Local 2857 (located in Genoa City, Wis.), 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.  An information was previously filed on November 2, 2010.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2010, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Missouri, Tammy Allen, former Secretary-Treasurer of Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 184L (located in Kansas City, Kans.), was indicted on one count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344 totaling $45,766.81.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On November 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Antonio Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 38187 (located in Erie, PA), was sentenced to four years probation and he was ordered to pay restitution of $5,778.01 and a $100 special assessment fee.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 17, 2010, 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, WI), was indicted on 21 counts of embezzlement from Local 1760-A totaling $16,737.54.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior Police Department.

On November 16, 2010, Lonnie Stevans, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Hofstra University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), was arraigned in the Eastern District of New York following an information charging Stevans with filing a false report with the Department of Labor in violation of 29 USC 439(b).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Frankie L. Sanders, former Southern Regional Coordinator of the Southern Region of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) (located in Houston, Tex.), was found guilty of embezzling union funds.  On March 17, 2010, Sanders was indicted on one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzling approximately $10,078 in union funds.  The charge for wire fraud remains pending.  The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On November 12, 2010, 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, TX), pled guilty to embezzling $99,178 in union funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  Sentencing is scheduled for February 25, 2011.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On November 9, 2010, 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), pled guilty to counts 1 and 19 of a February 19, 2002 indictment. Specifically, she pled guilty to Conspiracy to Embezzle Union Funds and to Making False Entries in Union Records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371and 29 U.S.C. 439(c). George agreed to make restitution of $4,275.56. George was denied bond due to the eight years shespent evading capture. She will remain in prisonuntil her sentencing on January 28, 2011. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 8, 2010, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Stanley Barringer, former Vice President and acting Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3707 (located in Chicopee, MA), was charged in an information with falsifying and concealing a material fact on reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor in order to conceal his misappropriation of approximately $22,180.00 of Local 3707 funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Office.

On November 5, 2010, 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, FL), pled guilty toconspiracy to embezzle funds from a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. Youngerman agreed to pay restitution of $18,218.91 to Zurich North America. Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On November 5, 2010, in the Mower County Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (BLET GCA) (located in Albert Lea, MN), was sentenced to four years probation for theft of $1,562.12, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the same amount, to write a letter of apology, and to not hold a position of financial responsibility.  On September 30, 2010, Heichel pled guilty to gross misdemeanor theft by false representation in the amount of $1,562.12.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 3, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Hugo Vargas, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Lodge 845 (located in Las Vegas, NV), was sentenced to 13 months in prison followed by three years supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $106,293.59 and an assessment fee of $100.  On August 2, 2010, Vargas pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On November 3, 2010, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, John McGovern,  former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, NJ), pled guilty to violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371. McGovern admitted that he conspired with former Local 190 President Gary Weightman to embezzle between $120,000 and $200,000 in union funds.  Weightman, as a result of a plea agreement, has already pled guilty to criminal tax evasion and is awaiting sentencing.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and with the aid of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On November 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Fidel Garza, former President of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2063 (located in Albuquerque, NM), was sentenced to four months in prison, three years of supervised probation, and four months of home confinement, and he was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $77,457.89 and pay a $100 special assessment.  Garza was also ordered to participate in a substance abuse program and barred from holding any position where he has fiduciary responsibility.  Garza pled guilty to one count of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (wire fraud).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On November 2, 2010, in Circuit Court for the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, Larry Brooks, former President of Steelworkers Local 8-543 (located in Hampton, Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement having a value of $200 or more in violation of Section 18.2-111 of the Code of Virginia.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robbin R. Wolff, former Bookkeeper of Auto Workers Local 383 (located in Benton Harbor, MI), was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment for embezzling union funds and 12 months of imprisonment for falsifying union records; the time is to be served concurrently.  Upon release from imprisonment, Wolff will be on supervised release for a period of two years for the former offense and one year for the latter offense; the time is to be served concurrently.  Wolff was ordered to pay restitution of $200,397.69 and a special assessment of $125.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Curtis Iwatsubo, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 52, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for embezzling union funds of more than $47,000.  He was ordered to pay restitution of $38,434 and a $100 special assessment.  On May 26, 2010, Iwatsubo pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On October 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Dugan, former President and Business Manager of Operating Engineers Local 150 (located in Countryside, IL), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $30,000, an assessment of $25, and the cost of probation on a monthly basis.  Special conditions of supervision also require Dugan to file appropriate Form LM-30 reports.  On March 22, 2010, Dugan pled guilty to one count of receiving a thing of value from a signatory employer.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, FBI, and DOL OIG.

On October 26, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Robert Rybak, former Business Manager for Plumbers Local 55 (located in Cleveland, OH), pled guilty to multiple charges including embezzlement in the amount of $12,321.03, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and Hobbs Act violations.  Rybak was previously indicted on multiple counts on September 14, 2010.  The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, DOL OIG, and FBI.

On October 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Kevin Hunt, former Secretary Treasurer of the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 198 (located in Peoria, IL), pled guilty to a one count information charging him with filing a false Form LM-3 annual financial report for fiscal year 2007.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 25, 2010, in the United States District Court, Newark, NJ, Patrick Brennan, former Business Manager of Painters District Council 711 (located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ), was sentenced to six months incarceration and six months home confinement, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,487.26.  Brennan had previously pled guilty to embezzling $32,487.26 of funds from Painters District Council 711, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Newark Resident Investigator Office.

On October 25, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Oscar Gatewood, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, MI), pled guilty to one count of concealing union records.  Sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 22, 2010, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, an indictment of Stennett Bernard, Roody Lespinasse, Andy Alerte, and Manuel Nogueira (former President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Recording Secretary, respectively) of Steelworkers Local 04-421 was unsealed.  The indictment charged Bernard, Lespinasse, Alerte, and Nogueira with violations of Title 18, U.S.C. Code, Section 371 – Conspiracy, Title 29 U.S.C. 501(c) - Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union Assets, and 18 U.S.C. Section 2 - Aiding and Abetting.  The former officers were charged with embezzling the following approximate amounts through unauthorized checks:  Bernard ($4,320.94), Lespinasse ($712.30), Alerte ($551.72), and Nogueira ($1,384.34).  The indictment also includes a criminal forfeiture allegation, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 981(a)(1)(c) and Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2461(c).  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On October 21, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Larry White, former President of United Electrical Workers Union (UE) Local 1110 (located in Chicago, IL), was sentenced to three years probation, and he was ordered to make restitution of $11,875 and pay a fine of $25.  On March 29, 2010, White pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Gilbert Woods, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84768 (located in Kettering, OH), was sentenced to five years probation and six months house arrest.  He was ordered to pay restitution of $25,465, which included $20,000 to Travelers Insurance and $5,465 to the union.  He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $25.  On July 21, 2010, Woods pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 18, 2010, Delores Jennings, former President and acting Secretary-Treasurer of the now defunct Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 81321 (located in Syracuse, NY), was arraigned in Syracuse City Court after a criminal complaint was filed charging her with Grand Larceny in the fourth degree and Falsifying Business Records in the first degree.  The complaint alleges that Jennings took $2,479 from her former union.  The court action came as a result of an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Syracuse City Police Department.

On October 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Aaron Hunter, former President of Firefighters Local 108-F (located in Fort Leonard Wood, MO), was sentenced to one year probation for the charge of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 to conceal his embezzlement of union funds.  Hunter paid restitution totaling $30,000 prior to his sentencing.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 15, 2010, in Circuit Court for Arlington County, Virginia, Richard James, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1402 (located in Arlington, VA), was sentenced to two years incarceration (all suspended), two years supervised probation, and 75 hours of community service for embezzling $9,850 from the union in violation of Section 18.2-111 of the Virginia Code.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Arlington County Police Department.

On October 14, 2010, 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, MI), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,283.20.  Lucas is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2011.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Amar Ali, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Sub-Lodge 695 (located in Baltimore, MD), was charged in a one count information with failure to maintain union records (29 U.S.C. Section 439(a)(b)).  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Craig A. Bohn, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 558 (located in Green Bay, WI), was sentenced to one year probation, a $1,500 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  Bohn previously made restitution in the amount of $5,000.  On June 18, 2010, Bohn pled guilty to two counts of creating false union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Lance Hinerman, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 189 (located in Little Rock, AR), was sentenced to two years probation and a $200 assessment.  On July 6, 2010, Hinerman pled guilty to wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, a Class C Felony.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General.

On October 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Nickolas Weihert, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4845 (located in Waukesha, WI), with three counts of embezzlement totaling $450.00.  The information states that the three counts were fraudulent transactions related to an embezzlement of $17,256.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 5, 2010, Joseph Kerwan, Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 112 (located in Elmira, NY), was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine in the Western District of New York.  On May 20, 2010, Kerwan pled guilty to falsification of union records. As part of the plea and sentencing, Kerwan made full restitution to his local union totaling $6,927.55.  The court action came as a result of an investigation by the Buffalo District Office.

On October 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Kotouch, the former President and Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1738 (located in Latrobe, PA), was charged in a two count indictment for embezzling $18,806.27 in union funds and falsifying union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 4, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Carrola, the former Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 1919 (located in Pittsburgh, PA), was sentenced to two years probation for each of the two counts (to run concurrently) and six months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution of $35,057 and a $100 count assessment.  Carrola pled guilty on June 1, 2010 to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,057 and to falsifying union records.  Full restitution has been made to the union.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 30, 2010, in the Mower County Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (BLET GCA), located in Austin, MN, pled guilty to one count of gross misdemeanor theft and false representation in the amount of $1,562.12.  The plea follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office and the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 29, 2010, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Keith Hart, former Financial Secretary of Bakery Workers Local 315G (Mt. Vernon, IN), was sentenced to six months in a work release community corrections facility and three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,904.69 and a $100.00 special assessment.  On July 6, 2010, Hart pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $13,904.69.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the Cincinnati District Office.

On September 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Woodrow Anderson, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, FL), was sentenced to probation for 24 months and 180 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay Zurich North America the amount of $2,249.96 and a special assessment fee of $25.00.  On July 1, 2010, Anderson pled guilty to making a false statement of a material fact in a report or document required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On September 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Anthony Green, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, FL), was sentenced to probation for 24 months and 180 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay Zurich North America the amount of $3,073.10 and a special assessment fee of $25.00.  On July 12, 2010, Green pled guilty to making a false entry in, or willfully concealing, withholding, or destroying any book, record, report or statement required to be kept under the LMRDA.  Zurich North America paid a loss to GMP LU 208 as a result of Green’s dishonest claim filed after his embezzlement.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On September 24, 2010, in the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, former Bookkeeper Cheryl Staley was sentenced to five years probation, during which time she is restricted from entering a casino without first notifying the U.S. Probation Office; ordered to attend gambling addiction classes; ordered to pay $231,653.89 in restitution, plus 10% interest at $200/month; and ordered to pay $200 in court assessments.  In May 2010, Staley pled guilty to embezzling union funds and causing false entries in the LM reports filed by Local 501.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 23, 2010, 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, MI), was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,137.35 between August 2006 and October 2007 and one count of making false statements.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 23, 2010, in Newton Massachusetts District Court, a criminal complaint was issued against Richard Dean, former Treasurer of Carpenters Local 275 in Newton, MA, charging him with 11 counts of larceny totaling $15,374.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Jonathan S. Deutsch, former Trustee of the West Virginia Heavy and Highway Construction Industry Fund, was indicted in a 25 count indictment of wire fraud involving approximately $750,000 in embezzled union funds.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the DOL OIG.

On September 21, 2010, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, Stephen P. Arena and David Caivano, President and Recording Secretary/Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of Novelty and Production Workers Local 148 (located in Newark, N.J.), were indicted on 29 counts of conspiracy and embezzlement of approximately $375,000 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the Labor OIG.

On September 16, 2010, in Madison County (NY) court, Gail Shingler, former Treasurer of the now defunct Steelworkers Local Union 53 (located in Oneida, NY), was sentenced after entering a guilty plea to one count of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree.  Shingler was sentenced to 60 days in jail after admitting to taking $2,572 from her former local union.  She made full restitution prior to her appearance in county court.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court of Eastern Texas, Michael Doggett, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters Local 502 (located in Orange, Texas), was indicted on one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $58,994, and one count of embezzlement from a labor union in the amount of $45,043.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the FBI.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Brian Wilson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 2804 (located in Warren, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and 90 days home confinement.  On July 13, 2010, Wilson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ellsworth Williamson, former President of Steelworkers Local 5-1967 (located in Hamilton, Ohio), was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,159.16.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Joseph Chester, former President of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATC) Local ABQ (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was indicted on 47 counts of wire fraud.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Robert W. Rybak, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Plumbers Local 55 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was indicted on conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy under the Hobbs Act, embezzlement or theft from a labor union, embezzlement or theft from an employee benefit fund, and tampering with a witness.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

On September 14, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Tiffany Freeman was sentenced to two years community control and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,260.  On August 6, 2010, Freeman pled guilty to three counts of forging checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerrold King, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 36 months of probation, including 90 days of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70.06 and pay a $25 special assessment.  King previously made restitution in the amount of $900.  On June 14, 2010, King pled guilty to one count of concealing union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Paul Wyatt, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 220 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was sentenced to six months incarceration followed by six months of home confinement, as well as three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,023 and a special assessment of $100.  On June 23, 2010, Wyatt pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,023.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 3, 2010, in the Clinton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Daniel Graves, former President of Teamsters Local 1224 (located in Wilmington, Ohio), pled guilty to persistent disorderly conduct.  Graves was then sentenced to 30 days incarceration, to be suspended pending good behavior.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 2, 2010, in the Superior Court of Washington County, Washington, Elizabeth Mills, former office manager of Laborers Local 901 (located in Mount Vernon, Wash), was sentenced to 20 days of incarceration and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,721.  On June 18, 2010, Mills pled guilty to theft of union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 1, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Joe Ann Duffy, former Project Organizer for the Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,738. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records.  On May 6, 2009, Means-Swanson was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,900.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 31, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Kelly J. Fahrenkopf, former Vice President of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 316 (located in West Coxsackie, N.Y.),was sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,500.  On April 20, 2010, Fahrenkopf pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $11,500 in union funds between August 2006 and March 2007.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 30, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Jimmie Leo Miles, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1023 (located in Barstow, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release.  Miles was previously ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $93,284 to the union and $14,466 to the Internal Revenue Service. On June 21, 2010 Miles plead guilty to embezzling union funds and filing a false tax return.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the Los Angeles District Office.

On August 27, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Bernadette Beal, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Downeast Federation of Healthcare Professionals Local 5073 (located in Milbridge, Maine), pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,536.91.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On August 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Connie Ball, former Secretary-Treasurer of Bakery Workers Local 531 (located in London, Ky.) was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,554.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 26, 2010, in the Mower County, Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), was charged with four counts of theft by false representation totaling $1,562.12.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to twenty-four months of probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,920.16 and pay a $25 special assessment.  On March 2, 2010, Bywater pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Barbara Gallagher, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 2-1007 (located in Howell, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of making a false statement of a material fact on the union's 2005 annual financial report.  Gallagher was sentenced to sixty months of probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $8,725.11 and pay a $25 special assessment.  Gallagher previously made restitution in the amount of $855.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, James Patrick Correll, former president of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America Local 238 (located in Morrison, Ill.) pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling and converting to his own use union funds in the amount of $22,278.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Sharron Dixon Haynes, aka Sharron A. Haynes, former election candidate of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 217 (located in Jackson, Miss.), was indicted on three counts of making and causing to be made, and using and causing to be used, a false writing or document in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States Government.. Haynes is alleged to have submitted a false certification of her eligibility for election to Branch 217, which she knew falsely certified that she had not served as a supervisor within two years prior to October 2008, when in fact she had served as a supervisor in May 2008.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mechelle Busse, aka Mechelle Singleton, former office manager of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 568 (located in Gulfport, Miss.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of  $110,117.69 between June 2005 and December 2007.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), was indicted on one count of embezzling $6,943.15 from UFCW Local 790C (located in Pearl, Miss.) between November 2002 and March 2006. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Paula S. Dorsey, former President of AFSCME District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $532.50.  On June 22, 2010, Dorsey was charged in an information with the same offense.  The plea follows and investigation by OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 6, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Tiffany Freeman pled guilty to three counts of forgery on checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  On December 2, 2009, Freeman was charged with five counts of forgery on checks totaling $2,260.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Pokrywczynski, former Treasurer of the Transit Union’s New York State Legislative Conference Board and former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transit Union Local 1342 (located in Buffalo, N.Y.), was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $215,527.74.  On February 16, 2010, Pokrywczynski pled guilty to embezzling approximately $71,000 from Transit Union, Local 1342 and approximately $183,000 from the Transit Union’s New York State Legislative Conference Board between January 2002 and March 2008 while serving as treasurer of both labor organizations.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Antonio Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers Local 38187 (located in Erie, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,767.40.  The plea follows  an investigation by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 4, 2010, in the United States District Court of Northern California, Duane DeJoie, former President of AFGE Local 1223 (located in Oakland, Calif.), was charged with theft and embezzlement within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $5,369.  The charge follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 3, 2010, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Henry George Green, Sr., former Treasurer of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 440 (located in Port Arthur, Texas), was sentenced to thirty-six months of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,565.72.  Green previously made restitution in the amount of repaid $24,000.18.  On February 23, 2010, Green pled guilty to one count of filing a false statement or omission on a report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On August 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Hugo Vargas, former Secretary Treasurer of the Machinists Lodge 845 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $106,293.59.  On December 1, 2009, Vargas was charged in an indictment with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On July 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata, Fund Administrator of United Craft and Industrial Workers Union Local 91 (a union that represents school bus drivers and matrons in New York City), pled guilty to extortion.  Annunziata was indicted on February 26, 2010 for extorting cash payments from employers totaling at least $500,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On July 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cory A. Carroll, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,362.41.  On April 5, 2010, Carroll was indicted for the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robbin R. Wolff, former bookkeeper of United Autoworkers (UAW)  Local 383 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $200,397.63 and to one count of falsifying union records.  On July 23, 2010, Wolff was charged in an information with the same offenses.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Lawrence DeAngelis, former Administrator/Trustee for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14170, was sentenced to twelve months in prison and fined $3,000 for theft of union funds in excess of $60,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 21, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Kenney, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) Local 205-C (located in Youngstown, Ohio), was sentenced to four months incarceration followed by two years of supervised release including four months of electronic monitoring.  On May 14, 2010, Kenney pled guilty to embezzling more than $10,000 in union funds and filing a false report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 21, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, Gilbert Woods, former President of Communications Workers (CWA) Local 84-768 (located in Kettering, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman, United Transportation Union General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), was sentenced to three months incarceration followed by two years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the UTU GCA 325 in the amount of $16,200, restitution to the Railroad Retirement Board in the amount of $32,778.39, a fine of $30,000, and a $100 special assessment.  On November 30, 2009, Kobe pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Railroad Retirement Board’s Office of the Inspector General.

On July 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Andrew Blackmon, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records.  On June 18, 2010, Blackmon was charged with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Thomas Renkes, former Executive Director of the Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to thirty-six months of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,546 and a $2,000 fine.  On April 26, 2010, Renkes was charged with embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Daniel Gibson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3266 (located in Sallisaw, Okla.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release probation and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $33,986.39 and pay a $100 special assessment.  On March 12, 2010, an information charged Gibson with making false statements.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Stacey Spalding, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 215 (located in Evansville, Ind.), was sentenced to one year at a work release facility and two years probation, and was ordered to pay $29,499 in restitution to Zurich Insurance of North America and $100 in court fees.  Additionally, Spalding was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,597 for money diverted from various 401(k) accounts.  On May 19, 2010, Spalding pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,516.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 13, 2010, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, Lucy Irene Hastings, former Recording Secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty and received a stay of imposition of sentence, three years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution.  On April 30, 2010, Hastings was charged with theft of union funds in the amount of $3,328.29.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 13, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Peter Maisel Jr., former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) Local 1517 (located in Pueblo, Colo.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,514.79. On April 14, 2010, Maisel pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On July 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Brian Wilson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 2804 (located in Warren, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,500. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 12, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Western Washington, Sid Mannetti, former President of AFGE Local 1170 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to twenty-four months of probation with six months of home confinement and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,463.  On January 25, 2010, Mannetti was charge with embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 12, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Anthony Green, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), pled guilty to making a false entry in a record or report required to be kept under the LMRDA. Green was ordered to pay Zurich North America the amount of $2,550.00. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On July 8, 2010, in Circuit Court for Arlington County, Virginia, Richard James, former President of AFGE Local 1402 (located in Arlington, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement greater than $200 associated with his embezzling unions funds in the amount of $1,550. James previously made restitution in the amount of $9,850. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Arlington County Police Department.

On July 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Joseph Moon, former President of ATU Local 1626 (located in Edison, N. J.), was sentenced to five years of supervised probation and ordered to pay a $25 fine. Also, Moon was ordered to make restitution to Local 1626 in the amount of $14,285. On September 10, 2009, Moon pled guilty to one count of receiving an improper loan from a labor organization. Between April of 2004 and August of 2008, Moon obtained $14,931 in unapproved loans from the local’s checking account. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Steven McDeid, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 388 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), was sentenced to 90 days home confinement and five years probation, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $51,639.61, and pay a $100 special assessment. On March 24, 2010, McDeid pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 6, 2010, In the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Keith Hart, former Financial Secretary of Bakery Workers Local 315G (Mt. Vernon, Ind.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,904.69.  On June 3, 2009, Hart was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 6, 2010, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Keith Hart, former Financial Secretary of Bakery Workers Local 315G (located in Mt. Vernon, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,904. On June 3, 2009, Hart was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Woodrow Anderson, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), pled guilty to making a false statement of a material fact in a report or document required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor. Anderson was ordered to pay restitution of $2,249.96 to Zurich North America. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On July 1, 2010, in Fayette County (Indiana) Superior Court, Jeff Napier, former President of UAW Local 151 (located in Connersville, Ind.), was charged in an information with three counts of theft for knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over the property of the local. The charges were filed following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Paul Wyatt, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,022.95.  On May 4, 2010, Wyatt was indicted for embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On June 25, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Caleb Gray-Burriss, Treasurer of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (NASPSO), was indicted on four counts of mail fraud. Gray-Burriss is alleged to have spent at least $102,000 of pension plan funds for his personal benefit, the union, and third parties. 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 June 24, 2010, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, LaDonna Turner was sentenced to three years probation, and was ordered to undergo random drug screening and make restitution in the amount of $15,800.  On June 3, 2010, Turner pled guilty to three counts of forgery concerning checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 24, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Pamela Williams, former travel procurement coordinator of SEIU Local 880 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to five years probation, five months of electronic monitoring/home confinement (except for work), and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,080.06.  Also, Williams was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and pay a special assessment of $100.  On March 25, 2010, Williams pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $6080.06.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 23, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Richard D. Schwab, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 298 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to two years probation and six months electronic monitoring, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,719.57 and a special assessment off $100.  Schwab previously made restitution in the amount of $42,009.   On February 25, 2010, Schwab pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $46,728.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 23, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Kevin McGee, former President of AFGE Local 3028 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to eighteen months of probation with thirty days of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $2,400 fine in addition to a restitution payment of $2,400.  On February 26, 2010, McGee pled guilty to making a false representation in a federal form.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 22, 2010, in the 22ND Judicial District Court of Washington Parish, Louisiana, Keith Knight, former Secretary Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 13-1362 (located in Bogalusa, La.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, and was ordered to pay $43,000 restitution, a fine of $500, monthly supervision fees, and court fees.  On June 22, 2010, Knight pled guilty to theft over $500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Louisiana State Police.

On June 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Paula S. Dorsey, former President of AFSCME District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), with one count of embezzlement of funds in the amount of $532.50.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On June 21, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Jimmie Leo Miles, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1023 (Barstow, Calif.), pled embezzling union funds and filing a false tax return.  As part of his plea, Miles must pay $93,284 in restitution to the union and $14,466 to the IRS, file amended tax returns, and pay the cost of prosecution.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 18, 2010, in the state of Washington, county of Skagit, Elizabeth Mills, former bookkeeper of the Laborers Local 901 (located in Mount Vernon, Wash.), was charged with theft in the first degree of funds in the amount of $7,721.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging former Teamsters Organizer Joe Ann Duffy with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,738.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, John A. Mannenga, former Recording Secretary-Treasurer of Railroad Signalmen Local 98 (located in Norwalk, Iowa), was sentenced to four months of home confinement, three years of supervision, and restitution of $5,242.60 for embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,042.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, David Miller, former Treasurer of Litchfield Independent Workers Union Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was sentenced to 13 months incarceration followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $50,501.99 and pay a $100 special assessment.  On March 8, 2010, Miller pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,501.99.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Donna Cooper, former Business Manager for Laborers Local 888 (located in Muskogee, Oklahoma), was indicted for embezzling union funds.  Cooper is alleged to have used Local 888’s ATM card to make unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases totaling $69,322.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerrold King, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of concealing union records.  On March 4, 2010, King was charged with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Barbara Jean Gallagher, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 2-1007 (located in Howell, Mich.), with one count of making a false statement of a material fact on the union's 2005 annual financial report.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Kathy Oatman, former Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 228 (located in Eau Claire, Wis.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in excess of $4,000.  As part of her plea, Oatman will make restitution in the amount of $4,662.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On June 4, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Aaron Hunter, former President of Firefighters Local 108F (located in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.), was charged with one count of making false statements to conceal his embezzlement of union funds. Hunter then pled guilty to the charge.  The charge and plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 3, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Ladonna Turner pled guilty in to three counts of forgery associated with checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 3, 2010, in 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 one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $24,148.98. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and Milwaukee District Office.

On June 3, 2010, in the Ashtabula County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Stephanie Marhefka, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 905 (located in Niles, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in the amount of $1,500.13 and one count of tampering with evidence.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Carrola, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1919 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,057 and falsifying union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 27, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Cheryl Staley, former dues clerk of  Operating Engineers Local 501 (located in  Los Angeles, Calif.), pled guilty to a two-count information charging her with embezzling union funds in the amount of $231,653.89 and falsifying records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Gilbert Woods, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84-768 (located in Kettering, Ohio), was charged with making false entries in union records.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gary Day, former Field Representative of Laborers Local 1180 (located in Harrisburg, Pa.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount $10,518.00 and a special assessment of $100.00. On January 22, 2010, Day pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,518.00. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Curtis Iwatsubo, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 52 (located in Santa Clara, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $48,434.50. On March 24, 2010, Iwatsubo was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 20, 2010, in the Municipal Court of Stark County, Ohio, Crystal Lynn Croston, former office secretary for Laborers Local 1015 (located in Canton, Ohio), was charged with theft in the amount of $1,344.08. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Joseph Kerwan, Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 112 (located in Elmira, N.Y.), pled guilty to falsification of union records. As part of his plea, Kerwan will make restitution in the amount of $6,927.55. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Lisa Wright, former Treasurer of Transit Employees Union (located in Bedford, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $71,470.50. On February 12, 2010, Wright pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Tammy Smith, former office secretary for Painters Local 1922 (located in Billings, Mont.), was sentenced to 30 months of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,175.43, an assessment of $100, and a fine of $500. On March 31, 2010, Smith pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,175.43. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Stacey Spalding, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 215 (located in Evansville, Ind.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,516. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 18, 2010, in General District Court for Arlington County, Virginia, Richard James, former President of AFGE Local 1402, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,550. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Shawn Clark, former Business Agent of Carpenters Local 455 (located in Somerville, N.J.), was found guilty on fifteen counts of embezzling union funds and conspiracy to improperly spend the funds of Local 455 for his own personal use and the use of others, approximately during the period of December 2000 through December 2007. On June 17, 2009, Clark was indicted on sixteen counts of embezzling union funds in excess of $85,000 and conspiracy to improperly spend the funds of Local 455. The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On May 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Kenney, former Secretary Treasurer of Graphic Communications Local 205-C (located in Youngstown, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,305.70 and of filing a false financial report. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 12, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Warren Demmin, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 449 (located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), was sentenced to four months incarceration, four months electronic monitoring, three years probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Demmin previously made restitution in the amount of $14,045.48. On February 11, 2010, Demmin pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $169.12. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 12, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Patrick James Brennan, former Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 711 (located in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), pled guilty to three counts of embezzlement of union funds. Brennan used the District Council’s credit card for his own benefit and personal use and that of others in the amount of $4,862.12; converted to his own use and the use of others the District Council’s property, specifically a union vehicle worth approximately $11,000, and issued himself unauthorized holiday bonuses between December 22, 2004 and December 14, 2006 totaling $8,652. The plea follows an investigation by the New York District Office.

On May 12, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Kathy Oatman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Workers United Local 228 (located in Eau Claire, Wis.), with embezzlement of union funds in excess of $4,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On May 11, 2010, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Donald Woods, former President of AFSCME Local 217 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $500.00 or more. Woods was then sentenced to six months probation. Woods previously made restitution in the amount of $1,376. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Oscar Gatewood, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), with one count of concealing union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Antonio Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers Local 38187 (located in Erie, Pa.), was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,767.40. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Loretta Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 3491 (located in Gary, Ind.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,225. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 4, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Paul Wyatt, former President/Business Manager of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 220 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $35,022.95. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On May 3, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michele Pedersen, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 2746 (located in Astoria, Ore.), was sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered to pay a $25 special assessment penalty. Pedersen previously made restitution in the amount of $8,509. On May 3, 2010, Pedersen pled guilty to falsification of an annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 30, 2010, in the County Court of Woodbury, Iowa, Stanley Teasley, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 1426 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), was sentenced to ten years in prison for theft of union funds in the amount of $17,525.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office..

On April 30, 2010, in the District Court of Hennepin County, Minnesota, Lucy Irene Hastings, former Recording Secretary of AFGE Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was charged with theft by swindle of over $1,000.  Hastings is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $3,328.29.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 28, 2010, in the United States District Court of Nevada, Aundrea Valerio, Stacy Johnson and Aurora Rios, former employees of Laborers  Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), were indicted on charges of embezzling union funds and multiple counts of falsifying union records.  Valerio was charged with embezzling approximately $13,500, Johnson was charged with embezzling approximately $45,500, and Rios was charged with embezzling approximately $167,500.  The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 28, 2010, in the 60th District Court of Muskegon County, Michigan, a misdemeanor complaint was filed charging Jamie Nielsen, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 13 (located in Muskegon, Mich.), 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 April 27, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joan Boucher, former Treasurer of Staff Union Local 399 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,845.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Thomas Renkes, former Executive Director of the Alaska Nurses Association was charged with the embezzlement of union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 23, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Britton Russia pled guilty to six counts of forging union checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  Russia was sentenced to one year of incarceration.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 23, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Lawrence DeAngelis, former Administrator/Trustee of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 14170 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in excess of $60,000.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On April 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Karl Youngerman, Woodrow Anderson and Anthony Green, former President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary, respectively, of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, six counts of embezzling union assets, making false statements and entries and filing false reports.  The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Residence Office.

On April 21, 2010, 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.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in an amount between $200,000 and $400,000.  On December 14, 2009, Mitchell was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $200,000.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On April 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Rebecca Ann James, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of International Guards Union of America (IGUA) Local 123 (located in Port Gibson, Miss.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,027.30 and a special assessment of $100.  On January 12, 2010, James pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,147.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York,  Kelly J. Fahrenkopf, former Vice President of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Local 316 (located in West Coxsackie, N.Y.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $11,500 in union funds between August 2006 and March 2007.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 20, 2010 in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Jackie Kiedrowicz, former President of Steelworkers Local 1200 (located in Canton, Ohio) was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service.  On February 1, 2010, Kiedrowicz pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,782.40.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christine S. Throckmorton, a former office secretary/bookkeeper for the Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 57 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,674.95 and a special court assessment of $100.  On December 4, 2009, Throckmorton pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $9,675.95.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Joe Self, former President of Steelworkers Local 771 (located in Fort Worth, Texas) was sentenced to five years of probation, ordered to pay $37,571.09 in restitution and a $50 special assessment. On November 26, 2008, Self pled guilty to destruction of union records.  This sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 12, 2010, in the District Court of Lenawee County, Michigan, Kimberley Smith, former Financial Secretary of Auto Workers Local 2031 (located in Adrian, Mich.), was sentenced to five days in county jail, 15 days at a work release facility and 2 years probation.  Smith was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,951.87 and a fine of $450.  On March 3, 2010, Smith pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more but less than $1,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 12, 2010, in the Clinton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Daniel Graves, former President of Teamsters Local 1224 (located in Wilmington, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft in the amount of $2,867.42.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Sherrell Mitchell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 86823 (located in St. Louis Mo.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement, 200 hours of community service and five years of probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $110,139.12 and a $100 special assessment.  On January 5, 2010, Mitchell pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 7, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Angela Jones, the former President of Laborers Local 509 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and placed on one year of probation. On February 16, 2010, Jones was charged with one count of making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 5, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Corry Carroll, Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), General Committee of Adjustment (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $35,000.  The indictment follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Office.

On April 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, David M. Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, 200 hours of community service, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,222.57, ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $7,000 and a special assessment of $100.  On December 17, 2009, Matthis pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,472.61.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Linda Tickle, former office manager of Machinists Locals 56 and 1458 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was sentenced to five months imprisonment, three years probation, a $200 assessment, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,048.72.  On March 29, 2010, Tickle pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement union funds in the amount of $40,048.72.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 30, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Stacy Spalding, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 215 (located in Evansville, Ind.), was charged with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $29,516.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 29, 2010 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Lawrence White, former President of United Electrical Radio & Machine Workers Local 1110 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of willfully concealing and causing false entries in union records.  On September 1, 2009 White was charged with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 29, 2010, in the United State District Court for the Central District of California, Rosa Miriam Della Porta, former bookkeeper of International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) Local 26 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was sentenced to 21 months in  prison, three years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,898 to Local 26 and $ 73,577 to Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, ordered to pay a assessment fee in the amount of $100.00.  On April 1, 2009, Della Porta was found guilty of embezzling union founds in the amount of $123,475.  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.  (Investigator Roberto Gonzalez)

On March 24, 2010, in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, Johnny L. Banes, former-Financial-Secretary of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 2401 (located in Mableton, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of theft by taking of union funds in the amount of $38,329.  Banes was then sentenced to ten years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 24, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Curtis Iwatsubo, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 52 (located in Santa Clara, Calif.), was indicted on one count of embezzling over $47,000 in union funds and one count of making false statements to a government agency.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On March 24, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Steven J McDeid, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 388 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $51,639.61. On March 5, 2010, McDeid was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 23, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Ron D. Quinn, former President of IGUA Local 123 (located in Port Gibson, Miss.) was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,027 and a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Dugan, former President of Operating Engineers Local 150 (located in Countryside, Ill.) pled guilty to one count of accepting and receiving the delivery of concrete buffalo feeders (value of over $900) from an employer whose employees the union represents.  On March 10, 2010, an information filed charging Dugan with a misdemeanor count of receiving and accepting a thing of value from an employer whose employees were represented by the union in which the he was an officer.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Employment Benefit Security Administration, and the FBI.

On March 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Snelling, former Treasurer of Communication Workers Local 34014 (located in Gary, Ind.), was sentenced to three years of probation, six months of home detention with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,000 to Zurich North American Insurance Company and $3,100 to the union and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.  On December 10, 2009, Snelling pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,100.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Toni Lancaster, former office manager of the Carpenters Independent Local 711 (located in Portland, Ore.), was charged with seven counts embezzling union funds in the amount of $68,403 and one count of falsification and concealment of labor union financial documents.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Charles Owens, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters Independent Local 2791 (located in Scio, Ore), was charged with ten counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $65,791.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michele Pedersen, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 2746 (located in Astoria, Ore.), was charged with five counts of embezzling a union funds in the amount of $8,509 and three counts of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for Southern District of Texas, Frankie Sanders, former Southern Regional Coordinator for the American Postal Workers Union (located in Houston, Texas), was indicted on one count of wire fraud in the amount of $1,753.78 and one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,078.40.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

On March 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Patton, the former President and Vice President of the American Postal Workers Union, Local 4469 (located in Johnstown, Pa), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,015.78.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 16, 2010, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Lavinia Smith was sentenced to 180 days incarceration, suspended, and placed on probation for one year for attempted forgery of checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  Additionally, Smith was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2500, pay court costs, and cooperate in a related case.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David Come, former Vice President and Assistant Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1919 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa), pled guilty to submitting false expense vouchers to the union from January 2006 to January 2007.  Come was then sentenced to nine months probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,850.83.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Laura A. Brown, former President and Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 5095 (located in Butte, Mont.), was sentenced to five years probation on one count of embezzling union funds.  Brown was ordered to make restitution, pay a special assessment of $100 and repay the cost of mental health and substance abuse treatment directed by the probation office.  On November 12, 2009, Brown pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,731.54.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On March 11, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Cassandra Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 68-M (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $500 or more.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 11, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Donald Woods, President of AFSCME Local 217 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $500.00 or more.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Christina Geathers, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 357 (located in Georgetown, S.C.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release, sixteen months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,444.68 to the union and $10,000 to Zurich Insurance Company, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.  On August 11, 2009, Geathers pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $36,865.18.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, David Miller, former Treasurer of Litchfield Independent Workers Union Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,501.99.  On January 6, 2010, Miller was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 5, 2010 in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, an information was filed charging Steven J McDeid, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 388 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), with one count of embezzling $51,639.61.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Office.

On March 4, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Jerrold King, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), with one count of concealing union records.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records.  On December 16, 2009, an information was filed charging Bywater with the same offense.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 25, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Richard Schwab, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 298 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $46,472.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 25, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Timmy R. Peltier, former Secretary Treasurer of Independent Loomis Security Employees Union (located in Cudahy, Wis.), pled guilty to making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the union's 2006 and 2007 annual financial reports.  Peltier was then sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $6,237 in restitution and a $50 special assessment.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February  24, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata, Executive Director of United Craft and Industrial Workers  Local 91 (located in New York, N.Y.), was charged with extortion and receiving unlawful labor payments.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Herman Peoples, former Financial Secretary of Security Police, Fire Professionals, Ind., Local 598 (located in Roseville, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,690 and was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 19, 2010, in Goodhue County (Minnesota) District Court, Michelle Lyn Adler, former treasurer of Government Security Officers Local 24 (located in Redwing, Minn.), pled guilty to theft of more than $1,000, but not more than $5,000.  Adler was then sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $1,700 in restitution, a $200 fine, and an $83 surcharge. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On February 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed charging Pamela Williams, former travel/procurement coordinator of Service Employees Union Local 880 (located in Chicago, Ill.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,080.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 17, 2010, in Olmsted County (Minnesota) District Court, a felony complaint was filed charging Jeffrey Ver Meer, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 169 (located in Rochester, Minn.), with one count of theft-value over $5,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On February 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Pokrywczynski, former Treasurer of the Transit Union’s New York State Legislative Conference Board and former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transit Union Local 1342 (located in Buffalo, N.Y.), pled guilty to embezzling approximately $71,000 from Transit Union, Local 1342 and approximately $183,000 from the Transit Union’s New York State Legislative Conference Board  between January 2002 and March 2008 while serving as treasurer of both labor organizations.  On August 21, 2009, Pokrywczynski was charged with embezzling $277,548.72 from the two labor organizations.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Angela Jones, the former President of Laborers’ Local 509 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged with one count of making false entries in union records related to her misuse of $5,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 12, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Lisa Wright, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Transit Employees Union (located in Bedford, Ohio), plead guilty to one count of embezzling $71,470.50.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Rumore, former President of Teamsters Local 812 and Teamsters Joint Council 16 (located in Scarsdale, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation including three months of home confinement and a fine in the amount of $10,000. On February 11, 2010, Runmore pled guilty to making a false statement when he failed to disclose income he received in the form of personal services by multiple employees of Local 812. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.)

On February 11, 2010 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Rumore, former President of Teamsters Local 812 and Teamsters Joint Council 16 (located in Scarsdale, N.Y.), plead guilty to making a false statement when he failed to disclose income he received in the form of personal services by multiple employees of Local 812.

On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Warren Demmin, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 449 (located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), plead guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $169.12.  On November 17, 2009, Demmin had been indicted on four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $681.44.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Milton Smith, a former New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspector, was sentenced to fifteen months incarceration, three years supervised release and order to pay $21,000 in restitution.  On February 6, 2009, Smith was found guilty of extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds. The sentencing follows a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City), as well as the New York City school bus industry, by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Dale Holifield, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers(UFCW) Workers Local 982C (located in Pearl, Miss.) was sentenced to two years supervised probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.  Prior to sentencing, Holifield paid restitution to Local 982C.  On December 2, 2009, Holifield pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,468.19.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office

On February 8, 2010 in United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Peter Maisel, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWED) Local Lodge 1517 (located in Pueblo, Colo.) was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,124.  The charges follow an investigation by the Denver District Office.

On February 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Carolyn Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 352 (located in Lansing, Mich.), was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a special assessment of $100.  Williams had previously made full restitution to the local in the amount of $9,554.14.  On October 28, 2009, Williams pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 2, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Jeff Kenney, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Graphic Communications Local 205-C (located in Youngstown, Ohio) was indicted on one count of embezzling $14,388 in union funds and one count of filing a false form LM-3.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office

On February 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Donald Spell, former employee of UNITE-HERE Local 12 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio) was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $16,422.83 in restitution and a special assessment of $100.  On October 29, 2009, Spell pled guilty to embezzling funds totaling $16,422.83.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 1, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Jacqueline Kiedrowicz, former President of United Steelworkers Local 1200 (located in Canton, Ohio) pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Hugo Vargas, former secretary treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (Machinists) Lodge 845 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.) was charged Vargas with embezzling union funds in the amount of $106,293.59.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On January 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Danny Tilley, former Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas State Building & Construction Trades Council (located in Austin, Texas), was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered to pay $9,719.11 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On April 2, 2009, Tilley pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,719.11.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. 

On January 28, 2010, in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, Johnny L. Banes, former-Financial-Secretary of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 2401 (located in Mableton, Ga.), was indicted on one count theft of union funds in the amount of $38,329.00.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 25, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Sid Mannetti, former President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1170 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was charged with embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $50,463.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gary Day, former Field Representative of Local 1180 (located in Harrisburg, Pa.), was charged in a one count information with embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,827.50.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 21, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Sonia McGuire, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 3434 (located in Decatur, Ga.), was sentenced to five years probation, the first 6 months on home confinement with electronic monitoring, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,023.12 within 120 days and a special assessment of $100.  On November 18, 2009, McGuire, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On January 21, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Lisa Wright, former Treasurer of the Transit Employees Union (located in Bedford, Ohio), with one count of embezzling $71,470.50.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 21, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Jacqueline T. Kiedrowicz, former President of Steelworkers Local 1200 (located in Canton, Ohio), with one count of making false entries in union records.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Ray Horton, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 9443 (located in Robards, Ky.), was sentenced to three years probation including four months of community confinement.  He was ordered to pay restitution of $43,816.29 and court costs of $200.  On October 2, 2009, Horton pled guilty to embezzlement and mail fraud.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gary Barner, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local Union 518 (located in Rome, Ga.), was sentenced to 16 months incarceration to be followed by 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $28,158.63.  On October 6, 2009, Barner pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in the amount of $28,158.63, by writing checks to himself and misusing the union’s debit card.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, James L. Miles, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1023 (located in Barstow, Calif.), was charged in a 12-count indictment with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,273, nine counts of mail fraud, and two counts of making false statements on the union’s annual financial reports.  The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 12, 2010, in the Southern District of Mississippi, Ron D. Quinn, former President, and Rebecca A. James, former Financial Secretary Treasurer, of International Guards Union of America Local 123 (located in Port Gibson, Miss.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,147.30.  On July 8, 2009, Quinn and James were charged in an information with conspiracy and embezzlement of union funds during a period between January 2008 and August 2008.  The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Monica Peaslee, former office manager of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), was sentenced to 48 months probation and ordered to pay $12,479.99 in restitution and a $100 assessment.  On October 2, 2009, Peaslee pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,156 and falsifying union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On January 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, David Miller, former Treasurer of Litchfield Independent Workers Union Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,501.99.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On January 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Sherrell Mitchell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 86823 (located in St. Louis Mo.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $110,000.  Mitchell then pled guilty to the charge.  This charge and plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, David M. Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,472.61.  On November 23, 2009, Matthis was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On December 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), with one count of making false entries in union records.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On December 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Joyce Marsalis, former Treasurer of the Illinois Nurses Association, University of Chicago Local (located in Chicago, Ill.) was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay a remaining balance of restitution in the amount of $2356 and a special assessment of $25.  On October 9, 2009, Marsalis pled guilty to one count of creating false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 15, 2009, 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 indicted on four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $39,403.72.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On December 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Wayne Mitchell, former President of Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 14170 (located in New York, N.Y.), was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of  $200,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Nicholas Maddalone and Paul Maddalone, former Executive Board Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents school bus drivers in New York City), were sentenced to ten months incarceration, two years supervised release, and ordered to make restitution, respectively, in the amount of $45,000 and $31,000.  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.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

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.  Williams was sentenced to twelve months deferred probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75, a fine of $1,000, and court costs of $194.00.  In lieu of community service hours, Williams was also ordered to make a $175 monetary donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.   The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

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.  Fonti was then sentenced to two years supervised probation and fined $1,000.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office.

On December 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Snelling, former Treasurer of Communication Workers Local 34014 (located in Gary, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,100.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On December 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Thomas Jon Witham, former Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 106-D (located in Mason City, Iowa) was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $52,037.19.  On September 2, 2009, Witham pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Roger Wuest, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security Police and Fire Professionals (SPFPA) (located in San Bernardino, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation.  On September 24, 2009, Wuest pled guilty to a charge of concealment or destruction of union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On December 7, 2009, in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Kentucky, Mark Owens, former Financial Secretary of Machinists Local Lodge 366W (located in Lebanon, Ky.), was charged with theft by unlawful taking in the amount of $200.00.  Owens then pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to sixty days probated for twenty-four months on the condition that he make restitution of $200.00 and pay $153.00 in fines and court costs by February 3, 2010.  The charge, plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ira Sokol, a former school bus inspector for the New York City Department of Education, was sentenced to two years probation including six months home confinement, ordered to pay a fine of $10,000, and make restitution in the amount of $5,000 following a guilty plea to conspiracy to accept bribes in an industry receiving federal funds.  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 December 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christine S. Throckmorton, former office secretary/bookkeeper for the Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 57 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $9,674.95.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Dale Holifield, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 982C (located in Pearl, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,468.19.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office

On December 2, 2009, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, the following Tiffany Freeman, Tiesha Hamer, Lavina Smith, LaDonna Turner and Britton Russia were charged with forging checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio).  Freeman was charged with five counts of forgery totaling $2,260; Hamer was charged with one count of forgery totaling for $749; Smith, one count of forgery totaling $2,500; Turner, five counts totaling $15,800 and Russia, twelve counts of forgery totaling $21,309.  Russia was also charged with receiving stolen property.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Dianne Drawdy, former Financial Secretary of Security Police Fire Professionals Local 576 (located in Baxley, Ga.), was sentenced to six months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $ 18, 818.74.  On July 31, 2009, Drawdy pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,900.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

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 November 12, 2009, Kobe was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between 2005 through 2006.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the office of the Inspector General, Railroad retirement Board.

On November 23, 2009, in the United States Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an information was filed charging David Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), with one count of embezzlement of union funds between August 2006 and October 2007.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an information was filed charging David Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 18, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Sonia McGuire, former-treasurer of America Postal Workers Union, Local 3434, (Decatur, Ga.), plead guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,023.12.  The plea follows an investigation by OLMS Atlanta District Office and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 18, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, John A. Mannenga, former Recording Secretary-Treasurer of Railroad Signalmen Local 98 (located in Norwalk, Iowa) was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,042 and two counts of filing false reports with the Department of Labor. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Ruth R. Olson, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1225 (located in Marina, Calif.), was sentenced to four years probation, 200 hours community service, and ordered to pay $12,904.56 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.  On July 9, 2009, Olson pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in books and records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On  November  17, 2009, in the District Court of Brockton, Massachusetts, Joseph J. Morana, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) SEIU Local 01-86 (located in West Roxbury, Mass.) and NAGE -SEIU Local 01-25 (located in Brockton, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts to the charge of larceny over $250 by a single scheme.  Morana was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,696.48 and an assessment of $90 and placed on supervised probation for two years, which may be terminated early when restitution is paid in full.  The admission follows and investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On November 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Warren Demmin, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Local Lodge 449 (located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), was indicted on four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $681.44.   The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael Rhoades, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers
(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. Rhoades was also ordered to perform 25 hours of community service and was prohibited from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, David Lee Tungett, former organizer for the Kentucky Laborers District Council (located in Lawrenceburg, Ky.), was sentenced to two years probation for one count of destruction of union records. Tungett was also ordered to attend a drug aftercare program, pay a $250 fine and a $25 special assessment. Tungett previously made restitution to the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 13, 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.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzlement of union funds during a period between 2005 through 2006. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Railroad Retirement Board’s Office of the Inspector General.

On November 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Laura A. Brown, former President of Federation of Teachers Local 5095 (located in Butte, Mont.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,731.54. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On November 9, 2009, in the 52nd Judicial Circuit Court of Huron County, Michigan, Christine Pawlowski, former Financial Secretary of Auto Workers Local 812 (located in Harbor Beach, Mich.), was sentenced to four months in county jail, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay the remaining balance of restitution owed in the amount of $7,000. On September 28, 2009, Pawlowski pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 5, 2009, in the City and County of Denver District Court, Denver, Colorado, Sherri Pemberton, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1802 (located in Denver, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of theft. Pemberton was immediately sentenced to two-years supervised probation, with judgment being deferred, was ordered to pay restitution of in the amount of $7,958, and was prohibited from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.

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.  Watson is alleged to have made personal charges totaling $1,759 on the union credit card.  The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Village of Ilion Police.

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.  On May 15, 2009, Stefanik had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Buffalo District 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. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On October 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Donald Spell, former office employee for Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 12 (formerly located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds totaling $16,422.  On October 9, 2009, Spell had been charged with embezzling funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 28, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Carolyn Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 352 (located in Lansing, Mich.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,554.14.  On September 17, 2009, Williams was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Belinda K. Woods, former President of Communications Workers (CWA) Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of supervised release, ordered to pay the remaining amount of restitution owed ($9,991.86) within 30 days of the judgment and pay a $125 special assessment.  On June 10, 2009, Woods had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,988.86 and one count of falsifying union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 22, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Darryl D. Becker, former Financial Secretary of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 558-11 (located in McPherson, Kan.) was fined $500 and placed on probation for one year.  Becker had previously made restitution in the amount of $6,500 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 22, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Timmy R. Peltier, former Secretary Treasurer of Independent Loomis Security Employees Union (located in Cudahy, Wis.), with making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the union's 2006 and 2007 annual financial reports. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Brian Wheeler, former Treasurer of Painters Local 1468 (located in Brentwood, N.H.), was sentenced to five years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5, 000, a $5,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.  On July 1, 2009, Wheeler had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On October 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Harold C. Ullum, former Vice-President and West Virginia District Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters, Ind., West Virginia District (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to six months home detention, five years probation, and payment of a $20,000 fine plus a $100 special assessment.  On July 13, 2009, Ullum pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with causing a false statement on an ERISA record.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Christopher Scott Tidwell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Union Ind, Local 1261 (located in Lineville, Ala.), was sentenced to 60 months probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,264.08 and a $100 special assessment.  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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On October 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Treasurer of Untied Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Lexington, Ohio), was sentenced to one year and a day confinement, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution.  On July 30, 2009, Kelly pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 9, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Joyce Marsalis, former Treasurer of the University of Chicago local unit of the Illinois Nurses Association (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of willfully making a false entry in union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Daniel Reynolds, former president of PACE Local 05-1737 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was sentenced to 24 months probation on one count of embezzling union funds and 24 months probation on one count of destruction of union records, to be served concurrently.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,130 and a fine of $125.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 7, 2009, in Goodhue County (Minnesota) District Court, a felony complaint was filed charging Michelle Adler, former Secretary-Treasurer of Government Security Officers Local 24 (located in Lake City, Minn.), with one count of theft of more than $1,000, but not more than $5,000.  The charge follows and investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On October 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Teresa Cora Luna, former office manager/bookkeeper of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 504 (located in Anaheim, Calif.), was sentenced to five months in federal prison and five months in a community corrections facility, to be followed by a three year period of supervised release and a 13-year bar from future union officer or employment service following her release.  Additionally, Luna was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,416.21 and a $100 assessment.  On September 26, 2008, Luna was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount from November 2004 through June 2005.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Monica Peaslee, former office manager of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,156.  On July 22, 2009, Peaslee was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount and one count of falsifying union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On October 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Ray Horton, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 9443 (located in Robards, Ky.), pled guilty to mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds.  On July 8, 2009, Horton was charged with mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $19,924.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On On August 27, September 1, September 3, and September 29, 2009, Six former officials of Teamsters 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.) were sentenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in connection with their roles in rigging the union’s 2004 officer election and its rerun.  On August 27, September 1, September 3, 2009 and September 29, 2009 Robert Walston, Richard Lopez, Thaddeus Bania, Cassandra Mosley, David Rodriguez and Mark Jones, former President , Recording-Secretary, Comptroller, Business Agent, Organizer, and Head Organizer of Teamsters Local 743  Walston was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release.  Lopez was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and two years supervised release. Bania was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and two years supervised release.  Mosley was sentenced to one day in prison, six months in home confinement, and 18 months of additional supervised release.  Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and two years of supervised release.  Jones was sentenced to one year probation. Walston, Bania and Mosley were ordered to pay restitution totaling $900,936.  Lopez and Rodriguez were ordered to pay restitution totaling $864,924.  All orders for restitution payments are to be paid jointly and severally. The sentencings followed a joint investigation by OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On September 28, 2009, in the 52nd Judicial Circuit Court of Huron County (Mich.), Christine Pawlowski, former Financial Secretary of Auto Workers Local 812 (located in Harbor Beach, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Fawne Lei-Petersen, former office manager of Painters Local 300 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 7 months of home confinement, and 36 months of supervised release.  On June 15, 2009, Lei-Petersen pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $86,116.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Alejandro Stephens, former President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660 (now Local 721) (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pled guilty to two counts of mail fraud in connection with income fraudulently received from the Voter Improvement Program of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and one count of filing a false tax return related to his failure to report $35,000 fraudulently received from this fund.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Roger Wuest, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security Police and Fire Professionals Union Officer, Ind. (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of willful concealment and destruction of required union records.  On September 9, 2009, Wuest was charged with the same offenses.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.

On September 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to make full restitution, and fined $2,000.  On May 1, 2009, Hooks pled guilty to embezzling $15,192 in union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Snelling, former Treasurer of Communication Workers Local 34014 (located in Gary, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $18,100 between February 2004 and September 2008.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Carolyn Williams, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 352 (located in Lansing, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,554.14.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanne R. Brophy, former office manager for Ironworkers Local 379 (located in Lafayette, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds of over $5,000.  Brophy was immediately sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a special assessment of $100.  Brophy had previously paid over $47,172 in restitution.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Sonia McGuire, former treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3434 located in Decatur, Ga.), was indicted for embezzling union funds, between January 15, 2005 and April 28, 2008, in excess of $15,000.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

On September 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Richard M. Clark, former Secretary Treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 468 (located in Bowling Green, Ky.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds totaling $18,680 and destruction of union records.  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 plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 10, 2009, in the Criminal District Court Number 6, Dallas County, Texas, Janice Muriel Williams, wife of Bobby Earl Williams, former president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1635 (formerly located in Dallas, Texas), pled guilty to check forgery.  Williams was sentenced to twelve months probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75.00, a fine of $1000, and court costs.  On April 23, 2008, Williams was indicted on one count of forgery totaling $1,431.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 10, 2009, in Circuit Court for the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, Robert Bealefeld, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders & Plastics Local 118 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft over $500 for stealing $5,686 from the union.  Bealefeld was then sentenced to three years probation.  Bealefeld

On September 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Joseph Moon Jr., former President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1626, pled guilty to a criminal information for one count of improper loans from a labor organization.  Moon obtained in excess of $2,000 from Local 1626 in the form of unapproved loans totaling $14,931.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On September 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Nicholas Maddalone and Paul Maddalone, former Executive Board Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents school bus drivers in New York City), pled guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion for 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.  The pleas follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

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.  Full restitution was ordered following release from incarceration. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 4, 2009, in the Huron County (Mich.) District Court, a felony complaint was filed charging Christine Pawlowski, former Financial Secretary of Auto Workers Local 812 (located in Harbor Beach, Mich.), with one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Thomas Jon Witham, former Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 106-D (located in Mason City, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $52,037.19.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Lance Hinerman, Steven Boyles, Daniel Cassidy, current President, former Vice President and former Clerk Craft Director, respectively, of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Central Arkansas Area Local 189 (located in North Little Rock, Ark.), were indicted on a combined total of 199 counts of wire fraud.  Hinerman was indicted on 65 counts of wire fraud, Boyles was indicted on 61 counts of wire fraud and 1 count of worker's compensation fraud and Cassidy was indicted on 73 counts of wire fraud. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

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.  Also, Dallas was prohibited from incurring any additional credit card debts, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, submit to random drug testing and obtain mental health treatment.  On March 25, 2009, Dallas pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

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.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

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.  Stephens allegedly received $52,000 in consulting payments, issued to himself and three other individuals, from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor's Voter Improvement Program from February 2004 through April 2005, and filed a false 2004 income tax return by not reporting $35,000 in "other income" related to the payments.  The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS.

On August 26, 2009, in Cambria County (Pennsylvania) Court, Richard J. Vincent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3951, was sentenced to seven years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $43,694 and court costs of $900.  On February 24, 2009, Vincent  pled guilty to two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

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.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Erica Alda Perez, former secretary and bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 9144 (located in San Jose, Calif.), pled guilty to making a false statement in a union record.  Perez was immediately sentenced to two years probation and 140 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay a $25.00 special assessment.  The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven Thomas, former Business Manager for Laborers Local 500 (located in Toledo, Ohio) was sentenced to five years probation with three months of location monitoring and 250 hours of community service. Thomas was also ordered to make outstanding restitution totaling $14,324.84.  On May 11, 2009, Thomas pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $28,500 in union funds.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On August 21, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Pokrywczynski, former Treasurer of the Transit Union’s New York State Legislative Conference Board and former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transit Union Local 1342 (located in Buffalo, N.Y.), was charged with embezzling $277,548.72 from the two labor organizations between January 2002 and March 2008.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 20, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Daniel Fortier, former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 970 and former President of Teamsters Joint Council 32 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,556.65, a $2,000 fine and 150 hours of community service.  On April 17, 2009, Fortier pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with making false entries in union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 18, 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.) was sentenced to one-year probation, 100 hours of community service and fined $1,000. Fanning had previously made restitution in the amount of $6,342.15. On April 15, 2009, Fanning pled guilty to falsifying union records by submitting fraudulent expense claims in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 18, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, David Lee Tungett, former organizer for the Kentucky Laborers District Council (located in Lawrenceburg, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of destruction of union records. On August 10, 2009, Tungett was charged in an information with one count of destruction of union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati 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.), was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation.  Elsezy was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $44,316.58.  On June 19, 2009, Elsezy had pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 11, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Richard Klemser, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinist (IAM) Local 1041 (located in West Long Branch, N.J.), was sentenced to one year imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $64,000 for embezzling union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On August 11, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Christina Geathers, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 357 (located in Georgetown, S.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $36,865.18.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On August 11, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Brian Brownlee, former Vice-President of American Postal Workers Union 2nd District (located in Hot Springs, Ark.), 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 June 8, 2009, Brownlee pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,221.30. Brownlee falsified travel vouchers, per diem, lodging, and lost time claims.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Decker, former Treasurer of Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, two years’ supervised release and an yet to be determined period of probation. 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.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Donna Caltabiano, former President of AFSCME Local 888 (located in Catskill, N.Y.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation and ordered to make restitution of $23,644.76. On March 25, 2009, Caltabiano had pled guilty to embezzling $23,644.76 in union funds between 2002 and 2006. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

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. Local 598 (located in Huntsville, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,690.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Audrea Ann Jimenez, former secretary/bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 262 (located in San Jose, Calif.), was sentenced to two years probation and 75 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment.  On May 6, 2009, Jimenez had pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in or willful concealment of books and records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gary Barner, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 518 (located in Rome, Ga.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in excess of $10,000 between August 4, 2004 and September 13, 2006. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

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 August 12, 2008, Rhoades was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,001.86 between June 2006 and November 2006.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 3, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled, in Warshauer v. Solis, that the Secretary of Labor did not act arbitrarily and capriciously in requiring a union’s designated legal counsel (DLC) to report as an employer on Form LM-10 concerning potential conflict of interest payments to unions or union officials.

On July 31, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Dianne Drawdy, former Financial Secretary of Security Police Fire Professionals Local 576 (located in Baxley, Ga.) pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Drawdy agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,900. On April 10, 2009, Drawdy was charged with sixteen counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,900. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office.

On July 31, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Stephen J. Pfeiffer, former Secretary Treasurer of IATSE Local 60 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), was sentenced to thirteen months imprisonment, to run consecutively to the yet to be imposed sentence on state charges, and three years of probation. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,824.30 and a special assessment of $100.00. On May 13, 2009, Pfeiffer pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Secretary-Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Crestline, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Terry Hacker, former Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE-HERE Local 12 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio) was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $38,146.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, a sealed indictment was opened charging Thomas Jon Witham, former Secretary Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 106-D (located in Mason City, Iowa) with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $52,037.19. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 23, 2009, in the Superior Court for Clark County, Indiana, Joseph E. Clegg, former President of American Postal Workers Local 753 (located in Jeffersonville, Ind.) was charged in a one count information of Theft totaling $1,560.The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 22, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donna J. Simpson, former secretary of Steelworkers District 10 (located in North Versailles, Pa.), was sentenced to six months incarceration, six months home detention, two years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $84,065.14. On April 17, 2009, Simpson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 22, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Monica Peaslee, former Office Manager of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,156 and one count of falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On July 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Carrola, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1919 was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,057.70 and one count of falsifying union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, an information was filed charging Erica Alda Perez, former secretary and bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 9144 (located in San Jose, California), with one count of false statements.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office

On July 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Michael Kelly, former Secretary Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Willard, Ohio) with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Larry Ramsey, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Representatives and Organizers Union (located in St. Louisville, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation, to include six months home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $163,222.  On March 12, 2009, Ramsey pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Anne O’Rourke, former office secretary of Roofers Local 37 (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to a two-count indictment for embezzling union funds in the amount of $23,057 and falsifying union records. Subsequently, O’Rourke was sentenced to two years probation on each count, ordered to make remaining restitution in the amount of $6,059.45, and pay a special assessment of $125.  On August 6, 2008, O’Rourke had been charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $23,057 and falsifying union records. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 26, 2009, in the City Court of Geneva, New York, Bradley Steinruck, former President of Steelworkers Local 828 (located in Geneva, N.Y.), was sentenced to seven days imprisonment, five years of probation, and 200 hours of community service. Steinruck previously made restitution in the amount of $1,987.  On October 30, 2008, Steinruck had pled guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree for taking union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the New York State Police.

On June 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanne R. Brophy, former office manager of Iron Workers Local 379 (located in Lafayette, Ind.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling over $5,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former bookkeeper of AFGE Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.  An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks totaling $44,316.58, drawn from the union’s bank account for personal use. Elsezy affixed the signature stamps of the President and Treasurer, altered the name of the payees in the union's accounting system, and removed checks from the union's records to conceal the true beneficiary of the funds.  On April 7, 2009, Elsezy was indicted on one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of aiding and abetting.  The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington Distrct Office.

On June 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Shawn Clark, former Business Agent of Carpenters Local 455 (located in  Somerville, N.J.), was indicted on sixteen counts of embezzling union funds in excess of $85,000 and conspiracy to improperly spend union funds for his own personal use and the use of others during the approximate period of December 2000 through December 2007. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Fawne Lei-Petersen, former office manager of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 300 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was charged with, embezzling, stealing and unlawfully converting to her own personal use moneys of a labor organization in the amount of $86,118.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 17, 2009, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Rhonda Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 481 (located in Baltimore, Md.),  pled guilty to one count of stealing union funds in the amount of $6,350.  Subsequently, Holmes was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of  $6,350. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Hernandez, former Secretary Treasurer and former Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 60 (located in San Antonio, Texas), was charged in a one count indictment with embezzling funds from an employee benefit plan. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Michael Pagano, former Business Agent /Secretary-Treasurer of Roofers, Local 74 (located in West Seneca, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year probation and order to make full restitution of $9,264.  In December 2008, Pagano pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 11, 2009, in the Montgomery County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Monica Smalls, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2209 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $3,790, and required to attend the Montgomery County Theft Counseling Program.  Smalls was indicted on April 10, 2009.  On May 14, 2009, she pled guilty to theft of more than $500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Belinda K. Woods, former President of Communications Workers Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,988.86 and one count of falsifying union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Kathleen Fonti, former President of Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE) Local 5030 (located in Emerson, N.J.), pled guilty to improperly receiving loans in excess of $14,500.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 9, 2009, in the Brockton, Massachusetts District Court, a criminal complaint was filed charging Joseph Morena, former President of AFGE Locals 25 and 86 (located in Brockton, Mass. and West Roxbury, Mass.), with one count of larceny over $250 for embezzling $7,696 from the two locals. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On June 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Brian Brownlee, former Vice-President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) 2nd District (located in Hot Springs, Ark.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,221.30.  An OLMS investigation concluded that Brownlee falsified vouchers for travel, per diem, lodging and lost time.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

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 February 17, 2009, Ortiz pled guilty to extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds.  The sentence follows a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City) as well as the New York City  school bus industry by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On June 8, 2009, in the Oneida (N.Y.) City Court, Gail Shingler, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 53 (located in Oneida, N.Y.), was charged with two counts of grand larceny, in the fourth degree.  Shingler was charged with taking union funds in the amount of $2,572.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 3, 2009, in the 79th District Court of Mason County, Michigan, Kimberly Drake, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3466 (located in Ludington, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more but less than $1,000.  Drake was immediately sentenced to two years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,050 and fined $160.  Drake previously made restitution in the amount of $450.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Keith W. Hart, Jr., former Financial Secretary of Bakery Workers (BCTGM) Local 315G (formerly located in Mt. Vernon, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $13,904.69.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Nicholas Maddalone and Paul Maddalone, former Executive Board Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents school bus drivers in New York City), were indicted on charges of extortion, unlawful labor payments, and participation in a conspiracy, for allegedly using their union positions to obtain cash bribes from employers.  The indictment also included a forfeiture allegation in the amount of $1,000,000.  The indictments follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On May 28, 2009, in the District Court of Brockton, Massachusetts, Susan J. Elliot, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1162 (located in Brockton, Mass.), admitted to sufficient facts to a charge of larceny over $250.  Elliott was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay assessments and fees of $594.  Also, Elliot made restitution in the amount of $24,000.  The case was continued without a finding for two years, pending the successful completion of two years supervised probation.  The admission follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

On May 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Daryl D. Becker, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 558 (located in McPherson, Kan.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

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.), was sentenced to six months home detention and five years of supervision for the charge of bank fraud.  Bentzen was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,256.60 and a $100 special assessment.  On September 29, 2008, Bentzen pled guilty to one count of bank fraud.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Neil Cremin, a former New York City Department of Education (DOE) School Bus Inspector, was sentenced to four months incarceration to be followed by four months of home confinement and ordered to make restitution of $30,000 to the DOE.  On February 6, 2009, Cremin pled guilty to accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City) as well as the New York City school bus industry by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On May 18, 2009, in the 61st District Court of Kent County, Michigan, Kevin Welch, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of incarceration (suspended), placed on probation for a period of one year, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,759.55 and fined $25.  On April 3, 2009, Welch pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a non-profit/charitable organization between $250 and $1,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 15, 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.), 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.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.), was sentenced to ten months of home confinement, three years of probation and ordered to make total restitution in the amount of $40,451.03 for embezzling union funds.  Bruno was also ordered to enter into substance abuse counseling and attend credit counseling.  On January 7, 2009, Bruno pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,118.57.  On October 9, 2008, Bruno was charged with embezzling union funds, between March 2004 and March 2006, in the same amount.  The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

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.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 13, 2009, in the 79th District Court of Mason County, Michigan, Kimberly Drake, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3466 (located in Ludington, Mich.), was charged with one count of forgery and one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeffrey C. Harris, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders and Plastics Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,048. On February 5, 2009, Harris had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

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. Johnson was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $46,653. He had previously made restitution in the amount of $55,866. On January 5, 2009, Johnson had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $102,519. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Audrea Ann Jimenez, former secretary/bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 262 (located in San Jose, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in or willful concealment of books and records.  On February 19, 2009, an information was filed charging Jimenez with one count of false entry in or willful concealment of books and records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.),  was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,900. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 5, 2009, in the Criminal Court for Putnam County, Tennessee, Ronnie L. Scott, former Financial Secretary of Auto Workers Local 2409 (located in Cookeville, Tenn.), pled guilty to the charge of Theft Over $1,000. Subsequently, Scott was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville Office.

On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $28,145.76 and a special assessment of $1,400.00. Rhein had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $14,500.00. On February 3, 2009, Rhein pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of false statements. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Angelo Wiggins, former President of  the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) Local 408 (located in Mobile, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,269.85. On February 3, 2009, Wiggins pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Christopher Scott Tidwell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Union Independent Local 1261 (located in Lineville, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $22,264.08 and one count of forfeiture. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On May 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,192. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thaddeus Bania, Richard Lopez and David Rodriguez, former comptroller, Secretary Treasurer and Recording Secretary, and organizer, respectively, of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), were convicted on numerous counts arising from multiple schemes involving the local’s voided October 2004 regular election of officers and a rerun election that was held in December 2004. Bania was found guilty on four counts of mail fraud and six counts of theft of union property.  Lopez was found guilty on two substantive counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of union property.  Rodriguez was convicted on two counts of mail fraud and three counts of theft of union property. The convictions follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On April 28, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, William I. Brown, former Business Manager of Plumbers Local 237 (formerly located in Texarkana, Texas), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $100 mandatory special assessment and remaining restitution in the amount of $4,942.  On April 3, 2007, Brown was indicted on eight counts of embezzling union and apprenticeship funds totaling over $86,500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Dallas District Office, EBSA Dallas District Office, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 28, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Joyce Marsalis, former Treasurer of the Illinois Nurses Association, University of Chicago Local (located in Chicago, Ill.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,717 and one count of falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

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. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donna J. Simpson, former secretary for the Steelworkers District 10 office (located in North Versailles, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $87,823.18.  On August 26, 2008, Simpson was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Daniel Fortier, former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 970 and former President of Teamsters Joint Council 32 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with making false entries in union records related to an embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,202.61. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

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.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Belinda K. Woods, former President of Communications Workers Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,988.86 and one count of falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Dianne Drawdy, former Financial Secretary of Security Police Fire Professionals Local 576 (located in Baxley, Ga.), was indicted on sixteen counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $17,900. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

On April 10, 2009, in the Montgomery County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Monica Smalls, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2209 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was charged with theft of $500 or more. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 9, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Carl W. White, former Treasurer of IATSE Local 251 (located in Madison, Wis.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment plus three years supervised release, and  ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $96,088 and a $100 criminal assessment penalty.  On January 29, 2009, White pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,963.31.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee 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. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of AFGE Local 1923, was indicted on one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of aiding and abetting. An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks, drawn from the union’s bank account, for personal use, affixed the signature stamps of the President and Treasurer, altered the name of the payees in the union's accounting system, and removed checks from the union's records to conceal the true beneficiary of the funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Constantine Vafias, a contractor, was sentenced to three years probation, 300 hours of community service, forfeiture of $100,000, and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. An investigation concluded that Vafias was involved in a no-show job scheme associated with the 2 Broadway Project and Operating Engineers Local 14 (located in New York City, N.Y.). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement, two years probation, and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $25 special assessment. On January 14, 2009, Baker pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record and made restitution in the amount of $16,050.  An OLMS investigation concluded that Baker misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members’ signatures on the union’s check register for 101 checks. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 3, 2009, in the 61st District Court of Kent County, Michigan, Kevin Welch, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a non-profit/charitable organization between $250 and $1,000. On March 4, 2009, Welch was indicted on one count of embezzlement from a non-profit/charitable organization between $1,000 and $20,000.  The plea and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Richard M. Clark, former Secretary Treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 468 (located in Bowling Green, Ky.), was charged with embezzling $18,680 in union funds and concealing and destroying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 3, 2009, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Fernando Acevedo, former President for the Transit Employees Independent Union (located in Bedford, Ohio), was sentenced to two years community control, 50 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,300. On March 6, 2009, Acevedo pled guilty to attempted theft.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 2, 2009, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, William Thomas Brown, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 886 (located in New Hope, Minn.), was convicted of one felony count of theft over $1,000 associated with the theft of union funds in the amount of $6,467.05.  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.  Brown was alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $6,467.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Oliver Kupau III, former lead field representative of Laborers Local 368 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was denied his request for an exemption from the LMRDA Section 504 prohibition against persons convicted of certain crimes holding union office or employment. In November 2002, Kupau was convicted of money laundering.  On June 9, 2008, the Department of Labor informed Kupau of his prohibition from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years.  The case follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office.

On April 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Rosa Miriam Della Porta, former bookkeeper of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was found guilty of embezzling union funds.  On August 8, 2008,  Della Porta was indicted on one count of embezzling approximately $108,000 in union funds. The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 1, 2009, in the Criminal Court of the City of Syracuse, New York, Frederick Joseph McManus, Financial Secretary of Asbestos Workers Local 30 (Syracuse, N.Y.), was charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records associated with his actions as a union officer.  The charges follow an investigation by the Buffalo District Office and the City of Syracuse Police.

On April 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Thomas James Martin, former Business Manager of Plumbers Local 15 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was denied his request for an exemption from the LMRDA Section 504 prohibition against persons convicted of certain crimes holding union office. On April 1, 2003, Martin was convicted of mail fraud and theft from a labor organization. On May 2, 2003, the Department of Labor informed Martin of his prohibition from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years.  The case follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 31, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Michael St. John, former Secretary Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 30 (located in Festus, Mo.), 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.  On October 23, 2008, St. John was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $24,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.

On March 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Steven Snyder, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 5724 (located in Clarington, Ohio), was sentenced to five months incarceration after pleading guilty to embezzling $78,893.47 in union strike fund benefits. Also, Snyder was sentenced to an additional five months home confinement with electronic monitoring as part of three years supervised release.The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On March 30, 2009, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Tina Curtis, former Secretary Treasurer for the APWU Local 232 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service and ordered to make restitution. On November 17, 2008, Curtis pled guilty to embezzling $18,283 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Glen Gard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2460 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $90,500.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

On March 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Lyndon Denney, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 2-1019 (located in Otsego, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $23,627.32 and pay a $100 special assessment.On November 24, 2008, Denney pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tarris D. Dallas, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 9-415 (located in Fernandina Beach, Fla.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $105,000.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Donna Caltabiano, former President of AFSCME Local 888 (located in Catskill, N.Y.), pled guilty to embezzling $23,644.76 in union funds between 2002 and 2006.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 24, 2009, in the District Court of Brockton, Massachusetts, Susan Elliott, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1162 (located in Brockton, Mass.), 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.

On March 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert Walston, former President of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft from a labor organization and one count of embezzlement of property and other assets of a labor organization in connection with his role in rigging the 2004 elections of union officers. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On March 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James A. Decker, former Treasurer of Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 17, 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 indicted for one count of mail fraud relating to an embezzlement of $186,997. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 12, 2009, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Larry Ramsey, former secretary-treasurer of the Representatives and Organizers Union (located in St. Louisville, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling $163,222 in union funds. On February 17, 2009, Ramsey was charged with embezzling funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. (Lead Investigator Andrea Welhouse)

On March 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,074.23 and a $100 special assessment.On November 20, 2008, Bohanon pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Cassandra Mosley, former Business Agent of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and theft from a labor organization and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On March 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Glen Gard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2460 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued on November 18, 2008, after being indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $90,500. The arrest follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

On March 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth L. Holman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 665 (located in Ishpeming, Mich.), was sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $2,798.64 and a $25 special assessment.On February 12, 2009, Holman pled guilty to one count of making a false statement or representation of material fact on an annual financial report filed by Local 665.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Mary Schaeuble, Chair of the Insurance Committee of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment and to make restitution in the amount of $4,000.On November 25, 2008, Schaeuble pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $730.94.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Alex Margaritis, former Financial Secretary of International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to four years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $1,320.79 and a special assessment of $100. Margaritis had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $12,000. On September 23, 2008, Margaritis pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer, former President of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.Gehringer had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $547. On September 23, 2008, Gehringer pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Norman J. Stefanik, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1450 (located in Watertown, N.Y.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,808.29 between February 2004 and November 2007. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 23, 2009, in the Superior Court of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Michael West, President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84845 (located in Evansville, Indiana), pled guilty to one count of conversion. West previously made full restitution in the amount of $650.Subsequently, West was sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended) and a fine of $20 plus court costs. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, an information was filed charging Audrea Ann Jimenez, former secretary/bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 262 (located in San Jose, Calif.), with one count of false entry in or willful concealment of books and records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, an information was filed charging Ruth R. Olson, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1225 (located in Marina, Calif.), with one count of false entry in or willful concealment of books and records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 19, 2009, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Willie Harris, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 2823 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,784.61 following a guilty plea to one count of aggravated theft. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Veterans Administration's Office of the Inspector General.

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. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 17, 2009, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Todd Novak, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 3 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, two years probation, and was fined $2,000. 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth L. Holman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 665 (located in Ishpeming, Mich.), pled guilty to making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the annual financial report filed by Local 665. On December 1, 2008, an information was filed charging Holman with the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, Jr., former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to five months imprisonment and one year supervised release and ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $22,995.74 and a $25 assessment. On November 20, 2008, Sargent pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Prior to his sentencing, Sargent paid restitution in the amount of $8,019.55. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 11, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Christina Geathers, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer ofSteelworkers Local 357 (located in Georgetown, S.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $36,865 and two counts of filing false LM-3 reports. The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On February 9, 2009, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York approved a stipulation ofsettlement between the Department of Labor andLocal 3 of the Bakery Workers (located in Long Island City, N.Y.). The stipulation settles a lawsuitthat the Department filed against Local 3 seeking to void the August 29, 2008 rerun election, supervised by OLMS, for the offices of two union-wide Business Agent positions.Local 3eliminated the Business Agent position that represented employees at Entenmann's Bakery thereby, according to OLMS' investigative findings, denying Entenmann's members the opportunity to run for and vote for any business agent position. Local3 agreed to hold a new election, under OLMS supervision, for the two union-wide business agent positions.The settlement follows an investigation by theOLMS New York District Office.

On February 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Neil Cremin and Ira Sokol, former New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspectors, pled guilty to accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds. The pleas follow a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City) as well as the New York City school bus industry by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On February 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, George Ortiz, former New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspector, pled guilty to extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds. The plea follows a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City), as well as New York City school bus companies , by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On February 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Milton Smith, a New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspector, was found guilty of extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds. The judgment follows a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City), as well as the New York City school bus companies, by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On February 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeffrey C. Harris, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders and Plastics Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,048. Harris agreed to make restitution in the same amount.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 4, 2009, in the Court of Common Pleas for Jefferson County, Ohio, Deborah Chichick, former Treasurer of Communication Workers of America Local 4527 (located in Steubenville, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $1,440.Chichick was then sentenced to serve one year probation and ordered to make restitution. The plea and sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Keith H. Cook, former Secretary Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 620 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment for embezzlement of union funds, ten months imprisonment for making a false entry in union records, three years supervised release for embezzlement of union funds, and one year supervised release for making a false entry in union records (to run concurrently). He also was ordered to make restitution of $47,079.21 and pay a $125 assessment. On September 15, 2008, a jury found Cook guilty of one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On February 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roberta Dauch, former office secretary of the North Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Sandusky, Ohio), was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $27,537.On September 8, 2008, Dauch pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Christopher Ethington, former President of UAW Local 2926 (located in Shelbyville, Ky.), was sentenced to five years probation, five months of home detention, ten consecutive weekends of incarceration, ordered to make restitution of $15,100.50 and pay a $100 assessment. On October 7, 2008, Ethington plead guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Donna Roles, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 14310 (located in Mt. Hope, W.Va.), was sentenced to one month of incarceration, three years supervised release, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70,000 (of which $1,775 has already been repaid) and pay a $100 special assessment. Additionally, Roles was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation. On October 6, 2008, Roles pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $76,420. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Mervin Patrick Getzen, former Secretary Treasurer of UAW Local 2926 (located in Shelbyville, Ky.), was sentenced to three years probation, six months home detention, and order to pay a $100 assessment. Getzen had previously made restitution in the amount of $7,012. On November 3, 2008, Getzen pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Angelo Wiggins, former President of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) Local 408 (located in Mobile, Ala.), pled guilty to a one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,269.85. On January 27, 2009, Wiggins was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of making a false statement. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount $11,328.00 and a special assessment of $400.00.On October 24, 2008, Gaines pled guilty to a four count indictment for embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eugene Huss, former Area Vice President of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,000 and pay a $100 fine. On October 22, 2008, Huss pled guilty to two counts of falsification of union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rebecca Montgomery, former bookkeeper/office secretary for the Machinist Eastern Regional Office (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100. Montgomery had previously made restitution in the amount of $14,340. On October 22, 2008, Montgomery pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $509. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Carl W. White, former Treasurer of IATSE Local 251 (located in Madison, Wis.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,963.31. Per the agreement, White agreed to restitution in the same amount, and to reimburse the local $10,125 for expenses it incurred in its internal investigation. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 14, 2009, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record. Following his plea, Baker paid restitution in the amount of $16,050. Baker misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members' signatures on the union's check register for 101 checks.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,118.57. On October 9, 2008, Bruno was charged with embezzling union funds, between March 2004 and March 2006, in the same amount. Also, Bruno agreed to pay restitution. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Joseph Michael Johnson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 687 (located in Charleston Heights, S.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $102,519. On September 10, 2008, Johnson was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

 

On December 30, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Luther L. Corey, former President of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1197 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement, four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 and make restitution in the amount of $16,288.37. On October 1, 2008, Corey pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On December 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Michael Pagano, former Business Agent/Secretary-Treasurer of Roofers, Local 74 (located in West Seneca, N.Y.), pled guilty to falsifying and destroying union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On December 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Danny Tilley, former Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Austin, Texas), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,719. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On December 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Linda Peterson, former Secretary-Treasurer for APWU Branch 715 (located in Pagosa Springs, Colo.), was sentenced to 2 years probation, 3 months home detention, and 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,505 and a $200 special assessment ($100 for each count). On August 20, 2008, Peterson pled guilty to one count of embezzling public money and one count of embezzlement of assets. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the USPS Office of Inspector General.

On December 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 339 (located in Brook Park, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and 60 hours of community service. On June 10, 2008, Eye pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. Eye previously made restitution in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 17, 2008, OLMS entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 308 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) concerning the election of officers conducted on February 16, 2008.  The union agreed to conduct new nominations and a new election, under OLMS supervision, for the offices of Branch President-Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center and Pennsylvania State Executive Board Member.  The OLMS investigation of the challenged election disclosed that the union improperly applied a candidate eligibility requirement, which denied a member in good standing the right to be a candidate.  The agreement follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 17, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling $15,192 and two counts of falsifying union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 17, 2008, in the Criminal Court of White Plains, New York, Thomas Daniels, former President of APWU 1091 (located in White Plains, N.Y.), was charged with one count of grand larceny in the third degree for the theft of approximately $4,250 in union funds. The charge follows a joint investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the USPS Office of the Inspector General.

On December 16, 2008, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Kenneth Saltz, Jr., former President of the Steelworkers Local 1124 (located in Massillon, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and two years probation.  On September 30, 2008, Saltz plead guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,809.03 after making restitution.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Sarah Crafts, former Office Manager of Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Austin, Texas), was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,197 and with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $17,478.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On December 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) was indicted on six counts of embezzling union funds totaling more than $40,000 and eight counts of making a false statement.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Decker, former Treasurer of Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), was charged with embezzling $11,380.37 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the  District of New Jersey, Gary Weightman, former President of  APWU Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), pled guilty to two counts of tax evasion. Weightman was originally charged with conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of approximately $400,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 4, 2008, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, William Thomas Brown, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 886 (located in New Hope, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft over $1,000.  Brown is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $6,467.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 3, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Fidel R. Garza, former President of AFGE Local 2063 (located in Albuquerque N.M.), was indicted on fifty-eight counts each of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services associated with  defrauding the local of approximately $84,000 in union funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 1, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, an information was filed charging Diane Martin, former clerk of Teamsters Local 206 (located in Portland, Ore.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,535. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On December 1, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanette McFarland, former President of the Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) was sentenced to six months imprisonment (with credit given for time served), three years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,604.04. On September 18, 2008 McFarland pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 1, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Kenneth L. Holman, former Secretary-Treasurer of Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 665 (located in Ishpeming, Mich.), with making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the local’s 2003 and 2004 annual financial reports. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 26, 2008, in the District Court of St. Louis County, Minnesota, Kathleen Kordish, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 9349 (located in Hibbing, Minn.), was sentenced to incarceration for 1 year and 1 day (stayed for 3 years of probation) and 45 days of electronic monitoring and ordered to pay a $1,085 fine and $19, 926.15 in restitution. On October 22, 2008, Kordish had pled guilty to one felony count of theft by false representation in excess of $2,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 25, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Mary Schaeuble, Chair of the Insurance Committee of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $730.94.  On May 20, 2008, Schaeuble had been indicted on 13 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,379.30.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 24, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, an information was filed charging Kevin McGee, former President of AFGE Local 3028 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), with one count of knowingly making a false material representation in a report required to be filed with the Department of Labor. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 20, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. On September 16, 2008, Bohanon had been charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 20, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704 (Chicago, Ill.) pled guilty to one count of theft of property in a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $800.  On November 10, 2008, a superseding information had charged Sargent with theft in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tarris D. Dallas, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworker’s Local 9-415 (located in Fernandina Beach, Fla.) was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $105,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Glen Gard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2460 (located in Pensacola, Fla.) was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $90,500. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.

On November 17, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), was charged with one count of making a false entry in a union record when he misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members’ signatures on check registers for 101 checks.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 17, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tina Curtis, former Secretary-Treasurer of APWU Local 232 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,283.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, John Dabronzo, former Business Agent/ /Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Administrator of Asbestos Local 89, (located in Trenton, N.J.), was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months incarceration, three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $829,736.20. On June 16, 2008, Dabronzo pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Between January 2000 and May 2007, Dabronzo embezzled funds in the amount of $433,308.47 from Local 89, and $396,454.73 from the JATC. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employment Benefits Standards Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 13, 2008 in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Willie Harris, former Secretary Treasurer of AFGE Local 2823 (located in Cleveland, Ohio) was indicted for theft exceeding $5,000, misuse of a credit card, and unauthorized access to a computer.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Veterans Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

On November 13, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kenneth Wallace, former delegate of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 600 (located in Newport, Ky.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,484.02 between April 30, 2005 and June 28, 2006.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Randy Sanders, former Executive Vice President of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), was sentenced to two years probation, a $1,000 fine, a $200 special assessment and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,300.  On August 22, 2008, Sanders pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $762.48.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 10, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Michelle Trinh, former assistant administrator of the Writers Guild of America-West Foreign Levies Fund, was sentenced to five years probation, 100 hours of community service, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,228 and a $100 special assessment. Trinh will be barred from union employment or holding union office for a period of 13 years. On February 28, 2008, Trinh was charged with conspiracy to embezzle and embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. From December 2006 to February 2007, Trinh and her accomplice, Tracy Howze, conspired to falsify the union’s database by creating Howze as a beneficiary of the foreign levies fund, and releasing union checks payable to Howze which they later cashed and split for personal expenses. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On November 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey,  Kevin Sherlock, former Secretary-Treasurer of NALC Branch 272 (located in Newton, N.J.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $45,000. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the USPS Office of the Inspector General.

On October 30, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Edna Latimore, former Secretary Treasurer of AFGE Local 900 (located in St. Louis, Mo.) was sentenced to six months home detention, three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $77,857.26. On August 7, 2008, Latimore was charged with making false statements on the local’s Form LM-3. Latimore omitted unauthorized payments to herself from the report.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.

On October 30, 2008, in the City Court of Geneva, New York, Bradley Steinruck, former President of Steelworkers Local 828 (located in Geneva, N.Y.), was charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree for taking union funds in the amount of $1,987. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the New York State Police.

On October 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Janet Louise Johnson, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2152 (located in Reno, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds at a place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. On June 4 2008, Johnson was indicted on one count of wire fraud in the amount of $11,251.44 and seven counts of theft of union funds at a place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.  Johnson is alleged to have used union funds to pay for unauthorized personal charges made on the union’s credit card.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General.

On October 24, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,597.00.  The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On October 24, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Krista Yeatts, former office manager of Machinist Lodge 2444 (located in Winston-Salem, N.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,746.01.  On July 28, 2008, Yeatts was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 23 and 24, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence Marable and Deborah Powell, former President and Treasurer, respectively, of AFGE Local1793, representing employees at the VA Medical Center in (Philadelphia, Pa.) both were sentenced on a seven count indictment that included one count of conspiracy, five counts of theft of property in a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of making false statements. Marable was sentenced to eighteen months incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $184,129.85, a special assessment of $700.00 and a fine of $3,000.00. Powell was sentenced to twelve months and one day incarceration followed by two years of supervised probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $184,129.85 and a special assessment of $700.00. Marable and Powell conspired to convert dues checkoff checks and issue Local 1793 checks for their personal use totaling $184,129.85. Marable and Powell were held separately liable in the payment of restitution. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

On October 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Michael St. John, former Secretary Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 30 (located in Festus, Mo.) was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $24,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 22, 2008, in the St. Louis County District Court of Minnesota, Kathleen Kordish, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9349 (located in Hibbing, Minn.), pled guilty to one felony count of theft by false representation in excess of $2,500.  Kordish was alleged to have embezzled union funds in the amount of $19,148.54.  On April 29, 2008 Kordish was charged with one count of theft of funds by false representation in excess of $2,500.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On October 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eugene Huss, Area Vice President of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), pled guilty to two counts of falsification of union records and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $2,000. On May 20, 2008, Huss was indicted on thirteen counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,617.75.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rebecca Montgomery, former bookkeeper/office secretary of Machinists Eastern Regional Office (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $509.  Montgomery previously made full restitution in the amount of $14,340.  On August 20, 2008, Montgomery was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $509. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Todd F. Novak, former Secretary-Treasurer of BLET Division 3 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $47,780.89.  The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Clarence Morgan, former President of Steelworkers Local 2948, (located in Columbus, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of filing a false Labor Organization Annual Report (LM-3) for the 2003 reporting year. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 16, 2008, in the County Court of Westchester County, NY, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,243. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw funds in the same amount from the union’s checking account. On July 7, 2008, Richards pled guilty to grand larceny in the third degree. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad Mowery, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution. On May 5, 2008, Mowery pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.) was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,118.57 between March 2004 and March 2006.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Louella M. Zieman, former-office secretary of Ironworkers Local 709 (located in Port Wentworth, Ga.), was sentenced to fourteen months in federal prison, three years of supervised released, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $51,684.50 and pay a special assessment of $100. On June 4, 2008, Zieman pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount and one count of making false entries in the union’s financial records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 7, 2008, in the Maryland Circuit Court for the City of Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Bealefeld, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for the Glass Molders and Plastics Local 118 (located in Baltimore, Md.) was indicted on one count of theft for stealing $5,686 from the union.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 7, 2008, in the Trial Court of Berrien County, Michigan, Michael LaPorte, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 430 (located in Niles, Mich.), was sentenced to 90 days of electronic monitoring and ordered to pay a $550 fine.  LaPorte had previously made restitution in the amount of $1,080. On October 3, 2008, LaPorte pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more but less than $1,000.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, an information was filed charging Christopher Ethington, former President of UAW Local 2926 (located in Shelbyville, Ky.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,100. Subsequently, Ethington pled guilty to the charge. The charge and plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Karimah Bailey, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3197 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day in jail, three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $98,802.17. On April 4, 2008, Bailey pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,412, and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On October 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Donna Roles, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 14310 (located in Mount Hope, W.Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $76,420. On May 20, 2008, Roles was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the
same amount and one count of falsifying union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 2, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Betty Wing, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers (formerly PACE) Local 1077 (located in Lambertville, Mich.), was sentenced to one day of probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,584.65 and a special assessment of $100. On June 27, 2008, Wing pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 2, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Thomas Leonard, former Recording Secretary of Laborers Local 500 (located in Toledo, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,386. The plea follows a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

On October 1, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Luther L. Corey, former President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1197 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,288.37.On March 26, 2008, Corey was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On September 30, 2008, in the District Court  of Dakota County, Minnesota, Jonathan David Thompson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLE) Division 333 (located in Rosemount, Minn.), was charged with two felony counts of financial transaction card fraud and two felony counts of theft by swindle. Thompson is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $8,767.94.  The charge follows an investigation by the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 30, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kenneth Saltz, Jr., former President of Steelworkers Local 1124 (located in Massillon, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,809. On August 19, 2008, Saltz was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount and making false entries in union records.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Wendy Elaine Bentzen, former information/financial manager for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) State Council 72 (located in Jefferson City, Mo.) pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. The charge follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.

On September 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, an information was filed charging Teresa Cora Luna, former bookkeeper/office manager of IATSE Local 504 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.) with embezzling approximately $67,416 in union funds from November 2004 through June 2005. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angele District Office.

On September 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer and Alex Margaritis, former President and Secretary Treasurer, respectively, of IronWorkers Local 594 (located in Hellertown, Pa.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds. Gehringer embezzled union funds in the amount of $3,050.00 and Margaritis embezzled union funds in the amount of $13,320.79. The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 23, 2008, in the Circuit Court of Rock County, Wisconsin, Jeffrey Granberg, former President of Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers Local 7 (located in Janesville, Wis.), was charged with one count of felony forgery and one count of theft of less than $2,500.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanette McFarland, former President of Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,604. On March 26, 2008, McFarland was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 15, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Frank Rago, President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1604 (located in Boston, Mass.) was indicted with failure to maintain records and making false entries in union and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 15, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Louis Desisto, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1604 (located in Boston, Mass.), was charged with falsification of a record in a federal investigation. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 15, 2008, in the Seventh District Court of Carbon County, Utah, Kathleene L. Bigham, the spouse of former Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Local 779 (located in Grand Junction, Col.) Secretary-Treasurer Alfred Bigham, pled guilty to theft of union funds in the amount of $14,280, and three counts of forgery. Subsequently, Bigham was ordered to pay $800 in fines and make additional restitution in the amount of $2,022.68. Bigham previously paid restitution in the amount of $12,258.  Additional sentencing will be held in abeyance for a period of two years. On June 3, 2008, an information was filed charging Bigham with theft of union funds in the same amount, and three counts of forgery. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 15, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Keith H. Cook, former Secretary Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 620 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was convicted of embezzling union funds in the amount of $48,287 and  willfully making false entries on union checks. On March 8, 2007, Cook was charged with one count embezzling union funds in the same amount and one count of willfully making a false entry in union records. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On September 12, 2008, in the Trial Court of Berrien County, Michigan, Michael LaPorte, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 430 (located in Niles, Mich.), was charged with embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office

On September 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Sheila Wright Rushing, former part-time office secretary of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International (BCTGMI) Local 482 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was sentenced to five years supervised release and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $19,365.09. On May 28, 2008, Rushing pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,133.01.  The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General

On September 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Michael A. Pingitore, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Delaware Rural Letter Carriers Association (Dover, Del.), was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution and pay a $600 special assessment. Pingitore had previously made restitution in the amount $58,908.38. On July 23, 2007, Pingitore pled guilty to six counts of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the USPS Office of the Inspector General.

On September 10, 2008, 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 indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $102,519. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On September 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roberta Dauch, former office secretary of  the North Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Sandusky, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,537.28. On August 1, 2008, an information was filed charging Dauch with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donna J. Simpson, former secretary of Steelworkers District 10 (located in North Versailles, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $87,823.18. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Randy Sanders, former Executive Vice President of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $762.48 and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $7,300. On May 20, 2008, Sanders was indicted on thirteen counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,298.66.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 20, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Willie Chambers, former President of International Guards Union of America Local 124 (located in Hooks, Tex.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,805. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the FBI Dallas Division.

On August 20, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rebecca Montgomery, former bookkeeper/office secretary of Machinist Eastern Regional Office (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $508.92. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kenneth Saltz, Jr., former President of Steelworkers Local 1124 (located in Massillon, Ohio) was indicted for embezzling $15,809 in union funds and making false entries in union records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 14, 2008, in the Superior Court of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, an information was filed charging Michael West, President of CWA Local 84845 (located in Evansville, Ind.), with one count of conversion.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Amy Cross, former Secretary-Treasurer of Utility Workers Local 308 (located in Lima, Ohio), was sentenced to three months of home confinement, two years supervised release and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $31,886. On April 30, 2008, Cross plead guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brian Dolney, former President of Machinists Local Lodge 2333 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to eight months home confinement, five years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and a $100 fine. Also, Dolney was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $11,565.61. On April 14, 2008, Dolney pled guilty to committing one count of bank fraud in the amount of $11,565.61. Machinist Lodge 2333 has since merged into Machinists Lodge 225.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 13, 2008, in the County Court of Fremont County, Colorado, Jamie Solis, former President of Steelworkers Local 594 (located in Canon City, Col.), pled guilty to theft of union funds. On December 20, 2007, Solis was indicted for theft of union funds with a value of $500 or more but less than $15,000.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael R. Rhoades, former Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 88667 (located in Latrobe, Pa.), was charged in a one count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,001.86.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 12, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees Local 339 (located in Kent, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. On June 10, 2008, Eye was indicted for embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Rosa Miriam Della Porta, former bookkeeper of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), was indicted on one count of embezzling approximately $108,000 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, James E. Kay, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 523 (located in Sandersville, Ga.), was sentenced to six months home confinement, four years of supervised released, and a $5,000 fine. Also Kay was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,642.41. Kay previously made restitution in the amount of approximately $11,000. On April 9, 2008, Kay pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16, 979.36. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On August 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Edna Latimore, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 900 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged with one count of making false statements on the local’s Form LM-3. Latimore is alleged to have omitted approximately $77,000 in unauthorized payments to herself from the report.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jose Luis Caraballo, President of  Obreros Unidos del Sur de PR IND NHQ (located in Salinas, P.R.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds. Caraballo is alleged to have embezzled $400,000 under the guise of medical reimbursements and payments for services rendered, meals and car expenses, and unlawfully and willfully converting $49,500 for his own use in the form of a manager’s check. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and the FBI.

On August 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Anne O’Rourke, former office secretary of  Roofers Local 37 (located in  Pittsburgh, Pa.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $23,056.91 and one count of  falsifying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Esau Faaitiiti and Arthur Clark, former President and Vice President, respectively, of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12 (located in San Diego, Calif.), were sentenced to five years probation and 60 hours community service, ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $25 penalty assessment. Also, Faaitiiti and Clark were ordered to make joint restitution totaling $22,124.28, with Clark ordered to make additional restitution in the amount of $10,865. On March 20, 2008, Faaitiiti and Clark pled guilty to making false statements. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 1, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Roberta Dauch, former secretary of  North Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council (located in Sandusky, Ohio), with embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,537. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 30, 2008, in the County Court of Adams County, Colorado, William J. Kohut, former Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1755 (located in Westminster, Col.), was sentenced to five years probation and, 150 hours of community service and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $3,046.68. On March 7, 2008, Kohut pled guilty to one count of forgery and incidental crimes. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On July 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, William D. Day Sr., former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1-1462 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to serve 180 days home detention, pay restitution in the amount of $2,320.56 and pay a $100 special assessment. Day previously made restitution in the amount of $7,020.32.  On March 12, 2008, Day pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,140.88.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 28, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Darrell Pendergrass, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 699 (located in Bristol, Va.), was sentenced to one year and a day in prison to be followed by three years of probation. Also, Pendergrass was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70,336 and pay any fines owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Pendergrass previously made restitution in the amount of $53,000. On April 4, 2008, Pendergrass pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $70,336 and one count of willfully evading the payment of taxes.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the IRS.

On July 28, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Krista Yeatts, former office manager of Machinists Lodge 2444 (located in Winston-Salem, N.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,746.01. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On July 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven Thomas, former Business Manager of Laborers Local 500 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $28,500.  The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Anthony, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1196 (located in Brackenridge, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to serve one year home detention and pay restitution in the amount of $34,134.47.  On March 14, 2008, Anthony pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,245.45.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Van Handel, former President and acting Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1980 (located in Appleton, Wis.), was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to make restitution in the amount of  $11,509.85 and pay a $100 special assessment fee.On April 16, 2008, Van Handel pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,500.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 17, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tina Curtis, former Secretary-Treasurer of  APWU Local 232 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,283, and one count of filing false financial reports.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 10, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Betty Illig, former Secretary-Treasurer of Graphic Communications Workers Local 638-S and the Tri-State District Joint Council (located in Poland, Ohio), was sentenced to five years supervised release to include one year home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $145,675. On February 8, 2008, Illig pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount and submitting false Form LM-3 reports. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Kyle Batts, former Secretary-Treasurer of Electrical Workers Local 738 (located in Tyler, Tex.), was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,580.83 and a $100 fine. On February 26, 2008, Batts pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers  (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged with forty-three individual counts of embezzling union funds totaling $15,597.99. Gaines is alleged to have issued unauthorized checks from the union's account payable to herself and cashed checks made payable to the local. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On July 8, 2008, in the United States District  Court for the District of New Jersey, David Denman, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 272 (located in Newton, NJ), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,000. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

On July 7, 2008, in the City Court of Peekskill, New York, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440 (located in Montrose, NY), pled guilty to grand larceny in the third degree. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw a total of $11,243 from the union’s checking account. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Richards is required to make restitution in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On July 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Heather Lott, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 19 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,952. On April 7, 2008, Lott pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $140,000. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 7, 2008, in the Superior Court of Wayne County, Indiana, Curtis Pittinger, former President of IBEW Local 2043 (located in Richmond, Ind.), was sentenced to a suspended sentence of a year and a half in prison, six months in-home detention, probation for four and a half years, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,132.33, pay $7,000 for the cost of an audit and $750 in court costs and fees. On October 3, 2007, Pittinger was charged with three counts of theft of union funds in the amount of $10,300. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Indianapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 3, 2008, in the Douglas County District Court of Nebraska, Michael Jens, former Financial Secretary/Business Agent of Bakers Local 50-G (located in Omaha, Neb.), was charged with one count of theft by deception over $1,500.  Jens is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $12,352.79. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 30, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Norman K. Brown, former Bargaining Committee Chairman of UAW Local 2911 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to two years probation, including six months of home detention, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $41,478 and a $100 special assessment. On March 19, 2008, Brown pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Betty Wing, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers (formerly PACE) Local 1077 (located in Lambertville, Mich.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,584. On June 18, 2008, an information was filed charging Wing with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Battaglia, former President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (located in New York, NY), the primary union that represents drivers and escorts for school bus companies in New York City, was sentenced to fifty-seven months imprisonment and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, $180,000 in restitution and forfeit $25,000. On January 18, 2008, Battaglia pled guilty to participating in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise in violation of 18 USC 1962 (c).  Battaglia’s act included the extortion of bus company owners. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On June 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME (located in Washington, DC), was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by 36 months probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,446. On April 4, 2008, Albritton pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Meek, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3435 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to five years probation, 50 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,278. On April 1, 2008, Meek pled guilty to embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of the Inspector General.

On June 25, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Lea Ann Newton, former office secretary of Painters Local 807 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records, and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $6,133.19. Newton previously made restitution in the amount of $2,795.81. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 23, 2008, in the County Court of St. Lawrence County, New York, June Wilkins, former President of AFSCME Local 625 (located in Potsdam, NY), was sentenced to four months imprisonment followed by five years probation, and ordered  to pay restitution in the amount of $689.03 plus probation costs in the amount of $3,102. Wilkin had previously made restitution in the amount of $15,730.92. On May 5, 2008, Wilkins pled guilty to two counts of third degree grand larceny.  Wilkins admitted to taking over $15,000 from the local. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, John Dabronzo, former Business Agent/Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Administrator of Asbestos Workers Local 89 (located in Atlantic City, NJ), pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Between January 2000 and May 2007, Dabronzo embezzled funds in the amount of $433,308.47 from Local 89, and $396,454.73 from the JATC. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 16, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kurt Swanstrom, former Financial Secretary of  Steelworkers Local 5-1560 (located in Ashland, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay  restitution in the amount of $12,327.52 and a $150 special assessment.  On March 31, 2008, Swanstrom pled guilty to embezzling union funds, falsification of records, and filing false financial reports. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Utah, Trace L. Reynolds, former office manager of IBEW Local 354 (located in West Valley City, Utah), was convicted and sentenced on one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union. Reynolds was sentenced to one year of probation. Reynolds had previously made restitution in the amount of $10,698.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham P. Vane, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1280 (located in San Mateo, CA), was sentenced to fifteen months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000 and a  special assessment fee of $500.  On January 9, 2008, Vane pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and four counts of making false statements to a government agency.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 10, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kristen Swint, former Vice President and Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Inflight Aircraft Lodge 2339 (located in Cleveland Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,526.  On January 29, 2008, Swint pled guilty to falsification of union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 10, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees Local 339 (located in Brookpark, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $9,296.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Donna Hammock, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 2096 (located in El Cajon, CA), was sentenced to  five years probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.  On February 8, 2008, Hammock pled guilty to providing false statements on the local’s annual Form LM-3.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office. (Senior Investigator Beverly Perkins)

On June 3, 2008, in the Seventh District Court of Carbon County, Utah, an information was filed against Kathleene L. Bigham, the spouse of former Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Local 779 (located in Grand Junction, Col.) Secretary-Treasurer Alfred Bigham, charging her with theft of over $14,680 in union funds, and three counts of forgery.  The charge follows an investigation by OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Bridgett Cardall Hooks, former Secretary-Treasurer of Postal Workers  Local 332 (located in Dothan, Ala.), was sentenced to 48 months probation to include six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and a $100 special assessment.  On February 7, 2008, Hooks pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,820.17. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 15, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Carolyn M. Wallace, former President of Steelworkers Local 02-356 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), was sentenced to180 days home confinement, five years probation, $100 special assessment, drug treatment and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,436.02.  Wallace previously paid restitution in the amount of $7,000. On February 8, 2008, Wallace pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,200.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 14, 2008, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Rhonda Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 481 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft for allegedly stealing $6,349.55 from the local. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 13, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, New York City School Bus Inspectors Neil Cremin, George Ortiz (retired), Milton Smith and Ira Sokol, were arrested following indictments for conspiracy to accept bribes, extortion, and bribery in a program that receives federal funds.  On May 13, 2008 the four inspectors were arrested and entered pleas of not guilty. The charges follow a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers and escorts for school bus companies in New York City) by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On May 12, 2008, in the Superior Court of Dougherty County, Georgia, Barbara Dodson, former Financial-Secretary of Boilermakers Local 100 (located in Albany, Ga.), pled guilty to six counts of forgery in the first degree and one count of theft-by-taking of union funds in the amount of $1,400.  Subsequently, Dodson was sentenced to 120 days in jail, 10 years probation, and a fine of $500.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kathy Thompson, former employee of Teamsters Local 325 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was sentenced to five years probation, including seven months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to liquidate her retirement savings account and pay approximately $29,000 in restitution. On December 17, 2007, Thompson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $33,770. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On May 7, 2008, in the County Court for Lorain, Ohio, Gary Smink, former President of Steelworkers Local 1-962 (located in Elyria, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft totaling $770.  On April 9, 2008, Smink was indicted on one count of theft in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office

On May 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Donald B. Dawson, former director of the National Electrical Contractors  Association (NECA) and the Alliance of Professional Specialty Contractors (APSC) (located in Kansas City, MO), was charged with one count of  bank fraud as a result of his embezzlement of $95,721.56 of APSC funds.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, John Mullenix, former Secretary-Treasurer of APWU Local 441 (located in Ft. Morgan, Col.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad M. Mowery, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,537.00. On February 6, 2008, Mowery was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Sandra Gorman, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11's ODOT Assembly (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $4,642.  On October 17, 2007, Gorman pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 30, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Amy J. Cross, former Secretary/Treasurer of Utility Workers Local 308 (located in Lima, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $31,886.64.  On April 7, 2008, an information was filed charging Cross with one count of embezzlement in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mary Hartsock, former office manager of Laborers Local 1358 (located in Elmira Heights, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $17,958.   On October 29, 2007, Hartsock pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 29, 2008, in the County Court of St. Louis County, Minnesota, Kathleen Kordish, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9349 (located in Hibbing, Minn.), was charged with one count of theft of funds by false representation in excess of $2,500.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 24, 2008, in the Cambria County Court, Pennsylvania, Richard J. Vincent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3951 (located in Altoona, Pa.), was charged in a criminal complaint with two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $43,694.85. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On April 23, 2008, in the County Court of Dallas County, Texas, Bobby Earl Williams, former president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1635 (located in Dallas, Texas), and his wife Janice Muriel Williams were each indicted on one count of forgery totaling $1,431.   Bobby Earl Williams is alleged to have embezzled union funds by writing unauthorized checks for lost time, while his wife forged the Secretary-Treasurer’s signature.  The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 21, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Stephen Priest, former Financial-Secretary of UAW Local 516 (located in Middletown, Del.), was sentenced to 24 months probation, $100 special assessment, and ordered to continue psychiatric evaluation and treatment.  Priest will also undergo periodic mental health evaluation and treatment.  Priest previously made restitution to the union totaling $97,899.19. On December 21, 2007, Priest pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount.

On April 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Van Handel, former President and Acting Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1980 (located in Appleton, Wis., pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,500. On January 15, 2008, Van Handel was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On April 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Sheila Rushing, former office secretary for Bakery, Tobacco & Grain Local 482 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union assets in the amount of $17,133.01, and destruction of union records and making false entries in required union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On April 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fredrick W. Jones, former Vice President of Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to six months home confinement, one year probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.  Also, Jones must submit to drug testing during his period of probation. On January 16, 2008, Jones pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the same approximate amount.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On  April 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brian Dolney, former President of Machinists Lodge 2333 (located in Dayton, Ohio), pled guilty to  bank fraud in the amount of $11,565.  On February 7, 2008 an information was filed charging Dolney with one count of bank fraud in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Secretary-Treasurer for Machinists Lodge 2339-C (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $17,035.  On January 8, 2008, Drake pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 9, 2008, in the County Court for Lorain, Ohio, Gary Smink, former President of Steelworkers Local 1-962 (located in Elyria, Ohio), was indicted on one count of theft totaling $770. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Linda Leonard, former office secretary of Laborers Local 216 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to two years supervised probation for making false entries in union records.  Leonard was also ordered to pay $5,213 in restitution. On January 16, 2008, Leonard pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Amy Cross, former Secretary-Treasurer of Utility Workers Local 308 (located in Lima, Ohio), with one count of embezzling $31,887 of union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Heather Lott, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 19, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $140,000. Lott was also ordered to make full restitution. On October 18, 2007, Lott was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Michael Rutowski, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2913 (located in Blaine, Was.) was sentenced to one day in jail, two years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for embezzling union funds in the amount of $71,295.75 and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report.  On January 18, 2008, Rutowski pled guilty to one count of making a false and fraudulent representation to a federal agency. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Karimah Bailey, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3197, (located in Seattle, Was.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,412, and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report. On March 19, 2008, Bailey was charged with making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $75,446.  On March 17, 2008, a criminal information was filed charging Albritton with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount.  The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, a criminal information was filed charging Darrell Pendergrass, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 699, with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $70,336 and one count of willfully evading the payment of taxes.  Subsequently, Pendergrass pled guilty to both counts. The criminal information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the IRS.

On April 3, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Louella M. Zieman, former office-secretary of Ironworkers Local 709 (located in Port Wentworth, Ga.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $51,684, and on one count of making false entries in the union’s financial records.  The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On April 1, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle A. Meek, former Treasurer for AFGE Local 3435 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development Offices of Inspector General.

On March 31, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kurt E. Swanstrom, former Financial Secretary and Treasurer of PACE/USW Local 5-1560, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,328, falsification of union records, and filing a false financial report with the Secretary. On January 8, 2008, Swanstrom was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount, one count of falsification of union records, and one count of filing a false labor organization report. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 19, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Karimah Bailey, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3197, was charged with making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Norman K. Brown, former Bargaining Committee Chairperson of UAW Local 2911, pled guilty to embezzling approximately $41,478 in union funds. On March 7, 2008, an information was filed charging Brown with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Capece, former Business Manager and Financial-Secretary of IBEW Local Union 163, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, two years probation (to include six months in home confinement), fined $4000 and ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100. On September 11, 2007, Capece pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $256,000. Capece had previously made restitution of the full amount, plus any other costs associated with his crime. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 17, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME, with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $75,446.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Anthony, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1196, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,245.45. The plea agreement requires Anthony to make restitution in the amount of $34,134.47.  On November 7, 2007, Anthony was charged with eight counts of embezzling union funds totaling $6,955.18 and one count of preparing false union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging William Day, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1-1462, with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,140.88.  Subsequently, Day pled guilty to the offense.  The charge and plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 10, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Darren Johnson, former President of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 78, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, including six months in a community corrections center, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $13,748.50 and attend a substance abuse program. On December 3, 2007, Johnson pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and incidental crimes.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 7, 2008, in the County Court of Adams County, Colorado, William J. Kohut, former Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1755, pled guilty to a one count felony charge of forgery.  On May 23, 2007, Kohut was charged with theft (one count), identity theft (one count), unauthorized use of a financial transaction device (one count), and forgery (one count), in connection with his alleged conversion of union funds totaling $2,839.65. The plea follows an investigation by the Denver District Office.

On March 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert Walston and Thaddeus Bania, former President and Comptroller, respectively, of Teamsters Local 743 were indicted as part of a 14-count superseding criminal complaint alleging conspiracy, mail fraud, theft of honest services, and embezzlement of union funds arising from multiple schemes involving the local’s voided October 2004 regular election of officers and a rerun election that was held in December 2004.  This indictment supersedes the indictment issued by the grand jury on September 6, 2007 and includes three original defendants who were either officers, agents, or employees of Local 743: Richard Lopez, who was an incumbent candidate for Recording Secretary in 2004 and who also briefly held the position of president after Walston; Cassandra Mosley, a former business agent who resigned in December 2006; and David Rodriguez a former organizer who resigned in July 2007.  The superseding information includes a forfeiture allegation of over $2 million dollars in salary, expenses, and benefits. A superseding misdemeanor information was also filed against Mark Jones, a former business agent and director of organizing for the local, involving allegations of opening mail not directed to him relating to the voided mail-ballot election in October 2004.  The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

On March 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brad DuBray, former Treasurer of Carpenters Local 113, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,048.11 and a special assessment of $100. On November 14, 2007, DuBray pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,548.11.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Steve Dobyns, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 325, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay the balance of his restitution totaling $415 and a $500 fine.  On December 3, 2007, Dobyns pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $865.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On March 4, 2008 in the District Court of Val Verde County, Texas, Raul Castorena, former President of AFGE Local 1749, was indicted on one count of theft and one count of misapplication of fiduciary property in an amount greater than $1,500 but less than $20,000.  The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Billy Chandler, former Secretary-Treasurer of NALC Branch 4065, was sentenced to six months probation for embezzling union funds in the amount of $31,947.93. On October 17, 2007, Chandler pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. Chandler had previously made restitution of the full amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Kirk Ogden, former organizer for Painters District 81, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,653.  The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Frances Pagan, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 3M, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,415. On February 26, 2008, an information was filed against Pagan charging him with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 28, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, William Drake, former President of Steelworkers Local 1013T, was sentenced to two years supervised probation, ordered to perform 260 hours of community service, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $3,497.06, and fined $500. On November 28, 2007, Drake pled guilty to knowingly failing to disclose material facts on the local’s annual financial report for years 2001, 2002, and 2003. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 28, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Michelle Trinh, former assistant administrator of the Writers Guild of America-West Foreign Levies Fund, was charged with conspiracy to embezzle and embezzlement of union funds. From December 2006 to February 2007, Trinh and her accomplice, Tracy Howze, used checks from the fund to embezzle union funds in the amount of $17,228.61. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On February 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Pauline M. Gibson, former President of the Drivers, Warehousemen, Maintenance and Allied Workers of America Local 1, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement and representation of material fact, knowing it to be false on the local’s annual financial report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, an information was filed against Kyle Batts, former Secretary-Treasurer of Electrical Workers Local 738, charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,580.83.  Subsequently, Batts pled guilty and agreed to pay restitution. The information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 25, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Curtis Smith, former President of Glass Molders Plastics Local 325, was sentenced to five years probation and up to six months electronic monitoring for embezzling union funds.  Smith had previously made restitution of the full amount. On November 19, 2007, Smith pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $904.48.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Ronald Schweitzer, former President of Steelworkers Local 1967, was sentenced to time served (three days), three years supervised release, ten months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution and a $100 special assessment for embezzling union funds in the amount of $58,308.30. On October 29, 2007, Schweitzer pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $58,305.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Paula Adair-Butts, former office secretary of Plasterers Local 577, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to make restitution and pay a $100 special assessment fee.  On December 5, 2007, Adair-Butts pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,842.  The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, an embezzlement investigation conducted by the OLMS Dallas District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement.  Under the terms of the agreement, the subject agreed to make restitution. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On February 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Martin Hayes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1671, pled guilty to one count of embezzling money from a labor organization. On June 6, 2007, Hayes was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,033.25.The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 14, 2008, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear,  former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local 37, was sentenced to two years probation, which includes six months of home detention, and a fine of $2,000.  Greear had previously made full restitution to the union. On November 21, 2007, Greear pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. The sentencing follows an  investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 13, 2008, in Monroe County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Carson Combs, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1771, was found guilty of theft. Subsequently, Combs was sentenced to one year probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $410.30 plus a ten percent surcharge, and 40 hours of community service. The trial and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Betty Illig, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications Workers Local 638-S and the Tri-State District Joint Council, pled guilty to embezzling $145,675 in union funds and submitting false Form LM-3 reports. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On February 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Carolyn M. Wallace, former President of Steelworkers Local 02-356, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,200. On December 13, 2007, Wallace was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Bridgett Cardall Hooks, former Secretary-Treasurer of Postal Workers Local 332, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,820.17. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Brian Dolney, former President of Machinists Lodge 2333, with one count of bank fraud totaling $11,565. Donley fraudulently negotiated union checks at the Security National Bank in Springfield, Ohio. The charge follows an investigation by the Cincinnati District Office.

On February 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Denise Nichols, former Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 4050, was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100. On October 12, 2007, Nichols pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,804.20. Nichols had previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,162. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Francis Pagan, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 3M, charging him with embezzling $17,415 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad Mowery, former Secretary-Treasurer of BLE Division 282, was charged with embezzling $2,537 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, an information was filed against Pauline M. Gibson, former President of the Drivers, Warehousemen, Maintenance and Allied Workers of America, Local 1, charging her with making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the local’s annual financial report. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 4, 2008, in the Douglas County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, John Sigafus, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local W-335, pled no contest to theft of union funds in the amount of $2,500 or less. Subsequently, Sigafus was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,363.91. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 30, 2008, in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, Timothy A. Wilson, former employee of the Stage and Picture Operators Local 271, was sentenced to two years probation for forgery. On November 16, 2007, Wilson pled guilty to a one count felony charge of forgery in the amount of $168. Prior to the investigation, Wilson paid restitution in the amount of $16,750. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 30, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704, was indicted on one count of mail fraud involving a scheme to defraud the union of approximately $31,015. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brad Harper, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,069.49. On August 9, 2007, Harper pled guilty to one count of making materially false statements on the local’s annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On January 29, 2008, an embezzlement of union funds investigation conducted by the OLMS Seattle District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement with the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement, the subject must complete 40 hours of unpaid community service work, and not hold any union office. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information. The Pre-Trial Diversion follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Kristen Swint, former Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2339-C, charging her with one count of falsifying union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for Connecticut, Timothy C. Ferrucci, former President of Northeast Emergency Services Union, was sentenced to one year probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and make restitution of $27,347. On November 2, 2007, Ferrucci pled guilty to four counts of filing a false report. Ferrucci admitted making false statements on the local's annual Form LM-3 for the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In each of the annual reports, Ferrucci understated the amount of compensation he directly or indirectly received. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigative Office.

On January 19, 2008, in the County Court of Fremont County, Colorado, Jamie Solis, former President of Steelworkers Local 594, was charged with one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $500 or more, but less than $15,000, by threat or deception. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office

On January 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Michael Rutowski, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2913, pled guilty to one count of making a false and fraudulent representation to a federal agency. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Salvatore Battaglia, former President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, the primary union that represents drivers and escorts for school bus companies in New York City, pled guilty to participating in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise in violation of 18 USC 1962 (c). Battaglia’s act included the extortion of bus company owners. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On January 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Clarence Morgan, President of Steelworkers Local 2948, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $20,499. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, James Eric Kay, former President of Boilermakers Local Lodge 523, was indicted on 43 counts of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $16,979. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Fredrick W. Jones, former Vice President of Glass, Molders, and Plastic Union Local 285, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in an amount over $10,000. Subsequently, Jones pled guilty to the offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 15, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Van Handel, former President and acting Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1980, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,500. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Terry Howell, former President of Steelworkers Local 8-505, was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including six months of house arrest, ordered to pay restitution, and fined $2,000 for embezzling $13,210 in union funds. On October 26, 2007, Howell pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Local 2013, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make restitution, pay $60 to the United States Postal Service, and a $25 special assessment. On February 23, 2007, Emel pled guilty to one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between her and the local totaling $12,864.10. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham Paul Vane, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1280, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $170,000 in union funds, and four counts of making false statements to a government agency. The final embezzlement amount will be determined at Vane’s sentencing hearing. On May 24, 2007, Vane was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same approximate amount, and four counts of false statements to a government agency. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On January 9, 2008, a failure to maintain records investigation conducted by the OLMS New Orleans District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement, the subject must make full restitution to the union, and not hold any union office during the duration of the agreement. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On January 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kurt Swanstrom, former Financial Secretary and Treasurer of PACE/USW Local 5-1560, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,327, one count of falsification of union records, and one count of filing a false labor organization report. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2339-C, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records, and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,035. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 7, 2008, in the City Court of Peekskill, New York, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards is alleged to have utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw a total of $11,243 from the union’s checking account. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

Last Updated: 02/12/10

On December 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, James Ireland, former Financial Secretary for the United Auto Workers Local 1672, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,662. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 17, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed against Kathleen Thompson, former employee of Teamsters Local 325, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $33,770. On December 21, 2007, Thompson pled guilty to the offense. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. PDF

On December 17, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Rumore, former President of Teamsters Local 812 and Joint Council 16 was indicted on charges of extortion and embezzlement. Rumore demanded and obtained services from Local 812's employees, union officers, business agents, and staff, for the personal benefit of himself and his family. These personal services were unrelated to any union business and interfered with the employees' ability to perform legitimate work on behalf of Local 812's members. Local 812's employees complied with Rumore's demands due to fear that Rumore would cause them economic harm, including the loss of their employment with Local 812.

On December 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Kathy Rankin, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union Local 512, was sentenced to three years probation. Special conditions of her probation require her to serve three months in the home confinement program and make restitution in the amount of $15,622.34. On October 12, 2007, Rankin pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 13 and 17, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Debra Timko and Danny Iverson, former Presidents of SEIU Local 150, were sentenced for failing to maintain union records. Timko was sentenced to six months home confinement, three years probation, and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $38,795.10. Iverson was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $24,853. On August 23, 2007, Timko and Iverson both pled guilty to two counts of failing to maintain union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 13, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed against Carolyn M. Wallace, former President of Steelworkers Local 02-356, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,200. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 12, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Jeffery Berger, a New York City school bus inspector, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft and bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds, in violation of 18 USC 371. He was arrested and released on a $1 million bond. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General of the New York City school bus industry that uncovered the existence of corruption in Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, the primary union that represents drivers and escorts for school bus companies in New York City.

On December 13, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Gary E. Sharp, former President and Business Manager of IBEW Local 2344, was sentenced to one year probation and a $100 special assessment. On August 28, 2007, Sharp pled guilty to one count of embezzling $630 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 13, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Financial Secretary of Machinists Lodge 2339-C, was charged with, making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 12, 2007, in the District Court of Maryland for Prince George's County, Wesley Leroy Wicks, former President of Graphic Communications International Union Local 1-C, pled guilty to one count of theft of $500.00 or greater. Subsequently, Wicks was sentenced to three years of probation, and paid restitution to the local in the amount of $4,804.70. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 10, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Danny E. Beyser, former Financial Secretary of Mine Workers Local 1638, was sentenced to one year and a day of incarceration, three years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $80,135.40, and a $100 special assessment. On October 2, 2007, Beyser pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $70,000 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Paula Adair-Butts, former office secretary for Plasterers Local 577, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $28,480. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 3, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Steve Dobyns, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 325, pled guilty to embezzling funds in the amount of $865. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On December 3, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Darren Johnson, former President of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 78, pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and incidental crimes. On November 16, 2007, Johnson was charged with stealing union funds in the amount of $4,756.75 that were within the care, custody, control, management, or possession of Comerica Bank. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Linda Leonard, former office secretary of Laborers Local 216, was charged with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 29, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Kelli Tyrell-Moore, former executive assistant of the Kansas State Nurses Association, was sentenced to eight months of confinement and three years of probation. Tyrell-Moore was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $63,307. On July 25, 2007, Tyrell-Moore pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On November 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio,William Pagano, former Secretary Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers,Branch 78, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months home confinementwith electronic monitoring and three years probation. Pagano previously plead guilty toembezzling $66,759.18 in union funds. He was also ordered to make full restitution and pay aspecial assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, William Drake, current President of Steelworkers, Local 1013T pled guilty to knowingly failing to disclose material facts on the local’s annual financial report for years 2001, 2002, and 2003. The plea agreement requires Drake to make restitution in the amount of $3,497.06. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Christina Wabinga, former Treasurer of Theatrical Employees Local B-66, was sentenced to 12 months probation, fined $2,000, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,533.49. On August 22, 2007, Wabinga pled guilty to one count of false statements and representations of fact, and one count of false entries and concealment in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On November 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kirk A. Tuttle, former Treasurer of the Professional Airline Flight Control Association - DELTA, was sentenced to 9 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and 150 hours of community service, fined $8,000 and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100. Tuttle had previously paid over $159,000 in restitution. On September 7, 2007, Tuttle pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $172,846.16. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. On September 11, 2007, Greear was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 20, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Betty Illig, former Secretary-Treasurer of GCIU Local 638-S and the Tri-State District Joint Council, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $145,675 and one count of making false statements. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On November 16, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed against Darren Johnson, former President of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 78, charging him with one count of bank robbery and incidental crimes in the amount of $4,756.75. Johnson is alleged to have intended to steal union funds within the care, custody, control, management, or possession of Comerica Bank. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 15, 2007 in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Umatilla County, Robert Steele, former President of AFGE Local 1417, was charged with theft in the first degree and misapplication of entrusted property. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brad Dubray, former Treasurer of Carpenters Local 113, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,548.11. On October 15, 2007, DuBray was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Raines, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1358, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, two years of supervised release, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $145,823.92. Raines had previously paid over $128,000 in restitution. On July 11, 2007, Raines pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $274,262.38. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 8, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Meek, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3435, was charged with one count of theft within a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States totaling $7,278.28 and two counts of making false entries on financial reports. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General.

On November 7, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Deborah Anthony, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1196, was charged with eight counts of embezzling union funds totaling $6,955.18 and one count of preparing false union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Linda Peterson, former Secretary-Treasurer of APWU Branch 715, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,905 and embezzling U.S. Postal Service funds in the amount of $3,600. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

On November 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for Connecticut, Timothy C. Ferrucci, former President of Northeast Emergency Services Union, pled guilty to four counts of filing a false report. Ferrucci admitted making false statements on the local's annual Form LM-3 for the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In each of the annual reports, Ferrucci understated the amount of compensation he directly or indirectly received. Ferrucci's plea agreement requires him to make restitution in the amount of $27,347.67. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Office.

On November 1, 1007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Scarrow, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 3749, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to serve six months of home confinement. On August 9, 2007, Scarrow pled guilty to knowingly and willfully making a false entry on the local's Form LM-3 to conceal her misappropriation of union funds. Scarrow had previously made restitution in the amount of $11,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On October 29, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mary Hartsock, former office manager of Laborers Local 1358 in Elmira, NY, pled guilty to embezzling funds of a labor organization. Hartsock admitted to taking $17,958 in receipts from the local between January 2002 and January 2007. This plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 29, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Ron Schweitzer, former President of Steelworkers Local 05-1967, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $58,305. On April 4, 2007, Schweitzer was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. PDF

On October 26, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Terry Howell, former president of Steelworkers Local 8-505, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $13,210 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the Cincinnati District Office.

On October 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Willie Haynes, former Financial Secretary of UAW Local 362, was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. Haynes had previously made restitution in the amount of $10,201.42. On July 9, 2007, Haynes pled guilty to willfully making false statements on the local's annual financial reports for the years 2001, 2002, and 2003. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On October 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Thomas Saltzman, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 418, was sentenced to five months imprisonment for embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,528.06. Upon his release from prison, Saltzman will be on supervised release for three years and must make restitution. On August 9, 2007, Saltzman pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On October 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Stephen Priest, former Financial Secretary of UAW Local 1516, was indicted on twelve counts of embezzling funds of a labor organization in the amount of $97,899.19. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 18, 2007, in the Justice Court of Copiah County, Mississippi, Luke Funchess, Roger Hartley, Charles Funchess, Patricia West-Benson and Jack Virgil, former officers of IUE/CWA Local 83-799, were charged with one count of obtaining signature or thing of value with intent to defraud. The former officers filed false lost time vouchers to obtain funds from the local. Subsequently, the former officers each pled guilty to the offense and were ordered to pay court fees and restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Heather Lott, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 19, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $140,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 17, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Sandra Gorman, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11's ODOT Assembly, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Kathy Rankin, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Transportation Communications Union Local 512, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,622.34. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 21, 2007. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On October 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Denise Nichols, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 4050 in Detroit, Michigan, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,804.20. On August 31, 2007, Nichols was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 11, 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, an indictment was unsealed charging Donna Hammock, aka Donna Jackson or Donna Jones, former President of the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 2096, with two counts of making false and fraudulent statements to a federal department or agency. The indictment alleges that Hammock willfully made false and fraudulent statements and representations as to material facts on the local's Form LM-3. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 11, 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, an indictment was unsealed charging Esau Faaitiiti and Arthur Clark, former President and Vice President, respectively, of the Department of Defense Police Officers Association Local 57 (now known as the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12), with making false statements and aiding and abetting. The indictment alleges that Faaitiiti and Clark knowingly and willfully omitted payments they received from the union, in the amounts of $5,000 for Faaitiiti and $9,900 for Clark, on the local's Form LM- 3. The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Thomas R. Ehlis, former Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 1768, was sentenced to two years probation for embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,619. Ehlis had previously made restitution of the full amount. On May 17, 2007, Ehlis was charged with one count of embezzlement of union assets in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On October 3, 2007, in the Circuit Court of Wayne County, Indiana, Curtis Pittinger, former President of IBEW Local 2043, was charged with three counts of theft of approximately $10,300 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On October 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Curtis Smith and Steve Dobyns, former President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of Glass Molders Plastics Local 325, were charged with embezzling union funds. Smith was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $904.48, while Dobyns was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $850. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On October 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Danny E. Beyser, former Financial Secretary of Mineworkers Local 1638, pled guilty to embezzling over $70,000 in union funds. On June 5, 2007, Beyser was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $83,274.39. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dwayne Giles, former President of APWU Local 238, was sentenced to five years probation for conspiracy to embezzle union funds. As special conditions of his probation, Giles was ordered to make $11,959.44 in restitution and serve six months in home confinement. On May 30, 2007, Giles pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On September 26, 2007, in the District Court for Douglas County, Wisconsin, John F. Sigafus, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 335-W, was charged with Business Theft over $5,000 and Forgery. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 25, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Frank M. McEvoy, former Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Laborers Locals 1370 and 123, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,167.50 from Local 1370 and one count of embezzling union funds totaling $23,779 from Local 123. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Paula Adair-Butts, former office secretary of Plasterers Local 577, was indicted on four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $28,480.96. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 20, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Klope, former Financial Secretary of Boilermakers Lodge 8-S, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,794. Under the special conditions of his probation, Klope is required to spend the first six months on home detention and perform 100 hours of public service. On June 13, 2007, Klope pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount; Klope had previously paid full restitution to the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 20, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, James Douglas, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastic Local 220, was sentenced to 2 years probation and 240 hours of community service. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 20, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Jose Ocasio, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 404, was sentenced to 2 years probation and 240 hours of community service. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 17, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Marlene Watson, former President of the Associated Field Representatives (AFR), was sentenced to 12 months probation for falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union. Watson previously made restitution in the amount of $9,030. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Capece, former Business Manger/Financial-Secretary of IBEW Local 163 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $256,000. On September 4, 2007, Capece was charged with knowingly and willfully embezzling union funds in the same amount. The information and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, William J. Pagano, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 78, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $66,759.18. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37 Secretary-Treasurer Randy Greear was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 6, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Richard Lopez, Mark Jones, Cassandra Mosely, and David Rodriquez, current president, former business agents, and former organizer, respectively, of Teamsters Local 743, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to deprive Local 743 members of their honest services and to embezzle, or steal, the official ballots in the 2004 election of officers. Lopez and Jones were each charged with one count each of embezzlement or theft of union property, that being the official ballots, while Moseley and Rodriquez were each charged with two counts of embezzlement or theft of union property, also being the official ballots. The indictment alleges that between August and December 2004, Lopez, Mosely, Jones and Rodriguez engaged in a scheme to rig the election by diverting official ballot packages to their friends, family and associates, and casting the ballots or causing them to be cast in both the October and December 2004 elections for incumbent officers, known as the "Unity Slate," to ensure their election. The seven-count indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On September 6, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nathaniel Marc Greene, former President of AFGE Local 2562, was sentenced to 10 months confinement, three years probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $55,955.76. Greene knowingly and willfully made or used a false writing or document and knew the local's Form LM-3 contained a materially false statement or entry at the time he made or used the report. On April 4, 2007, Greene pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.

On August 31, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jorge Aponte-Figueroa, former President of International Longshoremen's Association Local Union 1740 was sentenced to five years of imprisonment, and three years of supervised release for embezzling 1.9 million dollars in union funds. On April 2, 2007, Aponte-Figueroa was found guilty of twelve counts of embezzlement, five counts of false reporting on LM reports, conspiracy, and money laundering. The sentencing follows a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On August 31, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Judy A. Thurman, former Treasurer of Federated Independent Texas Union (FITU) Local 900 pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $164,268.50. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 31, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Denise M. Nichols, former Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 4050, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,804.20 and two counts of false records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Gary E. Sharp, former Business Manager of IBEW Local 2, pled guilty to one count of embezzling, stealing, and willfully converting to his own use $630 of union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On August 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James B. Green, former Secretary-Treasurer of Railroad Signalmen's Local Lodge 49, was sentenced to 25 months confinement, three years probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $500, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $36,025.80. On May 17, 2007, Green pled guilty to five counts of embezzlement of labor organization funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Debra M. Timko and Danny L. Iverson, former Presidents of Service Employees Local 150, pled guilty to two counts of willful failure to maintain union records. Iverson and Timko failed to generate and maintain adequate and necessary records to establish that various payments made by Local 150 were proper under the union's policies. The payments included reimbursement of expenses incurred by Iverson and Timko that were not reimbursable due to their failure to comply with the union's policies. Under their plea agreements, Iverson and Timko agreed to make restitution totaling approximately $63,000. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 22, 2007, Carson Combs, former secretary treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1771 in Sparta, WI was charged by the Monroe County, WI District Attorney’s Office with theft from Local Lodge 1771 in the amount of $401. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Christina Wabinga, former Treasurer of Theatrical Employees Local B-66, pled guilty to one count of false statements and representations of fact, and one count of false entries and concealment in union records. Wabinga agreed to pay restitution totaling $3,533.49, and $2,000 in fines. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 17, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, William Kendrick, former Treasurer of APWU Local 238, was sentenced to six months of home detention, five years probation, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $26,236.94. On May 23, 2007, Kendrick pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On August 16, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Terry Howell, former President of USWA Local 8-505, was charged with embezzling $13,210.86 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Bridgett C. Hooks, former Secretary-Treasurer of the American Postal Workers Local 332, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,820.17. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, James Douglas, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 220, pled guilty to concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. Douglas destroyed the records to conceal his embezzlement of approximately $12,857 in union funds. On July 2, 2007, an information was filed against Douglas charging him with one count of concealing, withholding, and destroying union financial records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Claudia R. Thompson, former President of PACE (now Steelworkers) Local 513, was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,201.68, and ordered to attend a substance abuse program. On May 15, 2007, Thompson pled guilty to one count of willfully making false entries in financial records to conceal her embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On August 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Thomas Saltzman, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 418, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,010. On February 21, 2007, Saltzman was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On August 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Scarrow, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 3749, pled guilty to one felony count of knowingly and willfully making a false entry on a Form LM-3 Report to conceal her misappropriation of union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On August 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brad Harper, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, pled guilty to one count of making materially false statements on the annual financial report filed by Local 1629. On June 5, 2007, Harper was indicted on three counts of making false reports. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 7, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David Hlavacek, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Local 7065 and the Missouri State Postal Workers Union, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $4,783. On January 18, 2007, Hlavacek pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Lorraine Payton, former President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Veterans Administration Council, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud. On March 16, 2007, Payton was charged in a superseding indictment with mail fraud and false statements to a government agency. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Brenda Sue Myers, also known as Brenda Sue Barnett, former President of AFGE Local 2282, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. Subsequently, Myers was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,500 and sentenced to three years supervised release. On July 2, 2007, Myers was charged with falsely reporting that Local 2282 disbursed loans in the amount of $21,500, when she knew that statement was materially false and that she had taken the money for her own personal use. The plea and sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 30, 2007, in Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Bradley Burton, former Executive Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, was charged with one count of second degree theft for causing the AFL-CIO to pay $7,663.34 in meal expenses for his wife. Subsequently, Burton pled guilty to the information and received a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail, 70 hours of community service, probation for one year, a $350 fine and was ordered to make any restitution that had not already been repaid. The information, plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed against William J. Pagano, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 78, charging him with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $66,759.18. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On July 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Walter Fisher, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1949, was sentenced to six months in prison to be followed by six months of home detention and two years probation. Fisher was ordered to attend drug and alcohol counseling, gambling counseling and financial management counseling. Fisher was also ordered to pay $45,000 restitution to the union. On May 3, 2007, Fisher pled guilty to one count of embezzling more than $30,000, but less than $70,000, in union funds. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 25, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Kelli Tyrell-Moore, former executive assistant of the Kansas State Nurses Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On April 18, 2007, Tyrell-Moore was charged with embezzling $63,397.16 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On July 23, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Michael A. Pingitore, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Delaware Rural Letter Carriers Association, pled guilty to six counts of embezzling union funds totaling $58,908.38. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the USPS Office of the Inspector General.

On July 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Frederick Contini, developer of the 2 Broadway Project, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make $8,085,000 in restitution. On March 31, 2003, Contini pled guilty to Conspiracy to Receive, Possess and Dispose of Money Obtained by Fraud and Transported Across State Lines, Obstruction of Justice, and engaging in an Unlawful Monetary Transaction. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI of members and union officials of Elevator Constructors Local One.

On July 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Northern Division), Willie Haynes, former Financial Secretary of UAW Local 362, pled guilty to one count of willfully making false statements on the annual financial reports (Form LM-2) filed by Local 362 for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003. On June 19, 2007, Haynes was charged with making false statements and representations of material facts. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 7, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Larry Haislip, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 09-7509-S, was sentenced to six months probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.00, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $49,428.78. On January 23, 2007, Haislip pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor organization funds in the amount of $1,702.97. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On July 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, an information was filed against Brenda Sue Myers, also known as Brenda Sue Barnett, former President of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2282, charging her with falsely reporting that the union had disbursed loans in the amount of $21,500.00, when she knew that statement was materially false and that she had taken the money for her own personal use. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, an information was filed against James E. Douglas, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 220, charging him with concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, an information was filed against Jose Ocasio, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 404, charging him with making false entries in union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Maria Clayton, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 236A, was sentenced to six years probation, which includes three months of home confinement. Clayton was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $41,126 and continue counseling. On December 5, 2006, Clayton pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Anthony C. Price, former Business Manager and Recording Secretary of ILA Local 1316, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $11,804 and pay a special assessment of $100. On March 13, 2007, Price pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 22, 2007, in the County Court of Sarpy County, Nebraska, Nancy Stanek, was convicted of Criminal Attempt - Second Degree Forgery and sentenced to twelve months probation. On April 13, 2006, Stanek, the wife of Roofers Local 85's president, pled guilty to forging $5,100 in unauthorized checks drawn on the local's account. The conviction and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On June 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Willie Dell Clark, former Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 36, was ordered to serve 180 days of home confinement, monitored by an electronic bracelet; followed by a three-year probationary sentence including mandatory community service of 250 hours. Clark was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $69,095.60, and to pay an assessment of $100. On July 1, 2004, Clark pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 8330, was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, five years probation, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $25,891.11. On March 15, 2007, Walters pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 22, 2007, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Kermit Dorsey, former Regional Administrator of CWA District 7, was sentenced to 500 hours of community service to be completed within three years and a term of probation to expire at the completion of the community service. On March 13, 2007, Dorsey pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,798.29. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kenneth E. Hilbish, former President of Teamsters Local 528, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,000 and pay a special assessment fee of $100. Hilbish was also barred from holding union office for 13 years. From 2001-2002, Hilbish unlawfully obtained assets of Local 528 totaling $21,305. On October 20, 2006, Hilbish pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On June 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Vicky Liefer, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Mine Workers Local 1458, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,019. On March 1, 2007, Liefer pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James F. Hill, former president of Fellow Associates Involved in Representation (FAIR), an independent union, was sentenced to four years probation, assessed a fee of $100, and ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $9,456. On March 12, 2007, Hill pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 13, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Klope, former Financial Secretary of Boilermakers Lodge 8-S, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On January 11, 2007, Klope was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,794. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 12, 2007, Lisa Oatman, former recording secretary of Carpenters Local 1594 in Wausau, WI was charged by the Marathon County, WI District Attorney’s Office with theft from Local 1594 in an amount greater than $2,500 but less than $5,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On June 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Linda Holden, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 639 (formerly PACE Local 6-639), was ordered to serve a two-year probationary sentence that includes 180 days of home confinement. Holden was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $74,090.09, a special assessment of $100, and to continue counseling. On August 29, 2006, Holden pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Hohlbauch, former Financial Secretary of AFSCME Local 3600, was sentenced to two years probation for willfully making false entries in financial records. On April 11, 2007, Hohlbauch pled guilty to making the false entries to conceal his embezzlement of $5,073 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 11 and 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence Marable and Deborah Powell, former President and Treasurer, respectively, of AFGE Local1793, representing employees at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, both pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, five counts of theft of property in a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of making a false statement. Marable and Powell conspired to convert dues checkoff checks and issue Local 1793 checks for their personal use totaling $184,129.85. The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

On June 11, 2007, in the Logan County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, an embezzlement investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office resulted in the subject entering into the Pre-Trial Diversion program. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion agreement the subject must pay costs of prosecution and complete a minimum of 18 months of supervised release. The subject made restitution prior to the agreement. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On June 6, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Martin Hayes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1671, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,033.25. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James A. Pulsifer, a certified public accountant, was sentenced to 1 year probation and a $1000 fine for making a false representation of a material fact. In the course of making accounting adjustments, Pulsifer misclassified expenditures by approximately $500,000 when he prepared the Form LM-2 for the Seattle-based Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). SPEEA officers who signed the report believed that it was free of errors and in compliance with Department of Labor regulations. On February 20, 2007, Pulsifer pled guilty to knowingly making a false statement or representation of a material fact in a report required to be filed with the United States Department of Labor. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Danny E. Beyser, former Financial Secretary of Mineworkers Local 1638, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $83,274.39. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brad Harper, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, was indicted on three counts of making false reports. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On June 4, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Kenneth H. Mays, former Treasurer of IBEW Local 1053, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,197. On January 16, 2007, Mays pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor organization funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 31, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kirk A. Tuttle, former Treasurer of the Professional Airline Flight Control Association - DELTA, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of labor union funds totaling approximately $172,846.16. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 25, 2007, in Massachusetts Pittsfield District Court, Norman M. Haskins, former Treasurer of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 01-62, pled guilty to larceny over $250. Haskins was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,192 and pay an assessment of $50. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On May 25, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles "Chuck" Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for embezzlement, mail fraud relating to a union election, and making false entries into the union's records. Additionally, Crawley was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $121,478. On December 8, 2006, Crawley was convicted of mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the local union members' right to honest services by using the mail during an October 2002 union officer election. Crawley was also convicted of embezzling union property in the form of a ballot and address labels in connection with the election. In addition, he was convicted of arranging and accepting a $20,000 kickback from the installer of a telephone system into the union's hall and of falsifying the voucher for the telephone installation. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On May 25, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, David Taylor, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters and Millwrights Local 1402, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and fined $35,074.18. Taylor had previously paid full restitution to the union plus more than $14,000 in interest. On October 10, 2006, Taylor pled guilty to one count of making false statements on an LM report as part of a scheme to embezzle $72,422 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 25, 2007, in Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Quentin Womack, former Secretary-Treasurer of Service Employees International Union, Conference of Firemen and Oilers Local 1050, pled guilty to one count of second degree theft and was subsequently sentenced to 120 days suspended sentence, nine months of supervised probation and ordered to make restitution. On March 28, 2007, Womack was charged with one count of First Degree Theft for embezzling $3,326.80 from the union. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, James Russell, former Treasurer of Stage & Picture Operators Local 9, located in Syracuse, NY, was sentenced to five years probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution. On January 19, 2007, Russell pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $54,776.65. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham Paul Vane, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1280, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of labor union funds totaling over $170,000 and four counts of making false statements to a Government Agency. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, William Kendrick, former Treasurer of APWU Local 238, pled guilty to conspiring to embezzle union funds. Kendrick and Dwayne Giles, former Local 238 President, co-signed checks that allowed Kendrick to embezzle approximately $26,237 in union funds. On February 28, 2007, Kendrick was charged with one count of conspiring to embezzle union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On May 23, 2007, in the County Court of Adams County, Colorado, William J Kohut, former Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1755, was charged with Theft (One Count), Identity Theft (One Count), Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device (One Count), and Forgery (One Count), in connection with his alleged conversion of union funds totaling $2,839.65. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 17, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Thomas R. Ehlis, former Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 1769, was charged with one count of embezzlement of union assets in the amount of $5,619.90. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On May 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Claudia R. Thompson, former President of PACE (now Steelworkers) Local 513, pled guilty to one count of willfully making false entries in financial records to conceal her embezzlement of $26,201 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Janet Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service. Additionally, Humphries was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,149, and to pay a special assessment of $500. On November 13, 2006, Humphries pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of embezzlement for conspiring to finance Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Council with Local 99 funds, and for using union funds to pay for a trip to the Virgin Islands for her daughters and a family friend. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission.

On May 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Raines, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1358 was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $274,262.39, and one count of bank fraud. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On May 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Kostelac, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Local 906, was sentenced to six months home detention, five years probation, a $100 special assessment, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,079.38. On February 7, 2007, Kostelac pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Catherine Crosier, former employee of the Maine Education Association, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $45,500. On November 27, 2006, Crosier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in excess of $30,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On May 3, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Walter Fisher, former Treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1949, pled guilty to one count of embezzling more than $30,000, but less than $70,000, in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, an embezzlement investigation conducted by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement, the subject agreed to one year of court supervision, 150 hours of community service, and restitution. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On April 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis P. Harper, former Branch President and advocate of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was sentenced to three years probation, including three months house arrest and ordered to make restitution of $2,543.10. On December 20, 2006, Harper was convicted of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On April 27, 2007 in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania-Philadelphia County, Evelyn Lewis, former Secretary-Treasurer of RWDSU, Local 1034 in Philadelphia, was charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking (One Count), Theft by Deception (One Count), Failure to Make Required Disposition of Funds Received (One Count), Access Device Fraud (One Count) and Conspiracy (One Count), in connection with her alleged embezzlement of $10,265 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 26, 2007, an embezzlement investigation conducted by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement with Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 38th Judicial Circuit. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On April 25, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Marlene Watson, former President of the Associated Field Representatives (AFR), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $9,030 and one count of making a false statement in an annual financial disclosure report. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 24, 2007, in the Justice Court of Las Vegas Township for Clark County, Nevada, Tiffany Stone [aka Tiffany Huntsman], former dues clerk of Sheet Metal Workers Local 88, was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000. On February 21, 2007, Stone pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $10,540. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On April 23, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas P. Obzut, former Secretary-Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), Local 735S was sentenced to two years probation, the first six months to be served under house arrest, a $500 fine, a $100 special victim assessment, and psychiatric counseling as directed by the US Probation Department for gambling addiction. Obzut has made full restitution to the union. On November 30, 2006, Obzut pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,099.17. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Kelli Tyrell-Moore, former employee of Kansas Nursing Association, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $63,397.16. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigative Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

 

On April 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Judy A. Thurman, former Treasurer of Federated Independent Texas Union, Local 900, in Fort Worth, Texas, was indicted on 13 counts of embezzling union funds totaling $44,462, and six counts of willful falsification of union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On April 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Leonard Capozzoli, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,216, and a $200 special assessment. On March 27, 2002, Capozzoli pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On April 17, 2007, in the Iowa District Court of Woodbury County, Marcia Dewey, former Secretary- Treasurer of AFGE Local 769, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Theft and was subsequently sentenced to a five year suspended sentence and placed on two years probation. On January 11, 2007, Dewey was charged with stealing union funds in the amount of $1,525. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On April 10, 2007, in the Monroe County (Indiana) Circuit Court, Glenn Collins, former President/Business Manager of IBEW Local 2249, pled guilty to criminal conversion of union funds. Collins was fined $250 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $840. In addition, Collins agreed to a 13 year bar from holding union office or employment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 14, 2007 in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania- Philadelphia County Court, Gerard Groom, former President of RWDSU, Local 1034 in Philadelphia was charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking (One Count), Theft by Deception (One Count), Failure to Make Required Disposition of Funds Received (One Count), Access Device Fraud (One Count) and Conspiracy (One Count), in connection with his alleged embezzlement of $13,040 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office

On April 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Hohlbauch, former President of AFSCME Local 3600, pled guilty to one count of willfully making false entries in financial records to conceal his embezzlement of $5,073 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 6, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Kathy Schurosky, former office manager for Carpenters Local 2520, was sentenced to six months probation and a special assessment of $25 for willfully making false entries in the financial records of a labor organization. Schurosky had previously made full restitution in the amount of $3,397.86. On April 5, 2006, Schurosky pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of willfully making false entries in union financial records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 4, 2007 in the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas, a warrant was issued charging Carl Oliver, a former employee of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, with two counts of theft and one count of forgery associated with the loss of $4,432.67 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On April 4, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nathaniel Marc Greene, former President of AFGE Local 2562, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. Greene admitted that he knowingly and willfully made or used a false writing or document and knew the local’s Form LM-3 contained a materially false statement or entry at the time he made or used the report. Restitution will be determined at sentencing which has not yet been scheduled. The plea agreement follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On April 4, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ronald Schweitzer, former President of PACE Local 1967, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $58,305.30. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On April 3, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, William I. Brown, former Business Manager of Plumbers Local 237 in Texarkana, Texas, was indicted on eight counts of embezzling union and apprenticeship funds totaling over $86,500. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office, the Dallas Regional Office of the Department of Labor’s Employment Benefit Securities Administration and the Dallas Office of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On April 4, 2007 in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Court, Derek Baldwin, former President of the Workers Independent Union was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $8,200 in restitution. Baldwin pled guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and securing execution of documents by deception. On August 14, 2006, a criminal complaint was filed against Baldwin charging him with theft by deception, tampering with records, forgery, and receipt of stolen property for his theft of $12,700 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew Konspore, former Treasurer for Northeast Emergency Services Union, a labor organization representing paramedics and emergency medical technicians in New Haven, Connecticut, was sentenced to five months incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation. The first five months of the supervised probation will be under monitored home confinement. Konspore was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $91,605.39, and a special assessment of $100.00. On September 28, 2006, Konspore pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On April 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jorge Aponte-Figueroa, President of International Longshoremen's Association Local Union 1740, was found guilty of twelve counts of embezzlement, five counts of false reporting on LM reports, conspiracy, and money laundering. On July 19, 2005, Aponte-Figueroa was charged, among other counts, with conspiracy to embezzle union funds in excess of $1,950,000, falsely reporting the amount of dues paid to Local 1740 on Forms LM-2 and LM-3, and failing to report $1,489,478.89. After the verdict was announced, Aponte-Figueroa was immediately arrested and imprisoned. He faces 14 to 15 years in prison.

A second trial is expected to begin this summer, involving ERISA violations in which Aponte-Figueroa and others are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully convert ERISA funds exceeding $8,000,000 to their own use. The conviction was a result of an on-going joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico

On March 30, 2007, in Albany County, New York, Court, John T. Daley, the former chief financial officer of the New York State Nurses Association Albany, NY, was sentenced to 3 1/3 to 10 years imprisonment and ordered to make restitution. On January 4, 2007, Daley pled guilty to grand larceny in the second degree for taking $1,193,869.79 in union funds. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.

On March 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Dowdell and Tom Honold, former President and Secretary-Treasurer , respectively, for Communications Workers, Local 23 were sentenced for making false entries in union financial records. Dowdell was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $3,192.99 to the CWA International. Honold was sentenced to two years of probation, three months of which is house arrest. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $4,458.56 to the CWA International and a $1,000 fine. The $1,000 fine was waived because Honold provided proof that he was financially unable to pay it. On December 5, 2006, Dowdell and Honold each pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records.

On March 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kay Joy Andrews, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1780, was sentenced to 5 years probation, including 6 months home confinement. Andrews was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $40,086.50. On September 29, 2006, she pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $55,765.75. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigative Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Allison Cole, former office secretary for Letter Carriers Branch 30, was sentenced to a term of three years probation. Cole was also ordered to make restitution of $4,731.49. On November 21, 2006, Cole pled guilty to making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigative Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Tammara Schultz, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers Local 4101, was sentenced to two years probation, including six months of home confinement for making false entries in the union's financial records. Shultz was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $22,499.93. On December 14, 2006, she pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 15, 2007, in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, Suzanne Green, former bookkeeper of IBEW Local 613, entered an Alford plea as part of a plea agreement. Under the plea agreement, Green agreed to make complete restitution of $11,203.00 and serve five years probation, of which three years are to be supervised. On July 11, 2006, Green was charged with one count of theft-by-taking of union funds in the amount of $11,203.00. The plea agreement follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 8330, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012. On October 4, 2006, Walters was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount and five counts of falsification of union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Judith Ann Banks Sims, former operator of Professional Employee Leasing, Inc.(PEL), an employee leasing company associated with PACE Local 03-543, was sentenced to twelve months home confinement, two years probation, and a special assessment of $100. On February 9, 2006, Sims pled guilty to one count of false statements and concealment of facts in relation to documents required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 14, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Timothy Pulvermacher, former Financial Secretary for USWA Local 9444 in Plymouth, MN, was sentenced to 180 days home confinement followed by five years supervised release. Pulvermacher was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $29,062.10. On November 7, 2006, Pulvermacher pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 13, 2007, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kermit Dorsey, former CWA District Seven Regional Administrator, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization. Dorsey embezzled $22,798.29 from the union by submitting approximately 200 fraudulent restaurant receipts with his expense vouchers and receiving reimbursements based on those receipts. On January 26, 2007, Dorsey was charged with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James Frederick Hill, former President of Fellow Associates Involved in Representation (FAIR), an independent union, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $9,456. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 8, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Keith H. Cook, former Secretary Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 620 was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $48,287.47 and one count of willfully making a false entry in union records. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 6, 2007, in Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Delores Walker, former Secretary of AFGE Local 476, was indicted on one count of fraud, one count of first degree theft, and eighteen counts of second degree theft. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 6, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, a criminal information was filed against James Frederick Hill, former President of Fellow Associates Involved in Representation (FAIR). Hill was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,456. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 6, 2007, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Christine Smith, former President of AFGE Local 2028, pled guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of forgery. Smith was sentenced to seven years probation for each count to run consecutively and required to make restitution in the amount of $64,299. Smith was also barred from holding union office for 13 years. Prior to sentencing, Smith made an initial restitution payment of $3,000. Additionally, the court ordered Smith to sell or re-finance any properties she owned to pay the restitution, and set July 31, 2007 as the expected date for Smith to make "a significant and substantial payment" toward restitution or she will be incarcerated. On April 17, 2006, Smith was charged with 53 counts of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On March 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love, former President of AFGE Local 96, was sentenced to 18 months incarceration to be followed by three years of probation. Love was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $69,725. On November 15, 2006, Love was convicted on two counts of making a false statement on a Form LM-3 and one count of larceny within a special maritime jurisdiction. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On March 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Vicky Liefer, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Mine Workers Local 1458, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,019. On January 11, 2007, Liefer was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On February 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dwayne Giles and William Kendrick, former President and Treasurer, respectively, for APWU Local 238, were charged in a one-count indictment with conspiring to embezzle union funds. The two are alleged to have co-signed checks that allowed Giles to embezzle approximately $15,589 and Kendricks to embezzle approximately $26,237 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On February 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Penny Suddith, former Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Union #14426 in Peoria, IL, was sentenced to six months of home confinement followed by three years of probation. Suddith was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,906.88. On November 14, 2006, Suddith pled guilty to one count of filing false reports. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On February 27, 2007, in Circuit Court, Burnett County, WI, James L. Turner, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFGE Council 33, Bureau of Prisons Locals, was convicted of theft in violation of a Burnett County ordinance. Turner was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,600, and a forfeiture of $709. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President for American Postal Workers Local 2013, entered a guilty plea for falsification of union records. Emel was ordered to return any union records in her possession to the local union within 20 days and to make restitution to the union in an amount to be determined at a later date. On December 29, 2006, Emel was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Thomas E. Saltzman, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 418, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The indictment was the result of an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On February 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Catherine Bronson, former Business Representative for Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 21 in Rochester, MN, was sentenced to 180 days home confinement followed by three years of supervised release. Bronson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $28,850. On September 7, 2006, Bronson was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $35,675. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 21, 2007, in the Justice Court of Las Vegas Township for Clark County, Nevada, Tiffany Stone [aka Tiffany Huntsman], former dues clerk for Sheet Metal Workers Local 88, pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds and agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution. On September 1, 2006, Stone was indicted for theft of union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigative Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On February 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Connie Jacobs, former office manager for IBEW Local 495, was sentenced to twelve months and one day incarceration to be followed by three years probation. Jacobs was ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100 and pay restitution in the amount of $119,431.56. On November 14, 2006, Jacobs pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 20, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James A. Pulsifer, a certified public accountant, pled guilty to a false representation of a material fact. Pulsifer admitted that that in the course of making accounting adjustments, he misclassified expenditures by approximately $500,000 when he prepared the Form LM-2 report for the Seattle-based Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). SPEEA officers who signed the report believed that it was free of any errors and in full compliance with the Department of Labor regulations. On November 30, 2006, Pulsifer was charged with knowingly making a false statement or representation of a material fact, in a document, report or other information required to be filed with the United States Department of Labor. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office. [Related documents: HTML| PDF]

On February 16, 2007, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Michael Griffie, an electrical contractor, was sentenced to one year of community control. On March 30, 2006, Griffie was charged with aggravated theft of property or services worth $100,000 or more from IBEW Local 212, and with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding the local. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 13, 2007, an embezzlement investigation conducted by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office resulted in the subject entering into the Pre-Trial Diversion program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson County Circuit Court. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion agreement, the subject must complete two years supervised release. The subject made restitution prior to the agreement. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On February 13, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James B. Green, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local Lodge 49, was indicted on five counts of embezzling union funds totaling $36,025.80. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 9, 2007, in the Pittsfield Massachusetts District Court, a criminal complaint was issued against Norman Haskins, former Treasurer for NAGE Local 01-62, charging him with larceny in the amount of $2,192. The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 8, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Debra M. Timko and Danny L. Iverson, former Presidents of Service Employees, Local 150, were charged in a 33-count superseding indictment with mail and wire fraud, embezzlement, and failure to maintain union records as part of a scheme to defraud the union of over $90,000. The indictment supersedes a March 21, 2006 indictment. Timko and Iverson allegedly schemed to defraud the union by receiving duplicate payments for expenses, receiving reimbursement for charges to a union credit card, and receiving reimbursement for meal expenses incurred on days in which they claimed and received a full day of per diem. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 8, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office & Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 112, was sentenced to two years probation that will include four months in a community corrections center and a special assessment fee of $100, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,543.60. On October 23, 2006, Hollis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in an amount over $20,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 7, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Kostelac, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Local 906, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On November 29, 2006, Kostelac was charged in a 16-count indictment with embezzling $13,748.22 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Patrick Kennedy, former Financial Secretary for Painters Local 720, was sentenced to five years probation; six months home confinement; drug treatment; no gambling; $100 court fine; and ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $15,621.81. On October 31, 2006, Kennedy pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 6, 2007, in the United States District Court for Eastern District of New York, Charles Novak, former Executive Vice President for Elevator Constructors Local One was re-sentenced by a US District Court Judge to 97 months in prison. Novak appealed his original sentence of nine years imprisonment and three years supervised release for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. The case is a result of a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.

On February 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judy Cary, former Office Manager for CWA Local 6127, was sentenced to five years probation, three months home confinement, and 300 hours of community service. Cary was ordered to pay a $7500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $25,267 in restitution. On August 31, 2006, Cary pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 1, 2007, an embezzlement investigation conducted by the OLMS Seattle District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement with the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement, the subject must make full restitution to the union, pay an administrative fee, and comply with other conditions of the program. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.

On January 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David Hlavacek, Secretary-Treasurer for APWU Local 7065 and Missouri State Postal Workers' Union, entered a plea of guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $6,383 from the labor organizations. On December 18, 2006, Hlavacek had been charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 26, 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, criminal information was filed against Kermit Dorsey, former CWA District 7 Regional Administrator, charging him with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, was sentenced to one week of imprisonment followed by three years probation with the first 120 days to be served in a half-way house. Liming was ordered to pay a $250 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $2,421 in restitution to Franklin Savings & Loan. On October 3, 2006, Liming pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. Liming falsely represented that he was acting on behalf of the local when he obtained a loan from the bank, the proceeds of which he used for personal purposes. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On January 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, information was filed against Larry Haislip, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 7509, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,702.97. On January 23, 2007, Haislip pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The information and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On January 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District Of Alaska, Kathy Schurosky, former employee for Carpenters Local 2520, was charged with one count of making false entries in union records in the amount of $2,360. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 22, 2007, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Michael Griffie entered a plea of no contest to unauthorized use of property. On March 30, 2006, Griffie was charged with aggravated theft of property or services worth $100,000 or more from IBEW Local 212, and with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding the local. The no contest plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 19, 2007, in the Iowa District Court of Woodbury County, arrest warrants were issued for Marcia Dewey, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFGE Local 769, charging her with one count of theft and two counts of forgery for drawing $1,525 in unauthorized checks from the union's account. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On January 19, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, James Russell, former Treasurer for Stage & Picture Operators Local 9 pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $54,776.65. On April 19, 2006, Russell was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Danna France, former Secretary/Treasurer for AFGE Local 96, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make $26,950.90 in restitution to the local. On October 27, 2006, France pled guilty to one count of willfully submitting to the Department of Labor an annual financial report containing false information. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Klope, former Financial Secretary for Boilermakers Lodge 8-S, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,794. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Vicky Liefer, former Secretary/Treasurer for United Mine Workers Local 1458, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,019.50. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Hohlbauch, former Financial Secretary for AFSCME Local 3600, was indicted on one count of making a false entry in a union record. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 10, 2007, in the Monroe County (Indiana) Circuit Court, Glenn Collins, current President of IBEW Local 2249, was charged with knowingly exerting unauthorized control over Local 2249's property with intent to deprive the local of any part of its value or use. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On January 8, 2007, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Kathryn Stark, former office manager for IBEW Local 31, was sentenced to six-month confinement followed by 150 days of home detention, and three-years supervised release. Stark was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,376.89 plus an additional $26,783.64 in investigative costs incurred by the local. On September 7, 2006, Stark was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 4, 2007, in Albany County, New York Court, John T. Daley, the former chief financial officer of the New York State Nurses Association pled guilty to grand larceny in the second degree. Daley admitted to taking $1,193,869.79 from the union. On November 21, 2006, Daley was indicted on one count of grand larceny in the first degree. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.

On December 29, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Union Local # 2013, was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and Local 2013. The agreement purportedly allowed Emel to borrow approximately $7000 of her USPS salary from the local and required her to repay the loan by the end of her term in office. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the United States Postal Service Inspector General's Office.

On December 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Lisa Webb, former Financial Secretary for Glass Molders Plastics Local 48, was sentenced to 60 months probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,601.30 and to pay a $100 special assessment. On August 2, 2006, Webb pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $25,871. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On December 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Walter Fisher, former Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 1949, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The charges are the result of an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis P. Harper, former Branch President and advocate for National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was convicted of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,543.10. On May 30, 2006, Harper was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $4,851.00. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary for UAW Local 651, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution to the bonding company, Zurich North America, in the amount of $20,401.46 and to pay a $100 special assessment. On September 13, 2006, Winchester pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office and the Detroit Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David E. Hlavacek, Secretary Treasurer for American Postal Workers' Union Local 7065 and the Missouri State Postal Workers' Union, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,383. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jackie Uptegrove, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge M-146, was charged with one count of making false entries in union records in the amount of $16,628. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni Segura, former clerk/secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18, was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to make restitution to the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland in the amount of $5,548.98 immediately. On August 8, 2006, Segura pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,729. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez Gonzales, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1662, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $27,405. On June 8, 2005, Gonzales pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of the Industrial Division of IUE-CWA Local 84101, was sentenced to three years probations and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,684.23 and pay a special assessment of $100. On September 21, 2006, Robinson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 14, 2006, in the Superior Court of California-County of Los Angeles, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by six months of electronic monitoring, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of over $36,000 on state charges for making illegal contributions to former Secretary-Treasurer Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Council. On November 13, 2006, Humphries pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of embezzling union funds. Humphries is set to be sentenced under federal guidelines on February 18, 2007. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement.

On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Tammara Schultz, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers Local 4101, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records in order to conceal her embezzlement of approximately $22,500 in union funds. On November 20, 2006, an information was filed against Schultz charging her with one count of making false entries in the union's financial records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On December 11, 2006, in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania- Philadelphia Courts, Patricia Sweeney, former administrative assistant for Service Employees Local 36, was charged with theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receipt of stolen property, and five counts of forgery in the amount of $5,935 in union funds. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was found guilty of mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the local union members' right to honest services by using the mail during an October 2002 union officer election. Crawley was also convicted of embezzling union property in the form of a ballot and address labels in connection with the election. In addition, he was convicted of arranging and accepting a $20,000 kickback from the installer of a telephone system into the union's hall and of falsifying the voucher for the telephone installation. On June 8, 2006, Crawley was charged with one count each of mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,000. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $5,409.27 within 30 days. On August 3, 2006, Peterson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309.27. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Dowdell and Tom Honold, former President and Secretary-Treasurer , respectively, for Communications Workers, Local 23 each pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records. Dowdell agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $3,200. Honold agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,458.56 . On November 16, 2005, Dowdell was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. On November 29, 2006, Honold was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal his embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Marie Clayton, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Glass Molders Local 236A, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,126.00. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Obzut, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications (GCIU) Local 735, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount $21,099. Following his plea, Obzut made full restitution to the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Kostelac, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Local Lodge 906, was charged with 16 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,748.22. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Carroll L. Phillips, former Treasurer for the University of Pittsburgh Police Association, was charged with four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,300 and one count of falsifying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark Jones, former President of Musicians Local 92 and former Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State Conference of Musicians, was sentenced to two years probation and six months community service. On July 26, 2006, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,738.17 from Local 92 and $34,672.00 from the State Conference. Prior to sentencing, Jones made full restitution to the unions. During the period of the investigation, Jones also served as a board member of the Musicians International Union and for one year as President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Catherine Crosier, former assistant to the controller for the Maine Teachers Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $30,000 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On November 21, 2006, in Albany County, New York, Court, John Daley, former chief financial officer for the New York State Nurses Association, was indicted on one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree for embezzling over $1,000,000 from his former union between January 2002 and May 2006. On June 7, 2006, Daley was arrested by the Town of Colonie Police Department and charged with grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.

On November 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Lois A. Carter, former Treasurer of the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 84101, was sentenced to one year probation, 30 hours community service, and a $25 special assessment for willful failure to maintain union records. On August 10, 2006, Carter pled guilty to the same charge. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Preston Nelson, former Treasurer for Postal Mail Handlers Local 305, was sentenced to one day imprisonment to be followed by three years probation, 120 days of which must be served in home detention. Nelson was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution to the union in the amount of $5,363.98. On August 16, 2006, Nelson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against William Dowdell, former President of Communications Workers Local 23, charging him with one count of making false entries in union records in order to conceal his embezzlement of approximately $3,200 from his union. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Kenneth Howell Mays, former Treasurer for IBEW Local 1053, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $37,197.50 for writing unauthorized checks to himself from union accounts. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On November 15, 2006, in the County Court of Sarpy County, Nebraska, an information was filed against Nancy Stanek, charging her with four counts of second degree forgery for drawing unauthorized checks on an account belonging to Roofers Local 85. Her husband, who has not been charged, is President of the local. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On November 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love, former President of AFGE Local 96, was convicted on two counts of filing false reports and three counts of felony theft for filing false Form LM-3 reports and embezzling from the union. In a related case, Danna France, former Financial Secretary for AFGE Local 96, pled guilty to filing a false report. The trial, conviction, and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, an information was filed against Penny Suddith, former Secretary Treasurer for Communications Workers of America Local 14426, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records in order to conceal her embezzlement of approximately $31, 527 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of embezzlement for conspiring to finance Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Council with Local 99 funds, and for using union funds to pay for a trip to the Virgin Islands for her daughters and a family friend. Humphries also pled guilty to an additional count of embezzlement from a superseding indictment for using union funds to pay cell phone charges for a personal friend. As part of the plea agreement, Humphries waived all appeal rights and will be subject to the Section 504 bar. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On November 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary for PACE Local 02-74, was convicted of one count of embezzling union funds and sentenced to two years probation, fined $1,000, and barred from union office for 13 years. McGown was also required to make full restitution in the amount of $7,041.95 and pay a special assessment of $100. The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On November 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Kathryn Stark, former office manager for IBEW Local 31, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,377. On September 7, 2006, Stark was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 8, 2006, in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, an information was filed against Keith Himel, former President of American Federation of Government Workers Local 498, charging him with one count of theft in the second degree for willfully filing fraudulent expense claims. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrea Stack, former Business Manager for IUE-CWA Local 1199, was sentenced to five years probation with six months home detention and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $66,405. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Timothy J. Pulvermacher, former Financial Secretary for USWA Local 9444, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,062. On September 7, 2006, Pulvermacher was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Bernard Johnson, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 297, charging him with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On November 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Anthony Price, former Business Agent and Recording Secretary for International Longshoreman's Association Local 1316, was charged with 15 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,301. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael Kennedy, former Financial Secretary for Painters Local 720, pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds. In a previously sealed indictment, Kennedy was charged with embezzling $15,612 by writing 84 unauthorized checks to himself, for cash, and to third parties. He was also charged with forging signatures and with making false entries in union books and records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On October 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Allison Cole, former office secretary for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 30, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On October 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chiquita Durr, former Vice President of PACE Local 5-832, was convicted on one count of embezzling union funds and sentenced to six months home detention and three years probation. Durr was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,744.39 and to pay court costs of $100. On July 3, 2006, Durr pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,244. The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $20,000 in union funds. On September 20, 2006, Hollis was indicted on the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Cheryl Martin, daughter of former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Executive Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill, was sentenced to four years probation, which includes six months community confinement to be followed by one year of home detention, for her role in an embezzlement scheme which defrauded the union of approximately $4.6 million. Martin was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $650,000. On February 10, 2004, Martin pled guilty to conspiracy to launder money for assisting her husband, Michael Martin, in laundering more than $500,000 in WTU funds, most of which was then funneled back to Hemphill and then-WTU President Barbara Bullock. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

On October 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kenneth E. Hilbish, former President of Teamsters Local 528, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,305 and agreed to pay full restitution to the local as well as a $100 special assessment. On May 17, 2006, Hilbish was indicted for embezzling $21,305 in union funds by making unauthorized expense payments to himself and others. The agreement was reached just days before trial was set to begin on Monday, October 23, 2006. The indictment and plea are the result of a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District and Tampa Resident Investigator Offices and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On October 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas P. Ubzut, former Secretary-Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), Local 735S, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,099.17 and two counts of making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Leroy Holmes, chauffeur for former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) President Barbara Bullock, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years probation. Holmes was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $955,000. On February 6, 2003, Holmes pled guilty to conspiracy to launder proceeds of an unlawful activity for cashing more than $1 million in WTU checks and giving most of the proceeds to Bullock and Hemphill. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

On October 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Richard Takacs, former Financial Secretary for Plasters and Cement Masons, Local 9, was fined $1,000 for falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Michael Martin, son-in-law of former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Executive Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three years probation, one of which must be served in home detention, for his role in an embezzlement scheme which defrauded the union of approximately $4.6 million. Martin was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $650,000. On April 11, 2003, Martin pled guilty to money laundering for conspiring to launder more than $500,000 in WTU funds by creating a sham third-party business, Expressions Unlimited, at the request of the WTU President and the WTU Executive Assistant. WTU funds were paid to Expressions Unlimited, which never in fact provided any services to the union, and were then funneled to the WTU President and Executive Assistant. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office

On October 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Richard V. Weber, former Treasurer for Painters Local 1164, pled guilty to filing a false report in order to conceal the embezzlement and misapplication of union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Robin Klein, an outside accountant employed by WTU, was sentenced to four years probation, 270 days of which must be served in home detention, and 500 hours of community service. On June 2, 2005, Klein pled guilty to two counts of failing to disclose material facts in an accounting report prepared for the union, which was then used by a union officer to file a false Form LM-2 report. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

On October 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, David Taylor, former Financial Secretary for Carpenters Local 1402, pled guilty to one count of making false statements on an LM report as part of a scheme to cover up his embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $72,422. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jerieka Ward, former Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, Local 998, was sentenced to three years probation with six months home detention and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $24,118.97. On July 6, 2006, Ward pled guilty to embezzling $46,708.97 from the union and filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 4, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #8330, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012 and five counts of falsification of union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager and Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. Liming, falsely representing to the bank to be acting on behalf of the local, obtained a loan from Franklin Savings & Loan Company which he used for personal expenses. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Elizabeth Fiske, former office bookkeeper for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 38, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,793. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kay Joy Andrews, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1780, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $55,765.00. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On September 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew Konspore, former Treasurer of Northeast Emergency Services Union, an independent union representing EMT's and Paramedics employed at American Medical Response in New Haven, Connecticut, waived indictment and pled guilty to one count of embezzling between $70,000 and $120,000 in union funds from January 2001 through December 2004. Sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Dianne Sampson, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge No. 1 - FPS Labor Committee, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make full restitution to the union in the amount of $23,000. On May 3, 2006, Sampson pled guilty to embezzling $23,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, was sentenced to five years probation, six months of which must be served in home detention, and 360 hours of community service. Garner was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $11,959.35. On June 26, 2006, Garner pled guilty to embezzling $12,194 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence Marable and Deborah Powell, former President and Treasurer, respectively, of AFGE 1793 were each charged with five counts of theft of property in the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, one count of making false statements in labor organization annual reports, and one count of conspiracy to steal property in the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $187,000. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General.

On September 22, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Rachetta Johnson and Charlene Monroe were each sentenced to five years probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to IBEW Local 212 in the amount of $26,448 for their roles in defrauding the local through a market recovery agreement. Monroe and Johnson were co-owners of Electrical Innovations, an electrical contracting firm employing members of IBEW Local 212 under a market recovery agreement which entitled the firm to receive disbursements from the union's dues-funded market recovery fund, which is used to assist union contractors in bidding for jobs against non-union contractors by offsetting the difference between typical union and non-union wages. From July 2002 through December 2003, Electrical Innovations billed the local for hours its members had not worked, resulting in overpayments to Electrical Innovations in the approximate amount of $30,000. On September 8, 2006, and on September 12, 2006, respectively, Johnson and Monroe pled guilty to theft by deception. The sentencings follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Marc Green, former President of AFGE Local 2562, was charged with three counts of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $54,000 and three counts of filing false reports. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.

On September 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA), Local 84101, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,684.23. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Ann E. Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2140, pled guilty to one count of filing a false report in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds and was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $12,899.18, and to pay a $25.00 special assessment. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 20, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Ann Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds of more than $20,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Michael Iasevoli, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers (formerly PACE) Local 745, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $138,000 and a special assessment of $100. On June 19, 2006, Iasevoli pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $138,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On September 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary for United Automobile Workers Local 651, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,401.46. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Janice McKamey, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications International Union Local 88-N, was sentenced to three years probation, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay full restitution to the local in the amount of $2,680.94. On July 19, 2006, McKamey pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 8, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Rachetta Johnson, co-owner of Electrical Innovations, pled guilty to theft by deception for her role in defrauding the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 212, through a market recovery fund. On March 30, 2006, Johnson was charged with theft of property or services worth $5,000, tampering with market recovery forms, and forging market recovery fund forms. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Kathryn Stark, former Office Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 31, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $50,376.89. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cathy Bronson, former Business Representative for Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 21, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $35,675. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Timothy Pulvermacher, former Financial Secretary for the United Steelworkers of America, Local 9444, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,062.10. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed against Ann E. Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2140, charging her with one count of filing a false report in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, was sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine and a $50.00 special assessment. Upon payment of the fine and special assessment, Mullenix's probation will terminate. On June 29, 2006, Mullenix pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records and one count of aiding and abetting on two separate occasions. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judy Cary, former bookkeeper for the Communication Workers of America, Local 6127, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,000. On June 28, 2006, Cary was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Linda Holden, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Steelworkers Local 639 (formerly PACE Local 6-639), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $74,090. On June 28, 2006, Holden was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $74,090. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Preston Nelson, former Treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 305, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Lynn Lanphear, former President of Graphic Communications Local 503M, was sentenced to five years supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. Lanphear was also ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $8,441.29 and to pay a $1,000 fine. On June 12, 2006, Lanphear pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,441.29. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 14, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Court, a criminal complaint was filed against Derek Baldwin, former President of the Workers Independent Union, charging him with theft by deception, tampering with records, forgery, and receipt of stolen property for his theft of $12,700 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 10, 2006 Lois Carter, former treasurer of CWA-IUE Local 84101, signed an agreement to plead guilty to willfully failing to maintain records providing the necessary basic information and data to verify, explain, clarify, and check the accuracy and completeness of the local's Form LM-3 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003. On the same date, an information was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin charging Carter. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Lorraine Payton, former President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Veterans Administration Council, was indicted on two counts of making false reports. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed against Michael Winchester, former Financial Secretary of United Automobile Workers Local 651, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $20,401.46. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni L. Segura, former Secretary for Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $5,729. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On August 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary for PACE Local 02-74, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,472.73. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 4, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Peggy Sue Carnes, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-621, was sentenced to two years probation, three months home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $8,019.73. On May 12, 2006, Carnes pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,019.73 and making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Lisa Webb, former Financial Secretary for Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers Local 48, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $24,911. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Brian Druckemiller, former President of Carpenters Local 1936, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $1,151. On May 31, 2006, Druckemiller pled guilty to making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On July 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Mark A. Carroll, former Treasurer for PACE Local 5-962, was sentenced to three years probation, eight months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $3,555.05. On March 24, 2006, Carroll pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,380.45. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Anthony DeGennaro, former representative for Elevator Constructors, Local 1, and primary witness in the trial against Local 1 Executive Vice President Charles Novak, and Susan DeGennaro, wife of Anthony DeGennaro, were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors and employee benefit plans affiliated with the local for their roles in the no-show job scheme concerning the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's building at 2 Broadway. Anthony DeGennaro was ordered to pay $924,428 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $398,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $400 special assessment. Additionally, Anthony DeGennaro was barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years. Susan DeGennaro was ordered to pay $44,694 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $189,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Lynch and Richard Brady, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors and employee benefit plans affiliated with the local for their roles in the no-show job scheme. Lynch was ordered to pay $197,256 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $65,401 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. Brady was ordered to pay $67,165 in restitution to the defrauded contractors, $19,000 in forfeiture payments to affiliated benefit plans, and a $200 special assessment. Both Lynch and Brady were barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love and Danna France, former President and Financial Secretary, respectively, of AFGE Local 96, were each indicted on three counts of theft on federal property, one count of making a false report, and one count of creating false records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a criminal information was filed against Preston Nelson, former Treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 305, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mark R. Jones, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 92, and Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State Conference of Musicians, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $40,738.17 from Local 92 and $34,672.00 from the State Conference. Jones also served from 2001 through March 2006 as an executive board member of the American Federation of Musicians International Union and in 2005 as the President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On July 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Dunbar, member of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, was sentenced to three years probation for making false statements in the course of the investigation of the no-show job scheme. The sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 24, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Dianna Rushing, former President of Flight Attendants Association LEC 8, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $2,500 for embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,452. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Ryan L. Butterfield, former Secretary Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 135, was sentenced to three years probation. Butterfield previously made restitution to the local in the amount of $31,097.39. On March 16, 2006, Butterfield pled guilty to filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 20, 2006, and on July 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, James Bates and Jean Paul Grennay, former Vice President and President, respectively, of PACE Local 5-712, were each sentenced to two years probation. On May 25, 2006, Bates pled guilty to embezzling $4,412 in union funds. On April 11, 2006, Grennay pled guilty to embezzling $4,412 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Bull, Edward Connelly, John Quinn, and John Mills, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced for their parts in an operator no-show scheme concerning numerous contractors throughout New York City. The four defendants were each sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment. Additionally, Mills and Connelly were barred from holding union office or other similar positions identified in the LMRDA for a period of up to 13 years following the date of sentencing or release from imprisonment, whichever is later. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Janice McKamey, former Secretary Treasurer for Graphic Communication Local 88N, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Richard Takacs, former Financial Secretary for Plasters and Cement Masons, Local 9, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. Takacs admitted to falsifying union records in order to conceal advance salary payments that he made to himself. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On July 17, 2006, and on July 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Timothy Grimm and Thomas Harrington, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced for their parts in an operator no-show job scheme involving the local. On July 17, 2006, Grimm, who previously pled guilty to conspiracy, making false ERISA statements, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors affiliated with the project in the amount of $44,694.97, pay an order of forfeiture to benefit plans affiliated with the local in the amount of $26,829, pay a $200 assessment, and provide 200 hours of community service. On July 6, 2006, Thomas Harrington, who previously pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to extort, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors in the amount of $50,000. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 13, 2006, in the Arizona Superior Court in Yuma County, Janalyn Buseck, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFGE Local 2595, was charged with one count of theft greater than $3,000 but less than $25,000 by converting services or property of another entrusted to her and one count of theft greater than $3,000 but less than $25,000 by obtaining property of another through misrepresentation with the intent to deprive. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Linda Logan, former President of Glass, Molders, and Plastics Local 325, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $13,600 in restitution to the local. On April 12, 2006, Logan pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $14,550. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On July 11, 2006, in Fulton County, Alabama, District Court, Suzanne Green, former bookkeeper for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 613, was indicted on one count of theft by taking in the amount of $11,203.00. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On June 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Roy Jones, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 3450, was sentenced to three years probation, including ten months home detention with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay $64,021 in restitution to the local. On March 31, 2006, Jones pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $66,222.30. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records and one count of aiding and abetting. As part of the plea agreement, Mullenix must complete one year of supervised probation as well as pay a $1,000 fine and a $50.00 special assessment. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judy Cary, former Secretary for CWA Local 6127 was arrested and charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $29,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President of Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months house arrest with electronic monitoring. Kulp was also ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. On March 29, 2006, Kulp pled guilty to embezzling $21,888 from an employee benefit plan. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office.

On June 27, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Barbara Turner, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Council of Carpenters, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution of $29,307.46 to the local and to pay a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manger/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution of $73,291 to the local. On April 10, 2006, Matthews pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the union of $12,194.78. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Bricklayers Local 1, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $1,000. On March 30, 2006, Pirrung pled guilty to concealing union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On June 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Kimberly Solheim, former bookkeeper for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Local 402, was sentenced to fourteen days in prison to be followed by one year of supervised probation. Solheim was also ordered to make restitution to the union's bonding company in the amount of $6,658. On March 7, 2006, Solheim pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, was charged with bank fraud. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Deann Schnepple, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming (OIWDC), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, six months of which must be served in home confinement. She also must make restitution of $44,758 to the union. On April 14, 2006, Schnepple pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling $44,758 in OIWDC funds. Schnepple issued herself 26 unauthorized checks totaling $37,862 from the union's bank account and used three union credit cards to make personal purchases totaling $6,896. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry T. LeBlanc, former President of AFGE Local 2250, was sentenced to five years probation, with conditions including six months home detention. He was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $46,151.51. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans' Affairs Office of Inspector General.

On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles Douglas Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, and required to make restitution to the union in the amount of $34,123.41. Additionally, Douglas was assessed $75 and is barred from possessing a firearm during his period of supervision. Davis previously pled guilty to one count of filing a false report and two counts of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, an information was filed against Michael A. Iasevoli, former Financial Secretary of PACE Local 745, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $138,000. The information follows an investigation by the New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On June 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Edward Dupree, former President of the Independent Guards Union of North America, Local 138, was sentenced to 65 days imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,391.12 in restitution to the local and a $25.00 special assessment. Dupree previously pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 12, 2006, in the Tuscaloosa County Prosecutorial District of Alabama, Peter Bush, former bookkeeper for Steelworkers Local 09-1071L, pled guilty to six counts of forgery, six counts of possession of a forged instrument, and one count of theft of property. Bush was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to pay $2,061 in restitution to the local and a $50 fine. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Lynn R. Lanphear, former President of Graphic Communications International Union Local 503-M, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,441. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was charged with one count each of mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,000 in connection with a 2002 election of Local 988 officers. Crawley allegedly replicated official ballots and marked them in his favor, in addition to embezzling $20,000 from the union and falsifying union records relating to the installation of telephone equipment in Local 988's union hall. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On June 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez, former President of AFGE Local 1662 pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On October 27, 2004, Suarez was indicted on 67 counts of embezzlement. As part of the plea agreement, Suarez must make restitution of up to $27,400. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 7, 2006, in Albany County Court, John T. Daley, former Chief Financial Officer for the New York State Nurses Association was arrested by local police and charged in an 11-count indictment with embezzling $1,012,570.08 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office and the Town of Colonie Police Department.

On June 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Felix A. Robinson, former President of IUE-CWA Local 84101, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,684. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On June 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Baxter, former Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation and 900 hours of community service. Baxter was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 120 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Baxter was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, making false statements on annual labor organization reports, and maintaining false union records. Baxter is the latest individual to be convicted and sentenced for involvement with the embezzlement of approximately $4.6 million from the WTU. Along with Baxter, former WTU President Barbara Bullock and former WTU Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of over 362 months in prison for their roles in the scheme. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On June 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was sentenced to five years probation, 2000 hours of community service, and was ordered to make restitution of $36,400 to SEIU Local 99. On March 28, 2006, Ludlow pled guilty to conspiring to use funds embezzled from SEIU Local 99 for his 2003 campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. Ludlow admitted to using union money to pay six people who were put on the union payroll but who actually worked on his campaign. Ludlow also used union funds for a cell phone used in the campaign. The sentence follows a joint investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement.

On May 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Loretta Schween, former clerical employee of UAW Region 4, was sentenced to three years probation, with conditions including six months home confinement wearing an electronic monitoring device. She was also ordered to make restitution of $32,040 and to pay a $100 special assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Sharon Ann Burt, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Bakery Workers Local 611, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $76,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis Harper, former Branch President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,851. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 30, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Collette White Caldwell, former President of Plant Protection Local 118, was charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 30, 2006, in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Darnell Smith, former bookkeeper for SEIU Local 36 was sentenced to one to two years in prison followed by five years probation. Smith was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $70,400.00 and to pay a court fee of $237.00. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vernon Keith Reed, former Fund Administrator for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and Richard M. Taylor, owner of Deramus Street Properties, Brothers Mechanical Corporation, International Fabricators and Erectors Inc., and Woodley-Griggs Boiler Repair, were charged with nine counts of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. The indictment alleges that Reed and Taylor conspired to embezzle approximately $800,000 from the Boilermakers Health and Welfare Fund. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On May 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Linda Hoselton, former Recording Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 282, was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to pay $1,296.03 in restitution to the local, and assessed a $500 fine. On March 3, 2006, Hoselton pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, was convicted on two counts of embezzling union funds and sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised probation. Barnett was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $17,710. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Georgia McNish, former Financial Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 1853, was sentenced to two years probation, assessed a fine of $5,000 and a special assessment of $25, and was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. McNish previously made restitution of $10,000 to the local. On November 29, 2005, McNish was charged with knowingly making a false statement in a labor organization annual report in order to conceal her embezzlement of $10,000 in local union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gwendolyn Hemphill, former Executive Assistant to the President of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. Hemphill was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 132 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Hemphill was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, false statements on LM reports and false union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Tina Buracker, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 82174, was sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by five months home detention and three years probation. Buracker was also ordered to pay restitution to the union in the amount of $51,554.15. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Shirley Weber, former Treasurer for AFGE Local 3973, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay approximately $7,000 in remaining restitution to the local. Weber previously made partial restitution of approximately $21,000. On November 30, 2005, Weber pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 12, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Joseph J. Brady, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 1693, was sentenced to five years probation for theft by unlawful taking. He was ordered to pay restitution of $10,982.15 and a fine of $1,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Chiquita Durr, former Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 832, was charged with one count of embezzling $2,244 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Marie-Elena Clayton, former Financial Secretary of the Glass Molders, Local 236A, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,126.00 and one count of obstruction for not turning over union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On May 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence McGown, former Financial Secretary of PACE Local 02-74, was charged in a two count indictment with embezzling $5,472.73 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 99-G, was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to make restitution of $4,946.36 to the local, and assessed $200. On March 13, 2006, Lammers pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, businessman Guillermo Rivera pled guilty to money laundering for his role in a scheme to defraud International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740) and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA. According to the plea, Rivera laundered over $600,000 in union dues embezzled from UTM 1740 through his San Juan convenience store, El Grillon Cash & Carry. Rivera's corporation, RRO, Inc., is also expected to enter a guilty plea. The terms of the plea agreement have been sealed. The guilty plea follows an on-going joint investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office.

On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Diane Sampson, former Treasurer for the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge No. 1 - Federal Protective Service Committee, pled guilty to embezzling over $23,000 in union funds and submitting false reports. As part of the plea agreement, Sampson is required to resign from her employer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is not allowed to apply for any positions with DHS, and is to make full restitution to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On May 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Boni Segura, former bookkeeper for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,729.20. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On April 26, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jerieka Ward, former Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,Local 998, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $46,708.97 and one count of filing a false report with the Department of Labor. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, James Shannon, former President of the United Transportation Union, Local 1715, was sentenced to three years probation and required to make restitution of $1,100 for making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 25, 2006, and on April 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, guilty pleas were obtained, respectively, from Eduardo Sanchez-Bencon and Rafael Garcia-Perez for their roles in an embezzlement scheme to defraud International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740) and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA (Plan), of $10 million. On April 25, Sanchez-Bencon pled guilty to cashing union dues checks in excess of $900,000 through his personal accounts and through a convenience store in San Juan owned by Guillermo Rivera, who previously pled not guilty to charges alleging a role in the scheme. Sanchez-Bencon, who has agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants, could serve 30 to 37 months in prison, and be required to make restitution of $46,750. Garcia-Perez pled guilty to six counts of embezzlement and money laundering of more than $8,000,000 from the Plan through shell companies. Garcia-Perez, who will cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants, could serve 14 to 17 years in prison, and be required to forfeit $1,500,000. Depending on his cooperation, the United States Attorney's Office can recommend a downward departure of the sentence. The guilty pleas follow an on-going joint investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office.

On April 25, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, an information was filed against Richard Mullenix, former President of NorCal Beverage Employees Union, charging him with two counts of making false entries in union records and one count of making false statements. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, James G. Russell, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for Stage and Picture Operators Local 9 was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $54,776.65. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Kay Joy Andrews, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1780, was indicted on one count of embezzling $55,765.75 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the Las Vegas Office of the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

On April 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Dennis Foster, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge S-60, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $5,680.27 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 17, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Christine Smith, former President of AFGE Local 2028, was charged with 53 counts of embezzling $64,299 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 17, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Lynda Holley, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 2028, was charged with eight counts of embezzling $4,404 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Deann Schnepple, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming (OIWDC), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $44,758 in OIWDC funds. Sentencing has been set for June 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, William Van Sickle, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 725, was sentenced to six months community confinement and five years probation. In addition, Van Sickle was ordered to pay $23,645 in restitution and a $100 assessment and is prohibited from opening new lines of credit or acting as a fiduciary without Federal Probation permission. Van Sickle previously paid approximately $40,000 in restitution prior to his conviction. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 13, 2006, in the Marion County, Indiana, Superior Court Criminal Division, an information was filed against Patrick Calhoon, former field representative of Painters Local 47, charging him with one count of felony theft for embezzling union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrea Stack, former Business Manager of IUE-CWA Local 1199, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $19,361. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, charging her with one count of mail fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the union of $12,194.78. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Kenneth Kruse, sole officer of Kruse Corporation, was sentenced to twelve months probation and fined $3,500 for aiding and abetting in making a false entry in the records of Sheet Metal Workers Local 29. As part of his probation, Kruse was ordered to make restitution of $38,057. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Leslie Bell, former bookkeeper for Laborers Local 1184, was sentenced to eighteen months incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. Bell was ordered to pay $156,423.41 in restitution to the union's bonding company, a $100 assessment, and to undergo periodic drug testing. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Mary Levan, former Financial Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 1224, was sentenced to three years probation and 50 hours of community service for embezzling $5,791.10 in union funds. Levan was also ordered to make full restitution to the local. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Gary W. Cope, former Business Manager for Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Lodge 196, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $56,672. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Lorenzo Kornegay, former President of Machinists Local Lodge 2, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $27,711.81 in restitution to the Local. On December 22, 2005, Kornegay pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with knowingly and willfully taking a loan from the union in excess of $2,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On April 4, 2006, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Darnell Smith, former bookkeeper for Service Employees (SEIU) Local 36, plead guilty to theft by deception for embezzling approximately $70,420.00 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 3, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the convictions of Charles Novak, former Executive Vice President of Elevator Constructors, Local One, for unlawful receipt of labor payments, RICO conspiracy, and substantive RICO violations. The court reversed Novak's convictions for mail fraud and for making false ERISA statements. Novak was convicted on December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and subsequently sentenced to nine years imprisonment for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. The conviction, as well as 37 additional related guilty pleas, followed a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.

On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Donald Hutchinson, former Financial Secretary for Chemical Workers Local 763-C, was sentenced to one year supervision and three years probation with the condition he serve the first eight months in community confinement and four months in home detention for embezzling union funds. Hutchinson was also ordered to pay $103,248 in restitution and a $100 assessment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Loretta Schwenn, former clerical employee of United Auto Workers Region 4, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,040. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Stanley James Kluss, former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA), was sentenced to 15 months in prison with no eligibility for early release or community confinement, followed by three years probation, for embezzling $95,048.95 from the WPPA. Kluss was also ordered to make full restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Financial-Secretary and Business Manager of Bricklayers Local 1, pled guilty to a one count superceding information charging him with having concealed union financial records. Pirrung had been indicted on January 3, 2006 on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $3,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 30, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Michael Griffie was charged with aggravated theft of property or services worth $100,000 or more from IBEW Local 212. Griffie was also charged with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding IBEW Local 212. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 30, 2006, in the Hamilton County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Charlene Monroe and Rachetta Johnson were charged with theft of property or services worth $5,000 or more from IBEW Local 212. Monroe and Johnson were also charged with tampering with market recovery fund forms and forging market recovery fund forms, both for the purpose of defrauding IBEW Local 212. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President and benefits administrator for Iron Workers Local 61 pled guilty to embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $21,888. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office.

On March 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy for his role in using funds embezzled from SEIU Local 99 by its former president, Janett Humphries, for his 2003 campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and state and local law enforcement officials.

On March 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Phyllis Ann Pack, former Office Manager of the Kentucky District Council of Carpenters, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 assessment. On December 19, 2005, Pack pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,349. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 27, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Joseph J. Brady, former Financial Secretary for Steelworkers Local 1693, pled guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking and was ordered to pay restitution of $11,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, James Taylor Banks, Former Business Agent for Operating Engineers Local Union 369 in Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to two years probation and required to make restitution of $6,818.57 for embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 717, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three months in a community treatment center and three years probation. Bandt was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On January 13, 2006, Bandt pled guilty to embezzling more than $14,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Fernando Sanchez-Bencon and Francisco Consuegra-Lastayo each pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, and Consuegra-Lastayo entered a similar plea on behalf of his company, Consuegra, Inc., for their roles in a scheme to embezzle $10 million from the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740). Consuegra-Lastayo pled guilty to laundering more than $500,000 in union dues checks through his jewelry business funneled to him by Sanchez-Bencon in exchange for a two-percent commission on the total amount of the checks. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Consuegra is expected to serve four months on house arrest, two years probation, and to pay a $10,000 fine. His company is expected to pay a $25,000 fine. Sanchez-Bencon pled guilty to cashing union dues checks totaling $900,000. Under his plea agreement, Sanchez-Bencon is expected to serve 30 to 37 months in prison, depending on his health, and to make restitution of $90,000 to the union. He is also expected to cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants stemming from the on-going investigation of UTM 1740 and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA, which has yielded a total of thirteen indictments so far. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office.

On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard Lyter, former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $1,002.74 in unpaid restitution to the union and to notify his current employer of his conviction within 30 days. On December 13, 2005, Lyter pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records as part of his scheme to embezzle more than $14,100 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rosemary Zwetkof-Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, was sentenced to three years probation and six months home confinement with authorization to leave her home only to work. Zwetkof-Ryan was also ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $18,359.77. On December 12, 2005, Zwetkof-Ryan pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Debra M. Timko and Danny L. Iverson, former Presidents of Service Employees, Local 150, were charged in a 33-count indictment with mail and wire fraud and failure to maintain union records as part of a scheme to defraud the union of over $90,000. The indictment details an alleged scheme where Iverson and Timko eliminated any audit or review of the expense vouchers they submitted for reimbursement and used their positions to authorize fraudulent payments to themselves for unused vacation time and personal or otherwise non-reimbursable expenses. The indictment also alleges that upon Iverson's resignation as president, Timko became president, and in exchange, authorized payments to Iverson totaling $50,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Beverly Jackson, former Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 7901, pled guilty to a superseding information charging her with one count of concealing and withholding records required to be maintained by a labor organization. Jackson was then sentenced to five months of home confinement and five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution to the union in the amount of $33,457.65. On November 23, 2004, Jackson was indicted on three counts of embezzling union funds totaling $33,457.65. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Cathy Jacobsen, former Financial Secretary of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE), Local 69, was sentenced to one year of probation which includes six months of home detention. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Edward Johnson, former Treasurer for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 704, was indicted on seven counts of embezzling union funds totaling $4,790 between May 2001 and May 2002. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Tina Buracker, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 82174, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On October 5, 2005, Buracker was indicted for embezzling union funds totaling $54,679.38. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On March 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 99-g, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $4,946.36. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On March 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry LeBlanc, former President of AFGE Local 2250, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $46,151.51 in union funds. LeBlanc was indicted on November 8, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veteran Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.

On March 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against Brian Druckemiller, former President of Carpenters Local 1936, charging him with making false entries in labor union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Skursky, former Secretary-Treasurer of PACE Local 2-672 was sentenced to two years probation with 6 months electronic monitoring. Skursky was also ordered to pay $1,980 in outstanding restitution to the union and a $25.00 special assessment fee. On November 8, 2005, Skursky pled guilty to making false entries in union records in order to conceal his theft of $6,050.00 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cindy Wright, former President of AFGE Local 1298, was sentenced to twenty-four months in prison and was ordered to pay approximately $32,000 in restitution. On October 5, 2005, Wright pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with making false statements of material fact. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.

On March 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Linda Hoselton, former Recording Secretary of United Auto Workers Local 282, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,444.50. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Janett Humphries, former President of SEIU Local 99, was indicted on one count of conspiracy and twelve counts of embezzling union funds. Humphries provided misappropriated funds and union "ghost employees" as workers for co-conspirator Martin Ludlow's campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. Humphries was also charged with five counts of embezzling union funds for other unauthorized expenses not related to the Ludlow campaign. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Martin Ludlow, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, entered into a plea agreement for one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzling union funds for using money misappropriated from SEIU Local 99 by its President, Janett Humphries, during his campaign for Los Angeles City Councilman. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jean Paul Grennay and James Bates, former President and Vice President, respectively, of PACE Local 5-712, were indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,411. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Mark A. Carroll, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-962, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,380.45. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Peggy Carnes, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 5-621, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,019.73, and one count of falsification of union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 349, was sentenced to three years probation, which includes six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and work release privileges. Dutchuk was also ordered to pay restitution of $18,812.18 to the local and a $125 assessment. The sentence follows an investigation by the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joseph Rocha, former Business-Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Laborers Local 1082, was sentenced to 3 years probation, which includes 6 months home confinement. He was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment, obtain mental health counseling, not take any employment involving his access to an employer's funds, and to submit to periodic drug testing, not to exceed eight random checks per month. Rocha was also ordered to pay $12 per day for his period of confinement to defray the cost of monitoring him. The probation report noted that the union agreed not to pursue restitution of the $29,656 that Rocha embezzled in exchange for his agreement not to sue the Local for retroactive vacation, sick, or severance pay, or over the forfeiture of his LIUNA pension. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On February 24, 2006, in the 81st Indiana Judicial Circuit in Lawrence County, Indiana, William F. Campbell, former President of Security, Police, & Fire Professionals of America, Local 10, pled guilty to theft in the amount of $3,894. He was sentenced to a suspended confinement of one year and six months, thirty days house arrest, fifteen days of working on a road crew, and one year and six months of probation. Campbell was also ordered to make full restitution to the local. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former Treasurer for Machinists Local Lodge 498, was sentenced to two years incarceration and three years probation. He was ordered to make full restitution of $63,082 in the appropriate amounts owed to the union and bonding company. On November 29, 2005, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Dennis Foster, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Lodge S-60, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $5,680.20. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 21, 2006, in the United States District Court of the District of Wyoming, Richard Carlson, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union, Local 769, was sentenced to three months time served and three years probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $3,899.14 in addition to the $6,500 he has already repaid, plus a $100 special assessment. On December 9, 2005, Carlson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Janice Patterson, former Bookkeeper/Office Secretary for Teamsters Local 984, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $3,234 and one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, John McGovern and Gary Weightman, former Secretary-Treasurer and President, respectively, for American Postal Workers Union, Local 190, were arrested and indicted on three counts each of conspiring to embezzle union funds totaling over $400,000. The indictment also charged that McGovern and Weightman obstructed investigations by the American Postal Workers International Union and the Department of Labor by destroying essential financial records. The arrests and indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

On February 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Marcia Huizenga, former bookkeeper and office manager for Teamsters Local 822, was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by five months of home detention and three years of supervised probation. Huizenga was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 4, 2005, Huizenga pled guilty to one count of embezzling $47,131 in union funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinists, National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 2058, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by two years supervised probation. Turner was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 14, 2005, Turner pled guilty to one count of making false statements, which were made to conceal his embezzlement of $40,474 from the union. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 10, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, James Jackson, former Treasurer for Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 200, Unit 62, pled guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced to one to three years probation. On September 12, 2005, Jackson was indicted for embezzling union funds totaling $12,934. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 9, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 2528, was sentenced to 5 years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make full restitution. Thompson previously pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $2,727.93 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laura Booth, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3129, was sentenced to two years probation and assessed $100. On March 15, 2005, Booth pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $18,749.41 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed against Dianna K. Rushing, former President of the Association of Flight Attendants, Local Executive Council 8, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,452. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE), Local 5, and former President of Unity House, a non-profit labor organization that provides benefits to about 20,000 members and retirees of HERE Local 5 and Teamsters Local 996, entered into a plea agreement in which Rutledge pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying a tax return and was sentenced to three years probation. Under terms of the plea agreement, Rutledge must permanently disassociate himself from Unity House, which his father, Art Rutledge, founded in 1951.

Rutledge's son, Aaron, pled guilty to one count of witness harassment and was sentenced to one year probation. Under terms of his plea agreement, Aaron Rutledge must resign immediately as Executive Vice President of Unity House and must disassociate himself from the organization and its assets while on probation.

In August 2003, both Anthony and Aaron Rutledge were indicted for skimming $350,000 in earnings from the family's Waikiki Beach concession stand from 1992 to 1997 and using the money as a slush fund. A superseding indictment in December 2003 alleged that Anthony Rutledge had tried to divert a portion of Unity House's $42.2 million in assets to overseas investments in an apparent attempt to circumvent the ongoing criminal investigation. Twelve other fraud charges against him were dismissed as part of the agreement.

The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General.

On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tim Burke, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Roofers Local 42, was sentenced to 180 days of electronically monitored home detention and three years supervised probation for embezzling union funds. He was ordered to pay $21,340 in restitution in addition to $10,230 already paid and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing while on probation. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Stephen L. Bush, former Recording Secretary for Food and Commercial Workers Local 990 was sentenced to six months home detention with electronic monitoring and five years probation. Bush was also ordered to make restitution of $20,385.98 and to pay a special victims' fund assessment of $400. On October 6, 2005, Bush pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds. Bush is the son of former Local 990 President, Ronald A. Bush, who also pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald A. Bush, former President of Food and Commercial Workers Local 990, was sentenced to five years probation. Bush was also ordered to make restitution of $4,457 and to pay a special victims' fund assessment of $400. On June 29, 2005, Bush pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds. Bush is the father of former Local 990 Recording Secretary, Stephen L. Bush, who also pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On January 31, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Albert Moore, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 1-6992, was sentenced to six months home confinement, three years probation, and 400 hours of community service. Moore was also ordered to make full restitution of $36,327. Moore previously pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 30, 2006, Donald Dixon, former treasurer and bookkeeper for Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 623, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $100 fine. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $40,152. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On January 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Terrance Dolan, former Operations Manager for Windy City Maintenance, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release, ordered to pay restitution of $20,000 to the City of Chicago, and given a special assessment of $1,100 for his part in falsely maintaining to the City of Chicago that Windy City Maintenance, a Duff family owned business, was a woman-owned business. Dolan was the last of six defendants to be sentenced in the Federal probe. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On January 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Michael C. Crogan, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union Local 1382, was sentenced to five months imprisonment, 150 days home confinement, and three years supervised release. On November 2, 2005, Crogan pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $31,700, for which he had already made full restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, an information was filed against Vince L. Matthews, former Business Manager/Financial Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 29, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $93,298.28. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, William Van Sickle, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 725, pled guilty to embezzling union funds totaling $64,229.40. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Good, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for Machinists Local 821, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, 36 months of supervised release, and is required to make full restitution of $192,493.93. Good also received an assessment of $200 and was ordered to obtain and install, at his own expense, monitoring software on his computer to ensure that he does not visit gambling websites. On October 21, 2005, Good pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 20, 2006, in the United State District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Stanley James Kluss, former executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $201.50. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kluss acknowledged that the amount he embezzled is more than $70,000 but less than $120,000. Kluss was previously indicted on October 5, 2005, in a 32-count indictment charging him with 14 counts of embezzling union funds and 18 counts of mail fraud. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, George Strollo, former Financial Secretary for Communication Workers Local 81495, was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. Strollo was also ordered to make full restitution of $2,173 to his union, of which $1,773 is still outstanding. Strollo previously pled guilty to falsifying union financial records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, James E. Miller, former Treasurer of Flint Glass Workers Local 144, was sentenced to 14 days incarceration, 8 months home confinement with monitoring to be paid for by the defendant, 36 months probation, and 100 hours of community service. Miller was also ordered to make full restitution and to submit to mandatory DNA testing and alcohol counseling. In a change of plea on July 5, 2005, Miller pled guilty to embezzlement of $7,765.81 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Robert Nolan Watson, former Secretary-Treasurer for PACE Local 8-748, was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $7,325. Watson previously pled guilty to one count of making false entries in and concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On January 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Linda Y. Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer for Boilermakers Local Lodge 57, was sentenced to six months of home detention and five years of supervised probation. Brown was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On September 15, 2005, Brown pled guilty to mail fraud for executing a scheme to defraud the union of approximately $24,336 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 717, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,065. Bandt had previously been indicted on September 14, 2005, in a 14-count indictment consisting of five counts of embezzling union funds, five counts of falsifying union records, and four counts of making a false statement on a required report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 13, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, McKean County Court, Richard D. Yovichin, II, former President of AFGE Local 3974, was charged in a criminal complaint with three counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,725.49. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Anthony Ward, former President of AFGE Local 1055, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $11,428. On October 11, 2005, Ward pled guilty to one count of uttering a forged security. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 13, 2006, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County Court, Brenda Berkhamer, former employee of United Mine Workers Local 1257, pled guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of forgery. She was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make full restitution to the union. Berkhamer was also ordered to attend weekly meetings of Gamblers Anonymous. On September 7, 2005, Berkhamer was charged with, in addition to other charges, 46 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,656.50. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, an information was filed against Kenneth Kruse, sole officer of Kruse Corporation, charging him with aiding and abetting in making a false entry in the union records of Sheet Metal Workers Local 29. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 11, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Richard Lammers, former Business Agent/Financial Secretary for Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Milers Local 99-G, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $4,946.36. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On January 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, David Pirrung, former Business Agent/Secretary-Treasurer for Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $3,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On January 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, former bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined $1,000. On October 5, 2005 Wituschek pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $5,745.41. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 29, 2005, in the 81st Indiana Judicial Circuit in Lawrence County, Indiana, an information was filed against William F. Campbell, former President of Security, Police, & Fire Professionals of America Local 10, charging him with one count of felony theft in the amount of $3,894.36. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 22, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Linda Hoselton, former Recording Secretary for United Auto Workers Local 282, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $1,444.50. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Debra Herrig, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 2339, was sentenced to three months imprisonment and two years of supervised release. As a special condition of release, Herrig was ordered to serve three months of home detention. On March 2, 2005, Herrig pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and made restitution in the amount of $13,265.26 to Local 2339. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Phyllis Ann Pack, former office manager for the Kentucky State District Council of Carpenters, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,349. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joseph Rocha, former Business-Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Laborers Local 1082, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,700. Sentencing is set for February 27, 2006. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On December 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Gary Gourley, former President of AFSCME Local 1522, was sentenced to five months incarceration, five months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and three years of supervised release. Gourley was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, assessed a $100 fine, and ordered to make restitution of $63,083.80. Gourley previously pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $63,083.80. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On December 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, was sentenced to thirty days home confinement followed by three years probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and an assessment of $25. Liming had previously paid restitution in the amount of $1,171. On August 10, 2005, Liming pled guilty to filing a false LM report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Michelle Turney Thurlough, former secretary/bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 614 in Memphis, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $23,172.59. This amount represents the $7,823.80 charged in the indictment as embezzled funds plus an additional $15,348.79 in auditing bills incurred by the union as a result of Thurlough's actions. Thurlough previously entered a guilty plea on September 1, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Jackie Sikorski, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 1522, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzlement of union funds in excess of $10,000 and less than $30,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard Lyter, former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of making false entries in union records. Lyter charged meals with his wife on his union credit card and then wrote false names and business purposes in the union records to make it appear that these meals were for legitimate union purposes. Lyter wrote false information on union records for more than 300 meals totaling over $14,100. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Peggy Darlene Shortt, former President of Steelworkers Local 14459, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $2,000. On September 2, 2005, Shortt pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $15,842.17. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $1,100. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 13, 2005, in the Circuit Court of Burnett County, Wisconsin, an information was filed against James Turner, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Council 33, Bureau of Prisons Locals, charging him with one count of felony theft of over $2,500 in union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Paul Himmelstein, former Secretary-Treasurer for Branch 1977, Letter Carriers, was sentenced to three years of probation and 360 hours of community service. Himmelstein previously made restitution in the amount of $34,683.20. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 12, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rosemary Zwetkof-Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 12, 2005, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Tarria Burwell, former Treasurer for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE) Local 75, was sentenced to one year of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. On October 11, 2005, Burwell pled guilty to one count of first degree fraud stemming from her embezzlement of $15,921.11 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 9, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, Richard Carlson, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 769, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,089.14. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, an information was filed against Roy E. Jones, Jr., former President of Communications Workers of America Local 3450, charging him with embezzling union funds totaling approximately $66,000. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 30, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Shirley Weber, former Treasurer for AFGE LU 3973, pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $1,748.50. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office's Arizona Remote Worksite.

On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, a one-count information was filed against Georgia K. McNish, former Financial Secretary for United Auto Workers Local Union 1853, charging her with knowingly making a false statement in a labor organization annual report in order to conceal her embezzlement of $10,000 in local union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 498, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $63,082 and one count of making a false entry in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Rice, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 538, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, six months home confinement, three years probation, and ordered to make full restitution, for embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. Rice entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 349, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $34,919.90 and one count of making a false statement to obtain Federal employees' compensation. Dutchuk was indicted on August 18, 2005. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service.

On November 23, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against Rosemary Zwetkof Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, charging her with making materially false entries in union financial records in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Donald Dixon, former Treasurer and bookkeeper for Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local Union 623, pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Dixon is ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $106,152 and to pay a special assessment of $100. Dixon was indicted on July 28, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On November 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jeri Russell, former office secretary for Communications Workers Local 36047, was sentenced to three years probation. As a special condition of probation, Russell was ordered to pay $7,933.44 in restitution. Russell pled guilty on August 18, 2005, to one count of making a false entry in a union record. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2528, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling union funds totaling $2,727.93. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 2058, pled guilty to one count of making false statements for falsely representing the union's assets on an LM-4 report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. The false statement was made to conceal his embezzlement of $40,474 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 9, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Kimberly Solheim, former bookkeeper for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 402, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,635, and one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry T. LeBlanc, President of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2250, was indicted on one count of embezzlement within a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans Affair's Office of Inspector General.

On November 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Skursky, former Treasurer of PACE Local 2-672, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making false entries in the union's records in order to conceal a theft of $6,050 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 7, 2005 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Marcia Huizenga, former bookkeeper and office manager for Teamsters Local 822, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds totaling $47,131. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 3, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joseph Rocha, former Business-Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 1082, received a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $2,700. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department's Office of Inspector General.

On November 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Michael C. Crogan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1382, United Transportation Union, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $31,700. Crogan previously made full restitution to UTU Local 1382. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 1, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Jordan, former Business Manager of Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home detention. Jordan was also fined $5,000. On May 24, 2005, Jordan pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $21,652.80 and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Barbara Turner, former office secretary of Carpenters Local 2239, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds totaling $29,307. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Donald Hutchinson, former financial secretary of Chemical Workers Local 763-C, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling no less than $103,488 but no more than $106,216. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 21, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Good, Jr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 821, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $192,469. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On October 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Terrance Dolan, former Operations Manager for Windy City Maintenance, pled guilty to 11 counts of mail fraud. Windy City Maintenance, a Duff family owned business, had falsely maintained to the City of Chicago that it was a woman-owned business. Earlier in the year, James Duff and William Stratton, former Vice President and Business Agent, respectively, of Liquor and Allied Workers Union, Local 3, were convicted for their roles in the scheme. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On October 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Edward Dupree, former President of Independent Guards Union of North America Local 138, was indicted on one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Steven R. Fairfax, former Secretary-Treasurer of Branch 3939 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, was sentenced to ten months home confinement with electronic monitoring, five years probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution and a $100 assessment. Fairfax previously pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $53,990.04. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 11, 2005, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Tarria Burwell, former Treasurer of Local 75 of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Employees (IFPTE), pled guilty to one count of first degree fraud stemming from her embezzlement of union funds totaling $15,921.11. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Christopher Henry, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 02-9264, was sentenced to two years of probation and fifty hours of community service. He was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $5,210.49 and to pay a $25 special assessment. Henry pled guilty to making false entries in union records on April 25, 2005. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Duane Raab, former business manager of Iron Workers Local 518, was sentenced to three months imprisonment to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, including three months of home confinement for embezzling union funds. He was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $25,479.38. Raab pled guilty to embezzling union funds on July 15, 2005. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 6, 2005, in the United States District for the District of Colorado, Steve Bush, former Recording Secretary and Business Agent for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 990, pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds totaling $2,850. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Tina Buracker, former President of Communications Workers of America Local 82174, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $54,679. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Stanley James Kluss, former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA), was indicted on 14 counts of embezzling union funds totaling at least $20,000 and 18 counts of mail fraud. The indictment alleges that Kluss embezzled funds by charging unauthorized personal expenses to WPPA credit cards assigned to him, obtaining unauthorized cash advances on the credit cards, and submitting false reimbursement claims in excess of $15,000 for mileage he claimed he drove on WPPA vehicles. The indictment also alleges that Kluss caused the WPPA to pay for unauthorized expenses totaling approximately $8,879.09 which included expenses for groceries, shampoo, candle holders, VHS and DVD movies, dog food, cigarettes, assorted personal items, a snowmobile, concert tickets, and a trip to Walt Disney World. Kluss is alleged to have disguised his personal expenses by altering the receipts submitted to the WPPA bookkeeper by cutting off the top and bottom portion of the receipts and taping the two sections together, thereby deleting the detail portion of the receipts that identified the items he purchased. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, former bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $5,745.41. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cynthia Wright, former President of AFGE Local 1298, pled guilty to making a false statement of material fact. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General.

On October 3, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, George Beck, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) Local 01-366 was sentenced to six months home confinement to be followed by two years of probation for embezzlement of union funds. He was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $26,918. Beck pled guilty to embezzling union funds on September 7, 2005. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Marilyn Constable, former trustee of ABC Local 12 Employer and Employee Life Benefit Fund, a benefit fund of the Bakery & Tobacco Workers AFL-CIO, Local 12-A, Pittsburgh, PA, was charged in a 15 count indictment with embezzling $7,591.01 in benefit funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and EBSA Philadelphia Regional Office.

On September 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Albert Moore, Jr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of PACE Local 6992, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $36,327. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Evon Louis, aka Evon Lewis, while employed by Carpenters Local Union 130, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $11,635.57. On September 27, 2005, Louis/Lewis was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and released pending arraignment after posting bond. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On September 22, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, Richard Carlson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Postal Workers Local 769, was indicted on 18 counts of embezzling union funds totaling $7,089.14, and one count of making a false statement in a Labor Organization Report. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 21, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Joseph Calcagno, former Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of Laborers Local 1162, was sentenced to two years probation for making false entries in the financial books and records of Local 1162. Calcagno was also ordered to make restitution of $66,632 to the union for improper expenses that were claimed by Calcagno while employed by the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 21, 2005, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, Joseph J. Brady, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 1693, was charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Robert N. Watson, former Secretary-Treasurer of PACE Local 08-748, pled guilty to making false entries and concealing, withholding, and destroying labor organization records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Gary Gourley, former President of AFSCME Local 1522, pled guilty to embezzling $63,084 in union funds. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On September 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Lenin V. Perez, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 599, pled guilty to knowingly and willfully receiving cash kickbacks in return for referring postal employees to certain medical specialists under a Federal health care program. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On September 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Rice, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 538, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. An information was filed on September 1, 2005, charging Rice with embezzling union funds by submitting false claims for expenses incurred for fictitious meetings. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Linda Y. Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Local Lodge 57, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with mail fraud for executing a scheme to defraud the union of approximately $24,336 of union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Christopher Scott Wagner, former Operations Manager for the Boilermakers National Funds, was indicted on one count of lying to federal agents and one count of obstructing a health care investigation. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office and the DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General.

On September 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of Local 717, United Food and Commercial Workers, was indicted on five counts of embezzling union funds totaling $14,064, five counts of making a false statement in a required record, and four counts of filing false reports with the Department of Labor. The indictment alleges that Bandt wrote 43 unauthorized checks to herself, attempted to conceal the embezzlement by falsifying the payee or amount on 32 checks recorded in Local 717's disbursement journal, and falsely reported the total payments to her on Labor Organization Annual Reports Form LM-3 by reporting amounts that were less than she actually received. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 12, 2005, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Beaver County Court, Beth Ann Shanor, former employee of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Sub-Lodge 3094, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint with embezzling $5,586.70 in union funds. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2005. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 12, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, James Jackson, former Treasurer of Longshoremen and Warehousemen (ILWU) Local 200, Unit 62, was charged with one count of embezzling $12,934.50 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 7, 2005, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County Court, Brenda Berkhamer, former employee of United Mine Workers Local 1257, was charged in a 47-count criminal complaint with embezzling $9,656.50 in union funds. She was arrested the same day and released on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2005. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Elizabeth Fiske, former Bookkeeper and Office Secretary of AFSCME Council 38, was indicted on 63 counts of embezzling union funds totaling $32,793 and one count of destroying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jenny Noah, former Financial Secretary for PACE Local 5-1250, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of filing a false LM-3 report. Noah failed to disclose an unauthorized $500 disbursement to herself on the financial report. She was sentenced to 2 years probation, ordered to pay a $25 special assessment, and ordered to make full restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 6, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, George P. Strollo, former Treasurer of Communication Workers Local 81495, pled guilty to falsifying union records. Strollo's plea agreement acknowledged that he made false entries in the union records to conceal taking money from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 1, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, an information was filed against Michael Rice, former President of Local 538 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. The information states that Rice embezzled funds by submitting false claims for expenses incurred in attending meetings with the UFCW and AFL-CIO which never took place. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 31, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Treasurer James Baxter and former WTU Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill were found guilty of all 23 counts after a jury trial lasting approximately three months. The convictions included conspiracy, embezzlement, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, false statements on LM reports and false union records. These are the seventh and eighth convictions of individuals involved in the embezzlement of approximately $4.6 million from the WTU. Sentencing for Baxter and Hemphill is set for December 9, 2005. The case was the result of a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On August 31, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Paul Himmelstein, former Secretary-Treasurer of Branch 1977, Letter Carriers, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,683.20. Himmelstein was indicted on May 24, 2005. Sentencing is scheduled for November 29, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1528, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, including 180 days of home detention, for her role in embezzling union funds. Bautista was ordered to pay restitution totaling $115,259.27. She pled guilty to embezzling union funds on June 20, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 25, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former financial secretary-treasurer of Local 5, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, and former president of Unity House, an umbrella organization that provides benefits to members of Local 5 and Teamsters Local 996, pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying a tax return. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, among others.

On August 25, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Dana Lockwood, former Treasurer of Asbestos Workers Local 49, was sentenced to five months in prison, five months home confinement, and ordered to make full restitution. Lockwood had previously been charged on March 23, 2005 with embezzling $64,255.55 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 2058, was indicted on one count of making false statements on an LM-4 report to cover up an embezzlement of $40,474. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On August 22, 2005, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Diane L. Hollins, former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3283 and former AFGE National Representative, pled guilty to one count of theft in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02. Following her plea, Hollins was sentenced to five (5) years probation, with stipulations requiring that she make restitution of $7,303.03 to Local 3283 and that she neither seek nor hold any position in any labor organization, other than as a member. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Local 349, was indicted on charges of embezzling $34,919.90, making a false statement in a labor union report, making a false statement to the Postal Service, and making a false entry in and the destruction of labor union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.

On August 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jeri Russell, former office secretary for Communications Workers Local 36047, pled guilty to a one count information that was filed on July 15, 2005, of making a false entry in a required record. Sentencing was set for November 3, 2005. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Kathy Jacobsen, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts AFL-CIO (IATSE) Local 69, was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,000 and one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment resulted from an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cynthia Wright, former president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1298 in Fort Worth, Texas, was indicted on charges of making a false statement. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General.

On August 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, James Taylor Banks, former Business Agent of Operating Engineers Local 369, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,593. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine Dee Barnett, former secretary-treasurer of Division 374, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was indicted on two counts of embezzlement of $1,100 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell J. Liming, former business manager/financial secretary of Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of filing a false report with the U.S. Department of Labor. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, Thomas Brewster, former secretary-treasurer of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 976 in Portsmouth, NH, was indicted on charges of embezzling more than $150,000 between May 17, 2003, and December 27, 2004. The indictment follows an investigation by the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the OLMS Boston District Office.

On August 9, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, George Hines, former Business Agent of Sheet Metal Workers Local 5, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and three years probation for embezzling union training funds. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $200 and make restitution in the amount of $95,798.45. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 2, 2005, in the 18th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Rhonda Hughes, wife of a former PACE Local 3-537 Secretary-Treasurer, pled guilty to a three-count indictment charging her with two counts of Possession of a Forged Instrument Second Degree and one count of Forgery Second Degree. She was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $4,652.55 at the time of the plea. In addition, she was ordered to pay restitution to all victims at the direction of the Department of Corrections. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Mario Garafola, an organized crime associate, was sentenced to three years imprisonment and was ordered to pay $30,000 in forfeiture to the United States Government and $1.9 million in restitution. Garafola previously pled guilty to charges filed in an indictment involving conspiracy to commit Mail Fraud, Paying Money from an Employer to a Representative of Employees; Committing Money Laundering; Obstructing Justice by Tampering with a Witness; Obstructing Justice by Withholding Documents from a Grand Jury; and Embezzling Moneys of Employee Benefit Plans. The labor corruption scheme concerning the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's Building at 2 Broadway involved multiple unions including Elevator Constructors Local One, Operating Engineers Local 14, and Laborers Local 79. On June 20, 2005, in the same court, Laborers Local 79 Business Agent Junior Campbell was sentenced to probation as a result of his guilty plea to charges of making false statements. Also on June 20, 2005, Richard Calaboro was sentenced to five months imprisonment and ordered to pay $8,626 in restitution. Calaboro was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice based on his false testimony before the grand jury regarding the no-show job obtained by Mario Garafola at Building Core Construction. This investigation was conducted jointly by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On August 1, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Daniel Van Becelaere, former financial secretary of Local 763, United Transportation Union, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to make restitution of $36,169.84 for embezzlement. On May 11, 2005, Van Becelaere pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (Southwestern Division), Tawyuna Palmer, former financial secretary of Local 11-14228, Steelworkers, was sentenced to five years probation for embezzlement. As a condition of probation, Palmer was ordered to successfully participate in six months of home detention and perform 120 hours of community service. Prior to sentencing, she made $21,499.00 in restitution. On April 18, 2005, Palmer pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On July 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Donald Dixon, former bookkeeper-treasurer for Local 623, International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, was indicted on six counts of embezzlement totaling $6,399.81. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

On July 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Donald Hutchinson, former Financial Secretary of the Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 763-C, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $105,976. He was also indicted on five counts of reporting and recordkeeping violations. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Jordan, the former business manager of Riggers, Local 161, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $21,652.80 and one count of making a false entry in the union's records. On May 24, Jordan was indicted on two counts of embezzlement and one count of making a false entry. Under the terms of the plea agreement, one count of embezzlement will be dismissed at the time of sentencing which is scheduled for November 1, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On July 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, a 23-count indictment was filed against the following individuals: Jorge L. Aponte-Figueroa, president of both UTM Local 1740, the International Longshoremen's Association, and the District Council of International Longshoremen Association Locals in Puerto Rico; three other union officials (attorney Ada Perez-Alonso, Enrique Sosa-Hernandez, and Milagros Pagan-Morales); six businessmen (Angel Ramallo-Diaz, Rafael Garcia-Perez, Fernando Sanchez-Bencon, Eduardo Sanchez-Bencon, Francisco Consuegra-Lastayo, and Guillermo Rivera-Oliver); and three corporations known as Ramallo Bros., Inc., Consuegra, Inc., and Pro, Inc. The indictment charges these individuals with the following offenses: one count of conspiracy to embezzle labor union funds; one count of conspiracy to embezzle ERISA funds; five counts of embezzlement of labor union funds; four counts of embezzlement and misapplication of Health Care Program Funds; one count of conspiracy to launder money embezzled from union dues; and five counts of making a false record. Among other allegations, the indictment specifically alleges that Aponte-Figueroa and Sosa-Hernandez conspired to embezzle union funds in excess of $1,950,000 from UTM Local 1740. In addition, the indictment alleges that Aponte-Figueroa falsely under-reported the amount of dues paid to UTM Local 1740 in Forms LM-2 and LM-3 in addition to failing to report $1,489,478.89. Moreover, as part of the conspiracy to embezzle ERISA funds, the indictment alleges that Aponte-Diaz, four other individuals and Ramallo Bros., Inc, conspired to unlawfully convert to their own use monies exceeding $8,000,000. The indictment follows an ongoing joint investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

On July 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Bernard Scheller, former secretary-treasurer for Local 14448, Communications Workers, was sentenced to six months in a half-way house, two years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. On May 16, 2005, Scheller pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $7,250 in union funds. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Diane Sampson, former treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police, was arrested and charged with theft by embezzlement of approximately $23,000 in union funds. In addition, she was charged with making false statements and false representation of material facts on the annual LM reports. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

On July 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Harry Good, Jr., former financial secretary-treasurer of Local Lodge 821, Machinists, was indicted for embezzling $11,800 in union funds. According to the 8-count indictment, Good made union checks payable to himself, without authorization or approval by the union's executive board, and deposited them into his personal bank account. The indictment superceded a criminal complaint and an arrest warrant on June 30, 2005. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On July 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Michael C. Crogan, former secretary-treasurer of Local 1382, United Transportation Union, entered a guilty plea by plea agreement to an information filed on the same day charging him with embezzling $31,700 in union funds. The charge and plea agreement follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Sonya R. Green, former financial secretary of Local 3657, Steelworkers, was sentenced to ten months incarceration (five months in a correctional facility followed by five months home detention with an electronic monitor). In addition, Green was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $39,879.95. On April 15, 2005, Green pled guilty to one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 7, 2005, in the United District Court for Nebraska, Terry L. Gloe, former treasurer of Local 11, American Postal Workers Union, was sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release with a special condition of six months continuous home confinement. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $113,377. On February 3, 2005, Gloe pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On July 6, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Robert W. Watson, former secretary-treasurer of Local 8-748, PACE, was indicted for embezzling approximately $7,325 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 30, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, an indictment was filed against William Harry Good, Jr., former financial secretary-treasurer of Local Lodge 821, Machinists, charging him with embezzling $1,500 in union funds. The charge of $1,500 is one of 229 checks totaling over $192,000 Good is alleged to have misappropriated from the union. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On June 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald A. Bush, former president of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, pled guilty to four counts of embezzling $1,967 in union funds. Bush's guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Anthony Marro, the former secretary-treasurer of Local 518, SEIU, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with failure to retain union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed against Russell J. Liming, business manager-financial secretary of Local 183, Sheet Metal Workers, charging him with one count of filing a false report. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Chris Byron, former bookkeeper of Local 78, Laborers, was sentenced to one year probation for embezzling $20,928 in union funds between March and October 2003. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 21, 2005, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued an arrest warrant against Cynthia Wright, former president of Local 1298, AFGE, for one count of submitting fraudulent travel voucher claims to the Bureau of Prisons despite previous reimbursement by the union. The arrest follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General.

On June 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Stephen L. Bush, former recording secretary and business agent of Local 990, Food and Commercial Workers, was indicted on 51 counts of embezzling $22,514.40 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On June 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former secretary-treasurer of Local Lodge 1528, Machinists, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds of more than $5,000 but less than $10,000. On June 1, 2005, an information was filed against Bautista for embezzlement. On May 6, 2005, Bautista made an initial payment of $50,000 toward the $165,259.27 in restitution due to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Moore, former secretary-treasurer of Local 1269, Machinists, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and restitution of $49,131 for embezzling union funds. On April 13, 2005, Moore pled guilty to a one-count information following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy C. Burke, the former business manager-financial secretary of Local 42, Roofers, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $31,470 in union funds. Burke was previously indicted on March 16, 2005, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jenny Noah, the former treasurer of Local 5-1250, PACE, pled guilty to making a false statement of material facts. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Clifford, the former president of the United Business Workers Union, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 for making a false statement of material facts. Clifford had previously made restitution to the union in the amount of $60,000. On February 16, 2005, Clifford pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Darlene Peggy Shortt, the former president of Local 14459, Steelworkers, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Julie Messick, the former treasurer of Local 2001, Carpenters, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100 for embezzling union funds. Messick had previously made restitution to the union in the amount of $11,793.85. On February 17, 2005, Messick pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Robin Klein, an outside accountant hired by the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), charging her with two counts of failing to disclose material facts in a trial balance that she prepared for the WTU. The information alleges that the trial balance was then used by a union officer to file a false Form LM-2 report. Klein pled guilty to both counts on this date. The information supersedes an indictment against Klein filed on November 20, 2003. Moreover, the information and plea are part of an ongoing investigation of the WTU conducted by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

On May 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Paul Himmelstein, the former secretary-treasurer of Branch 1977, Letter Carriers, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $20,000 or more. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Jordon, the former business manager of Local 161, Iron Workers, was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,652.80 and one count of making a false entry in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Cassandra Williams, former president of Local 905, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), was indicted on one count of making a false statement and one count of filing false records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Duane Raab, former business manager for Local 518, Iron Workers, was indicted on three counts of embezzling union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 18-20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, four individuals were sentenced for fraud, money laundering, and racketeering conspiracy involving the Duff family business enterprise. They were involved in two fraudulent schemes: one relating to more than $100 million in government and private contracts obtained by sham woman- and minority-owned businesses and the other relating to over $3 million in unpaid workers' compensation insurance premiums. The sentences follow a collaborative investigation conducted by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. The four individuals were sentenced as follows:

• On May 18, 2005, James M. Duff was sentenced to nine years and ten months incarceration and three years of supervised release. He was ordered to make restitution to the City of Chicago in the amount of $10,933,016. In addition, Duff was ordered to make restitution to the National Council on Compensation Insurance's (NCCI) assigned risk pool in Illinois in the amount of $1.09 million for which co-defendant John J. Leahy is jointly and severally liable. Also, he was ordered to forfeit $10 million, in addition to an assessment of the bill of costs for prosecution of $55,505.62, and a special assessment of $3,300. On January 10, 2005, Duff pled guilty to the charges.
• On May 19, 2005, John J. Leahy, president of Leahy & Associates insurance brokerage, was sentenced to three years and ten months incarceration. He was ordered to be jointly and severally liable with co-defendant James M. Duff for restitution of $1.09 million to the NCCI assigned risk pool. In addition, Leahy was ordered to pay a special assessment of $800. On February 24, 2005, Leahy was convicted of the charges.
• On May 19, 2005, Edward Wisniewski, insurance agent and vice president of Leahy & Associates, was sentenced to one year and one day incarceration and three years of supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to pay a special assessment of $800. On February 24, 2005, Wisniewski was convicted of the charges.
• On May 20, 2005, William E. Stratton, a long-time friend and associate of the Duff family, and an employee for over 18 years of Local 3, Liquor Distributors Union (a union managed by members of the Duff family), was sentenced to five years and ten months incarceration and three years of supervised release. Stratton was ordered to be jointly and severally liable with co-defendant James M. Duff for restitution to the City of Chicago in the amount of $7,370,379. Stratton was ordered to forfeit $525,932 in salary he earned as the minority figurehead of Remedial Environmental Manpower and he was ordered to pay a special assessment of $1,100. On February 24, 2005, Stratton was convicted of the charges.

On May 12, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Amanda Kemmer, former secretary of Local 3, Bricklayers, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years probation, and ordered to pay full restitution for embezzling $209,384 in union funds. On December 22, 2004, Kemmer pled guilty following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Daniel Van Becelaere, former financial secretary of Local 763, United Transportation Union, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $36,169 in union funds after the first day of his trial. Van Becelaere was indicted on December 14, 2004 following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, an indictment against Patricia Longbon, former bookkeeper of Building and Construction Trades Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania (BCTC), was unsealed following her arrest. On May 4, 2004, Longbon was indicted on 25 counts of embezzling $10,157 in union funds and two counts of making false records. The indictment was initially sealed due to the difficulty in locating Longbon. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On May 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, the former office secretary for Local 161, Iron Workers (Riggers), was indicted on two counts of embezzling $5,745.41 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 5, 2005, in Philadelphia County District Court, Cristie Campbell, the former bookkeeper for the Penns Landing Catering Company, a subsidiary of Local 19, Sheet Metal Workers, pled guilty to writing bad checks, a misdemeanor 1. On the same day, Campbell was sentenced to two years probation and fined $150. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 4, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Leslie Patricia Bell, former bookkeeper of Local 1184, Laborers International Union, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $178,452 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On April 25, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Christopher Henry, former financial secretary of Local 02-9264, Steelworkers, pled guilty to making false entries in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 22, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Gary Miller, former president of Local 2372, United Auto Workers, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzlement. Miller was ordered to pay a $100.00 fine and restitution totaling $7,947.28. On January 20, 2005, Miller pled guilty to embezzling union funds in excess of $5,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 22, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Mary Jane Krausz, former office secretary of Locals 295, 377, and 1535, Carpenters, was sentenced to five months confinement and three years supervised release (the first five months of the supervised release must be spent in home confinement). Additionally, she was ordered to pay $27,629.89 in restitution. On November 1, 2004, Krausz plead guilty to embezzling $37,204 of union funds following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Anthony L. Ward, former president of Local 1055, AFGE, was indicted on one count of making a false statement and five counts of uttering forged securities. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Jenny D. Noah, the former financial secretary-treasurer for Local 5-1250, PACE, was indicted on one count of filing a false report. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southwestern Division, Tawyuna Palmer, former financial secretary of Local 11-14228, Steelworkers, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $21,449.77 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.

On April 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Sonya R. Green, former financial secretary of Local 3657, Steelworkers, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On September 28, 2004, Green was indicted on 35 counts of embezzling $39,879.95 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael T. Moore, former secretary-treasurer of Local 1269, Machinists, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $47,939.53 in union funds. During an eight-month period from February to October 2002, Moore wrote 52 unauthorized checks to himself for his personal benefit. He forged the co-signature of the Local president on 50 of these checks. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Doris J. Blue, former president of Local 2207, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), was sentenced to six months home confinement, 36 months supervised probation, and fined $2,000. Blue had previously pled guilty to forging the signature of a United States District Judge and obstruction of justice on November 18, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the FBI.

On April 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jonathan LaSalle Quinn, former secretary-treasurer of Local 6-126, Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers (PACE), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years probation. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,394.00 and a special assessment of $125.00. Quinn had previously pled guilty to embezzling more than $10,000 in union funds and falsifying union records, following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Retail Wholesale (UFCW) District Council, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised probation. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $77,441.00 to UFCW Local 1050 and $13,685.00 to UFCW Local 1052. On May 3, 2004, Lineback pled guilty to embezzling union funds and falsifying union records for the two locals he was representing following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Terry Aldrich, former president of the Westfield Tanning Employees Association, was sentenced to two months in prison followed by three years probation for embezzlement. In addition, Aldrich will be subject to four months of electronic monitoring and he must pay restitution in the amount of $54,770 (payable in the minimum of $50.00 monthly installments). On September 15, 2004, Aldrich pled guilty to embezzling union funds in excess of $39,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 29, 2005, in the United Stated District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Robert Moon, former secretary-treasurer of the Westfield Tanning Employees Association, was sentenced to two months in prison followed by three years probation for embezzlement. Upon release, Moon will be subject to electronic monitoring for four months. Moon must pay restitution in the amount of $31,232 (payable in the minimum of $50.00 monthly installments). On November 1, 2004, Moon pled guilty to embezzling union funds in excess of $15,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, an information was filed charging Bernard Scheller, former secretary-treasurer of Local 14448, Communications Workers, with one count of embezzling $22,250 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 23, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Denita Cromartie, former secretary-treasurer of Local 2080-VA, American Federation of Government Employees, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and 12 months of supervised probation. In addition, she was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $40,277.90. Cromartie was found guilty on two counts of mail fraud and three counts of false statements during a jury trial on December 9, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 23, 2005, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Dana Lockwood, former treasurer of Local 49, the Asbestos Workers Union, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $64,255.55 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 23, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Otis Johnson, Jr., former financial secretary of Local 9-9361-S, United Steelworkers, was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $9,638.59. He pled guilty to embezzlement on December 15, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy Burke, former business manager-financial secretary of Local 42, Roofers, was charged with embezzling $31,570 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 15, 2005, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laura Booth, former secretary-treasurer of Local 3129, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with swindling $18,749.41 in union funds in violation of Federal and state laws. Booth pled guilty in Federal Court for committing a state crime in a federal building. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Derrick Thomas, former secretary-treasurer of Local 138, Glass Molders Plastics Union, was sentenced to three years probation, with the first six months in home confinement, for embezzling union funds. In addition, he was ordered to: (1) make additional restitution of $3,528.52, (2) pay a special assessment of $100, and (3) complete 200 hours of community service. Thomas had previously made restitution in the amount of $10,297.72 to the union. On November 19, 2004, Thomas pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 3, 2005, in the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County (Ohio), an indictment was filed against Aunalie Parsons, former employee of the Ohio Nurses Association, charging her with one count of theft of union funds in an amount more than $500, but less than $5,000. In addition, Parsons was charged with two counts of forgery. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Steven R. Fairfax, former secretary-treasurer of Branch 3939, Letter Carriers, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $53,990.54. Fairfax was also indicted on two counts of making false statements in reports. Fairfax's indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, a three-count indictment was filed against George Hines, former business agent of Local 5, Sheet Metal Workers, charging him with two counts of embezzling a total of $144,000 from two employee pension benefit plans and one count of failure to maintain required records on such plans. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On February 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an indictment was filed against Pamela Tucker, former president of Local 2525, American Federation of Government Employees, charging her with 28 counts of theft of union funds totaling $6,564.82. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William E. Stratton, former employee of Local 3, Liquor Distributors Union, John J. Leahy, an insurance broker, and Edward Wisniewski, an insurance agent, were convicted of crimes related to contract and insurance fraud schemes involving the Duff family business enterprises. The first fraud scheme involved more than $100 million in government and private contracts obtained by sham women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The second fraud scheme involved over $3 million in unpaid workers' compensation insurance premiums. Stratton, Leahy and Wisniewski were convicted of the following specific crimes:

• William E. Statton, a long-time friend and associate of the Duff family, and an employee for over 18 years of Liquor Distributors Union Local 3, a union managed by members of the Duff family, was convicted of 11 counts involving racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; 4 counts of mail fraud; and 5 counts of money laundering involving the contract fraud and insurance fraud schemes.
• John J. Leahy, president of Leahy & Associates insurance brokerage, was convicted of eight counts of mail fraud involving the insurance fraud scheme.
• Edward Wisniewski, insurance agent and vice president of Leahy & Associates, was convicted of eight counts of mail fraud involving the insurance fraud scheme.

These convictions follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On February 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Burnest Rose, former President of PACE Local 5-1929, was sentenced to 24 months probation, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $8,295, and required to pay an assessment of $275. He had pled guilty on November 19, 2004, to an 11-count information charging him with falsifying, concealing, withholding and destroying required union records. The information and conviction follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Julie Messick, the former treasurer of Local 2001, Carpenters, entered a guilty plea by plea agreement to one count of a five-count indictment. She pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Messick had previously made restitution in the amount of $9,164. She further stipulated in the plea agreement that she will make additional restitution in the amount of $2,629.85. On December 7, 2004, Messick was charged following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Koehler, former business manager of Local 965, Electrical Workers, was re-sentenced for embezzling union funds. On February 14, 2003, Koehler was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution. On November 8, 2002, he pled guilty to embezzling $135,198 following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. On September 30, 2004, Koehler was held in contempt of court, and his sentence was tolled between September 30, 2004, and December 16, 2004, for failing to provide financial information and for failing to make restitution. On February 17, 2005, Koehler's sentence was amended to require that he serve 90 days of community confinement following his release from prison.

On February 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Vincent Callaghan, business agent of Local 798, IATSE, was arrested and charged with mail fraud. The charge alleges that Callaghan attempted to convert the Local's headquarters into a condominium and sell two-thirds of the property to his brother and his brother's girlfriend at a "sweetheart" price. The charge further alleges the following: Callaghan filed false documents with the New York State Attorney General's Office in order to have the property converted to a condominium without obtaining outside bids; as a result, the Attorney General's Office approved the condominium conversion by mail without knowledge that the information was false; Callaghan never advised the Local's Executive Board, Board of Directors, and membership of the attempted condominium conversion and subsequent sale to his brother as required in the Local's constitution and bylaws. Callaghan, released on his own recognizance, has been removed from office by the IATSE International Union. The arrest and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Brian K. Payne, former office manager of Local 1392, Laborers, was sentenced for embezzling union funds. The sentence consisted of one month home incarceration with electronic monitoring, and three years probation with random drug testing, evaluation, and counseling. Payne was also ordered to pay a $100 court assessment; he had previously made restitution in the amount of $6,605. On October 18, 2004, Payne pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Lorraine Edwards, former treasurer of Fellow Associates Involved in Representation (FAIR), an independent union, was sentenced to two years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,248.44. On November 8, 2004, Edwards pled guilty to the embezzlement of union funds; concealing, withholding, and destroying financial records; failure to file required reports; and failure to maintain records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dean Kirkland, a salesman for Capital Consultants, LLC. (CCL), was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In addition, he was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $15,756.20, and to pay a $100 assessment for each of the 24 counts for which he was convicted. On June 16, 2004, Kirkland was convicted of multiple counts of offering and giving gratuities and wire fraud. Also, he was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice for lying to federal investigators. Kirkland was charged following an investigation into his role in the collapse of CCL, which involved $350 million in losses, mostly from union pension funds. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On February 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Joy Torrance, former office secretary for Local 1094, Carpenters, was sentenced to five years of probation for embezzling union funds. She was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $31,640. On November 8, 2004, Torrance pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 7, 2005, an information was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa charging Debra Herrig, former secretary-treasurer of Local 2339, American Postal Workers Union, with embezzling union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 3, 2005, in the United States District Court for Nebraska, Terry L. Gloe, former secretary-treasurer for Local 11, American Postal Workers Union, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with embezzling $113,377 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.

On January 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James Pearson, former secretary-treasurer of Local 3550, Communications Workers of America, was sentenced to three years probation. Pearson had previously made restitution in the amount of $28,686 to the union. He pled guilty to embezzlement on October 15, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 27, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Debbie Samples, former bookkeeper of Local 809, Plasterers and Cement Masons, was sentenced to serve five months in community confinement followed by three years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. She was ordered to pay a $400 special assessment and make restitution after forfeiture in the amount of $2,400. Samples was convicted on August 11, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On January 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Glenda A. Woods, former secretary-treasurer of Local 3-543, Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Union (PACE), was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $18,447.92. On September 30, 2004, Woods pled guilty to embezzlement and falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On January 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Gary Miller, former president of Local 2372, United Auto Workers, pled guilty to the embezzlement of union funds in excess of $5,000. Miller was indicted on October 12, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Glen Johnson, former president of Local 3140, CWA, was sentenced to 12 months probation and 150 hours of community service. Johnson was ordered to make restitution of $24,897.60, pay a fine of $5,000, and pay a special court assessment of $50. On November 9, 2004, Johnson entered a guilty plea to one count of failure to disclose a material fact in a report following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Thomas Pogue, former president of Local 32, Glass Molders Plastics, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in excess of $5,000. He was sentenced on the same day to two years probation, assessed $100 and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Prior to sentencing, Pogue made restitution in the amount of $10,153.27. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Grace Maldonado, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to five years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. She was ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $9,806.80. Maldonado pled guilty on September 3, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On January 7, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Danny Fuller, former financial secretary of Local 32, Glass Molders Plastics, pled guilty to embezzling union funds. On the same day, he was sentenced to two years probation with six months home confinement. Fuller was fined $2,000, assessed $100, and ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $19,546.19. In addition, he was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Caroline Sharp, former treasurer of the Rochester School Bus Drivers Association, an independent union, was sentenced to five years of probation and 200 hours of community service for falsifying union records. On November 1, 2004, Sharp pled guilty to the offense following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James M. Duff, principal leader, organizer and manager of the Duff family business enterprise, entered a guilty plea to multiple offenses including the following: racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, 3 counts of wire fraud, 19 counts of mail fraud, 6 counts of money laundering and 3 counts of tax fraud. Duff was indicted in September 2003, for his role in defrauding the City of Chicago by fraudulently obtaining woman- and minority-owned business certifications for two of his companies. In addition, Duff fraudulently obtained government and private contracts for the two companies on the basis of the certification. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On January 5, 2005, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (Ohio), an indictment was filed against Diane Hollins, former president of Local 3283, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), charging her with theft of more than $5,000, but less than $100,000, in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 4, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Chris Byron, former office clerk of Local 78, Laborers, was arrested for embezzling $20,928 in union funds between March and October 2003. Byron was released on his own recognizance. He had previously made full restitution and been removed from his position. Byron provided a signed statement to OLMS investigators prior to his arrest in which he admitted to embezzling the Local's funds. The arrest follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 23, 2004, in United Sates District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Amanda Kemmer, former office manager for Local 3, Bricklayers, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling approximately $209,383.67 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Barbara Ann Hayes, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to six months home detention enforced by electronic monitoring and five years probation. Hayes was also ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $27,248.82. On May 17, 2004, Hayes pled guilty to embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 20, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Michael J. Volek, former treasurer and former president of Local 2441, Government Employees (AFGE), was sentenced for bank fraud. He was sentenced to four months in a minimum security facility and four months in home detention, enrollment in a supervised release program for five years, full payment of restitution in the amount of $14,492.36, and a special assessment of $100. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Donald L. Rudd, former president of Local 50, Service Employees International Union, was arrested and charged with misappropriation of approximately $18,083 in union funds. The arrest and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 15, 2004, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Renee Hallman, former project specialist for the District of Columbia Nurses Association, was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,404.51. On October 1, 2004, Hallman pled guilty to embezzling $9,572.89 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On December 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Rodney A. Fox, former secretary-treasurer for the Iowa State Troopers' Association, was charged in a seven-count indictment with embezzling $89,433 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Daniel Van Becelaere, former secretary-treasurer of Local 763, United Transportation Union, was charged in a three-count indictment with embezzling $36,169 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Julie Messick, former treasurer of Local 2001, Carpenters, was indicted on five counts of embezzlement in excess of $10,000 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Charles Novak, former executive vice president for Local One, Elevator Constructors, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and three years supervised release for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. He was ordered to pay a total of $289,000 in restitution and a $15,000 special assessment. Additionally, a forfeiture judgment was entered against Novak in the amount of $300,000. Thirty-seven additional individuals have pled guilty in connection with the ongoing investigation of Elevator Constructors Local One. The Novak sentence and the additional 37 guilty pleas follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.

On December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Allan L. Spates, former president of Local 5-1250, Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE), was sentenced for embezzlement. The sentence consists of 27 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised probation; and submission to random drug testing. Spates was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $20,655.21. On May 28, 2004, Spates pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judy Nowak, former treasurer of Branch 1107, Letter Carriers, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation for embezzlement. In addition, Nowak was ordered to pay court fees of $100. On January 14, 2004, Nowak pled guilty to one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 24, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Joseph Calgano, former business manager/secretary-treasurer of Local 1162, Laborers', was charged with making false entries in the Local's financial books and records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On November 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Jennifer Givens, former bookkeeper and office secretary of Local Lodge 735, Machinists, was sentenced to thirty-three months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation for false statements and representations and false use of a social security number. Givens was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $28,508.92. Givens had previously entered a guilty plea to the charges on May 31, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the Secret Service.

On November 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, George Beck Jr., former secretary-treasurer of Local 1-366, Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE), was indicted on 26 counts of embezzling $10,232.96 in union funds. In addition, the indictment sought forfeiture of proceeds traceable to the commission of the alleged embezzlement, including, but not limited to, $26,835.05 and a BOSE Acoustic Wave Music System. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On November 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Beverly Jackson, former executive vice president of Local 7901, Communications Workers, was indicted on three counts of embezzlement totaling $33,457.65. The indictment alleges that Jackson was "double paid" by both the union and her employer, Qwest Corporation, for time she spent performing union activities. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Barrie Williams, the former secretary-treasurer of Local 2000-A, Longshoremen's, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $5,000. On August 24, 2004, Williams plead guilty to making false entries in union records. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $7,046.94. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 22, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Daniel F. Kearney, former secretary-treasurer of Local 79, Laborers International Union of North America, was sentenced to the following for embezzling union funds: 12 months confinement, 2 years of probation, fined $100 and barred from holding a union office for a period of 13 years. He admitted to forging the signature of another officer on union checks and filing false and misleading Form LM-2 reports. Kearney has made full restitution in the amount of $149,330.12. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 22, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kmit, former financial secretary of Local 2562, Auto Workers (UAW), was sentenced to the following: six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, two years of supervised probation, and random drug testing. In addition, he was ordered to make full restitution of the outstanding balance of $10,953.50. On September 1, 2004, Kmit pled guilty to embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Derrick Thomas, former secretary-treasurer of the Glass Molders Plastics Union, pled guilty to embezzling $10,297 in union funds. An indictment filed August 18, 2004, alleged that Thomas negotiated unauthorized checks from the union's checking account by forging the president's co signature and making them payable to himself. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, David Westgate, former president of Local 168, United Auto Workers, was sentenced to 12 months and one day confinement at a halfway house and two years supervision upon release. In addition, he was ordered to make full restitution of $31,867 according to a court-ordered repayment schedule. In January 2004, Westgate pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On November 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, an information was re-filed charging Danny Fuller, former financial secretary of Local 32, Glass, Molders, Plastics, and Allied Workers, with one count of embezzling $19,546.19 in union funds. The initial information was filed on November 1, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 11, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Joy Torrance, former office secretary of Local 1094, Carpenters, pled guilty to embezzling $31,640.02 in union funds. An indictment filed on July 28, 2004, alleged that Torrance created and cashed unauthorized checks to herself and other third parties from the union's checking, savings, and money market accounts. In addition, the indictment alleged that Torrance used the union's credit card without authorization. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Glenn Johnson, former president of CWA Local 3140, Communications Workers (CWA), pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making a false statement of material fact in a report required to be filed under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Lorraine Edwards, former treasurer of Fellow Employees Involved In Representation (FAIR), pled guilty to a four-count information charging her with embezzling $4,348.44 in union funds, destruction of records, failure to file reports, and failure to maintain records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 4, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jonathan LaSalle Quinn, former president of Local 6-126, Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union ("PACE"), pled guilty to embezzling over $10,394.00 in union funds, and making false entries in union records. On August 20, 2004, Quinn was charged by indictment following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 2, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, an information was re-filed charging Thomas Pogue, former president of Local 32, Glass, Molders, Plastics, and Allied Workers, with embezzling union funds in excess of $5,000. The initial information was filed on October 19, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Sandra H. Linder, former financial secretary-treasurer of Local 1317, Auto Workers, was sentenced to six months of home detention and five years of probation for embezzlement. In addition, she was ordered to pay restitution of $10,219.75 and a $100 assessment. On July 21, 2004, Linder pled guilty to embezzling more than $10,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Mary Jane Krausz, former office secretary of Carpenters Locals 295, 377, and 1535, pled guilty to an information filed on that same date charging her with embezzling $37,204.63 in union funds. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Robert Moon, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Westfield Tanning Employees' Association, pled guilty to embezzling at least $15,000 in union funds. On October 18, 2004, Moon was charged by information following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 1, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Caroline Sharp, former treasurer of the Rochester School Bus Drivers Association, an independent union, pled guilty to making false entries in union records. Under a plea agreement, Sharp agreed to make restitution in the amount of $15,944. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez Gonzalez, former president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1662, was indicted on 67 counts of embezzlement. The indictment alleges that Suarez Gonzalez embezzled $27,404.25 in union funds by writing unauthorized checks to cash and to herself in the amount of $23,504, and to her daughters in the amount of $3,900. The indictment supercedes an information filed September 17, 2004, charging Suarez Gonzalez with one count of embezzlement and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, an indictment was filed against Otis Johnson, Jr., former financial secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9361, charging him with one count of embezzling $9,600 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, an indictment was filed against Doris J. Blue, current president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2207, charging her with forgery and obstruction of justice. The indictment alleges that Blue forged the presiding judge's signature on a document purporting to be a valid court order. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the FBI.

On October 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, James L. Power IV, former president of the Virginia Loomis Fargo Employees Union, was sentenced to a suspended six-month incarceration and placed on two years probation for one count of filing a false report and one count of failure to file reports in order to conceal his embezzlement. The sentence for each count will run concurrently. Power was ordered to attend mental health treatment, make full restitution of $7,300, pay a $50 special assessment, and complete 200 hours of community service. On July 23, 2004, he pled guilty to the charges following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Brian Payne, former office manager of Laborers Local 1392, pled guilty to embezzling $6,665 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed against Robert Moon, the former secretary-treasurer of the Westfield Tanning Employees Association, charging him with embezzlement of at least $15,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Gary Miller, the former president of United Automobile Workers Local 2372, was indicted on 11 counts of embezzling union funds totaling $13,605.06. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Rita Cloud, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 09-13314-S was sentenced to two years probation; she must serve the first six months of her sentence in home detention. In addition, Cloud was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and to perform 100 hours of community service. She previously made restitution. On June 28, 2004, she pled guilty to one count of embezzling $16,988 of union funds following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Francis Massey, former partner in the accounting firm of Thomas Havey LLP, was sentenced to six months home detention by electronic monitoring, two years supervised probation, and 100 hours of community service. In addition, Massey was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and restitution to OLMS in the amount of $5,000. His sentence was reduced due to his assistance in the ongoing investigation of the Iron Workers Union. On August 22, 2002, Massey pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting a conspiracy to make false statements and to defraud the Government and the union. The guilty plea and sentence follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On October 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Alfred Garappolo, former partner in the accounting firm of Thomas Havey LLP, was sentenced to two years supervised probation and 100 hours of community service for being an accessory after the fact to embezzlement from an employee welfare benefit plan and concealing and covering up a material fact in a Department of Labor matter. He was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and restitution to OLMS in the amount of $2,500. Garappolo's sentence was reduced due to his assistance in the ongoing investigation of the Iron Workers Union. On June 4, 2002, Garappolo pled guilty to the charges following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On October 4, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Yolanda Montgomery, former secretary-treasurer of International Guards Union of America Local 123, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,480 for one count of embezzling union funds. On June 7, 2004, Montgomery pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, the Court denied a motion filed by Leonard J. Schaefer, former secretary-treasurer of Laborers Local 1140, to reduce the LMRDA section 504 thirteen-year bar on holding union office or employment. He filed the motion to reduce the thirteen-year bar less than a year before it terminates under the statute. The 13-year bar results from his guilty plea to one count of making false statements on January 7, 1992, following an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator's Office.

On October 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Renee Hallman, former project specialist with the District of Columbia Nurses Association, pled guilty to an information filed on that same date charging her with embezzling $9,572.89 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Becky Harris, former secretary-treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 37, was sentenced to two years probation for creating false records. In addition, Harris was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and an assessment of $25. On April 27, 2004, she pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On September 28, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Sonya Green, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 3657, was charged in a 35-count indictment with embezzling $39,879.95 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 15, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, a superceding indictment was filed against four individuals for their criminal involvement in the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) 2 Broadway Project. Junior Campbell, a Business Agent of Laborers Local 79; Edward Garafola, a soldier in the Gambino crime family; Mario Garafola, an associate of the Gambino family; and Richard Calabro, Mario Garafola's brother-in-law, were all charged with multiple crimes. The crimes charged in the indictment included RICO, money laundering, extortion, obstruction of justice, mail fraud, perjury, unlawful labor payments, and embezzlement of employee benefit funds. The indictment estimated a monetary loss for the project in "excess" of $10 million. In addition, the guilty plea of Frederick Contini, the project developer, was unsealed. Elevator Constructors Local One, Operating Engineers Local 14, and Laborers Local 79 are involved in this ongoing joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On September 15, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Terry Aldrich, former president of the Westfield Tanning Employees' Association, pled guilty to embezzling approximately $39,000 in union funds. On August 12, 2004, an information was filed charging Aldrich with one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Donnie Chew, former secretary-treasurer for Bakery, Tobacco and Grain Workers Local 173 was sentenced to four months imprisonment and two years of supervised release during which he must complete 120 hours of community service. Chew must also participate in a substance abuse program. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution of $9,330 and pay a special assessment of $100. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Toy Jones, former treasurer of AFGE Local 1012, was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation for theft of funds on federal property. In addition, Jones was ordered to pay restitution of $46,408.47. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On September 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Peter McDonegh, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to two years in prison for witness tampering. McDonegh admitted to verbally threatening the son of two primary witnesses during the course of the criminal trial of Charles Novak, the former executive vice-president of Local One and McDonegh's former father-in-law. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On September 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Michael Volek, former president and treasurer of AFGE Local 2441, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. On July 8, 2004, Volek was indicted on one count of bank fraud for embezzling $14,491.56 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Cynthia Walker, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1027, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, five months to be served in a half-way house followed by five years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $10, 419 in restitution. Walker was charged on December 16, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Richard Krystofiak, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9-1071-L, was sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $8,644.46 for embezzlement and making false entries. On May 18, 2004, Krystofiak pled guilty to the charges following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 2, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Allan Cahill, former president of PACE Local 745, was sentenced to five years of probation (home confinement during the first four months) for embezzlement of union funds, and was ordered to participate in a substance abuse program. In addition, Cahill was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $9,532.19 and to pay a special assessment of $100. Cahill was previously indicted for embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigative Office.

On September 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael G. Kmit, former secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 2562, entered a plea change to guilty to the charge of embezzlement. Kmit was indicted on June 23, 2004, on one count of embezzling $10,953.10 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 25, 2004, in the Superior Court of Washington for Snohomish County, Dorothy Weber, former bookkeeper for the Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Organization Trust, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment for five counts of first degree theft. She was ordered to pay restitution of $542,778.56 and a victim assessment in the amount of $500. Weber was charged on May 7, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and office of the Employee Benefit Security Administration.

On August 24, 2004, in the United States District Court of the Western District of New York, Barrie Williams, secretary-treasurer of Longshoremen Local 2000-A, pled guilty to falsifying union records in order to conceal taking $7,047 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 20, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jonathan Lasalle Quinn, former financial secretary-treasurer of PACE Union, Local 06-126, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount $10,394.00, and one count of falsifying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Verlia Jones, former president of AFGE Local 1012 and former treasurer for AFGE NY/NJ VA Council, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $100 special assessment for theft of funds. In addition, Jones was ordered to pay restitution of $59,513.49 to Local 1012 and the AFGE NY/NJ/ VA Council ($44,988.84 to Local 1012 and $14,524.75 to the Council). On September 10, 2003, Jones had pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On August 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Derrick Thomas, former secretary-treasurer of Glass, Molders, & Plastics Union Local 138, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $10, 297.72 in union funds. The charge alleges that he negotiated unauthorized checks by forging the president's co-signature and making them payable to himself from the union's checking account. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Michael Updike, former secretary-treasurer of Glass, Molders, & Plastics Union Local 285, was sentenced to five years probation for embezzlement. Updike was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,343 and a special assessment of $100. The sentence follows an investigation by the Chicago District Office.

On August 12, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed charging Terry Aldrich, former president of the Westfield Tanning Employees Association, with one count of embezzling $39,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 11, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Debbie Samples, former bookkeeper-office secretary for Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 809, was convicted on four counts of embezzlement. On April 6, 2004, Samples was indicted for embezzling $2,400 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On August 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Henry Watson, the former president of Carpenters Local 3031, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzling $4,125 in union funds. Watson was ordered to make full restitution and must not incur any additional debt. On June 1, 2004, Watson pled guilty to one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Ivory Green, the former secretary-treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 968, was sentenced to three years probation; he will serve the first six months in a home confinement program. Green was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $19,079. On June 1, 2004, he pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,484, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James E. Pearson, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 3550, was indicted for embezzling $28,686 in union funds. The charge alleged that he negotiated unauthorized checks payable to cash from the union's checking account. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, C. Michael Vencill, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 101-473, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,488 and court fees of $150. On March 26, 2004, Vencill pled guilty to one felony count of embezzling union funds and two misdemeanor counts of submitting false reports to the Department of Labor. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 28, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Joy Torrance, former office secretary of Carpenters Local 1094, was indicted for embezzling approximately $39,881 in union funds. The charge alleged that she wrote unauthorized pay checks to herself and third parties from the union's checking, savings, and money market accounts. The charge further alleged that Torrance used the union's business credit card without authorization. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 28, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Delgadillo, the former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 1066, was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation for stealing $12,185 in union funds. Delgadillo was ordered to make full restitution, to continue participating in drug rehabilitation programs, and to remain drug free. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $100. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 26, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Renee Newman, former employee of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees Union (NAPFE), was sentenced to five years probation; she will serve the first six months in home detention. Newman was also ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $29,220.60 and to pay a $100 assessment. On April 23, 2004, she pled guilty to one count of embezzling $29,220.60 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Stanley Kelly, former president of Pre-Cast Concrete Products Union, Local 14, was sentenced to five months imprisonment, five months home confinement, two years probation, and ordered to make full restitution for embezzlement. On March 18, 2004, Kelly had pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, James L. Power, IV, former president of the Virginia Loomis Fargo Employees Union, plead guilty to one count of filing a false report and one count of failure to file a report. On April 15, 2004, Power was indicted on those two counts and five counts of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $7,300. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Sandra Linder, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 1317, entered a plea agreement in which she agreed to plead guilty to one count of embezzling more than $10,000 in union funds. On May 26, 2004, Linder was charged with embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 20, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Norman Fugere, former president of American Postal Workers Local 395, was charged with embezzling $12,240 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On July 15, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dennis Paul Talbott, former secretary-treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 33, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Talbott pled guilty to one count of accepting a gratuity in connection with his duties as a trustee of an employee benefit plan. The gratuity he accepted involved hunting and fishing trips paid for by Capital Consultants (CCL). CCL was involved in the loss of over 350 million dollars-mostly from union pension funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the Employee Benefit Security Administration.

On July 14, 2004, in the Ashtabula County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Sellers Judkins, former president of PACE Local 5-139, was sentenced to one year of supervised release for theft. He was ordered to pay a $250 fine and all costs of prosecution. On April 30, 2004, Judkins pled guilty to one count of theft of $4,217.23 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Little, former president of the United Transportation Union, was sentenced to two years imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in criminal forfeiture and a $10,000 fine. Little pled guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy on January 23, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Byron Boyd, former president of the United Transportation Union, was sentenced to two years imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in criminal forfeiture and a $10,000 fine. Boyd pled guilty to RICO conspiracy on March 11, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ralph Dennis, former Director of Insurance for the United Transportation Union Insurance Association, was sentenced to three years supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $45,000 in criminal forfeiture and a $2,000 fine. Dennis pled guilty to RICO conspiracy on October 2, 2003, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, John Rookard, former field representative for the United Transportation Union Insurance Association and project coordinator during the administration of Byron Boyd, was sentenced to three years probation with the first six months under home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay $45,000 in criminal forfeiture. Rookard pled guilty to RICO conspiracy on March 10, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Michael Volek, former president and former treasurer of AFGE Local 2441, was indicted on one count of bank fraud in excess of $14,900. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Linda Stewart, former secretary-treasurer of Graphic Communications Local 182-C (now known as Local 767-M), was sentenced to five years supervised probation with six months to be spent in home detention with electronic monitoring. Stewart was also ordered to pay $65,005 in restitution. Stewart pled guilty on February 6, 2004, to a one count information charging her with embezzlement. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Timothy Aldridge, former president of Florence Steelworkers Local 1, an independent union, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years supervised release. He was ordered to spend 500 hours in a residential substance abuse treatment program and to pay $112,525.27 in restitution and $100 in court costs. Aldridge had been indicted on April 9, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, an indictment was filed against Brian K. Payne, former office manager of Laborers' Local 1392, charging him with one count of embezzling approximately $5,830 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the Cincinnati District Office.

On July 6, 2004, in the Ventura County (California) Superior Court, President James D. Torrez, former president of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 105, was sentenced to 180 days in jail for embezzling $9,801. In addition, Torrez must pay full restitution and faces three years probation on his release from incarceration. Torrez had previously entered a guilty plea on May 10, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Lontine, former business agent of Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 was sentenced to one year supervised probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Lontine pled guilty to a one count information charging him with causing a plan administrator to fail to include certain transactions in the plan's annual report. The charges resulted from the investigation into the collapse of Capital Consultants, LLC, involving $350 million in losses, mostly from union pension funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Robert Mayhew, former business manager of IBEW Local 415, was sentenced to one year of supervised probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Mayhew pled guilty to a one count information charging him with causing a plan administrator to fail to include certain transactions in the plan's annual report. The charges resulted from the investigation into the collapse of Capital Consultants, LLC. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On July 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, an indictment was filed against William Timothy Frost, former financial secretary of Food and Commercial Workers Local 125-C, charging him with one count of embezzling $4,762.10 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On July 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, an indictment was filed against Glenda Ann Woods, former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 3-543, charging her with one count of embezzling $18,447.92 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, George W. Fridenstine, former financial-secretary of Carpenters Local 305, was sentenced to six months of home confinement with electronic supervision for embezzling $24,174.64 in union funds. Additionally, Fridenstine was ordered to complete 15 months of supervised probation and fined $2,000. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 24, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, an information was filed against Veronica Keith (aka Parker), former bookkeeper of Office and Professional Employees Local 29, charging her with seven counts of making false entries in the union's records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael G. Kmit, former financial secretary of United Autoworkers Local 2562, was charged with embezzling $10,953.50 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 22, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Gerhard Hubbard, former secretary-treasurer of Roofers Local 156, was sentenced to five years of supervised probation for embezzlement and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,002. On April 2, 2004, Hubbard pled guilty to a one count information charging him with embezzling from the local's vacation fund. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 22, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Daniel F. Kearney, former secretary-treasurer of Laborers Local 79, pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Also, he admitted to forging the signature of another officer on union checks and filing false and misleading Form LM-2 reports. Kearney has made full restitution in the amount of $149,330.12. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Lynn Dianne Kittelson, former secretary for Teamsters Local 142, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. She was subsequently sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to undergo monthly drug testing. On January 30, 2004, an information was filed against Kittelson following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On June 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paul B. Ladner, former treasurer of Stage & Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 674, was sentenced to six months home confinement under the electronic monitoring device program followed by three years probation for failing to maintain union records. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,162.50 and to pay a $25 special assessment. On March 29, 2004, Ladner pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Denita Cromartie and Paul Reid, former secretary-treasurer and former president, respectively, of AFGE Local 1080, were indicted on three counts of filing false annual financial reports and two counts of mail fraud. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dean Kirkland, a salesman for Capital Consultants, LLC. (CCL), was convicted of offering and promising illegal gratuities, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice for lying to federal agents. Union trustees and co-defendants Gary Kirkland (Dean's father) and Robert Legino were acquitted of accepting illegal gratuities. Dean Kirkland was charged on August 22, 2002, as a result of an investigation into the dissolution of CCL involving $350 million in losses, mostly from union pension funds. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former president of Chemical Workers Local 294 (United Food and Commercial Workers), was sentenced for making a willful false entry in union records. Brabazon pled guilty to the charge on March 5, 2004. He was initially indicted in September 2003, on one count of embezzling union funds; he later pled guilty to the lesser charge. Brabazon was sentenced to one year of probation, restitution in the amount of $3,672.84, and a $100 fine (which was waived). The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Yolanda Montgomery, former treasurer of the International Guards Union of America Local 123, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $3,480 in union funds. Montgomery had been indicted on April 6, 2004. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Andrew Alan Wiederhorn, co-founder of Wilshire Financial Services, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,000,000 in restitution. Wiederhorn pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with unlawful payment of a gratuity and the filing of a false tax return. The charges result from an investigation into the collapse of Capital Consultants, LLC. (CCL) involving $350 million in losses, mostly from union pension funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the FBI, the IRS, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On June 2, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, James Mitchell, former president of Machinists Lodge 2008, pled guilty to an information filed the same day charging him with one count of embezzling $2,900 in union funds. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Henry Watson, former president of Carpenters Local 3031, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $4,125 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Ivory Green, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 968, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $14,484 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 28, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Ohio, Allan Spates, former president of PACE Local 05-1250, pled guilty to three counts of embezzling $20,655.21 in union funds and one count of false statements. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Donnie Chew, former financial secretary for Bakery, Tobacco & Grain Workers Local 173, pled guilty to embezzlement following a plea agreement. An information had been filed on May 13, 2004 charging him with embezzling $9,330.20 in union funds. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On May 26, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Ohio, Kevan D. Sprow, former treasurer of Machinists District Lodge 57, was sentenced to six months home confinement, three years supervised probation, restitution in the amount of $48,597 and reimbursement of home confinement costs. Sprow pled guilty on March 4, 2004, to one count of embezzling $49,847 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 26, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Sandra Linder, former financial secretary for Auto Workers Local 1317, was indicted on one count of embezzling more than $10,000 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 24, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Lawrence Mendelsohn, co-founder of Wilshire Financial Services, was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation with six months to be served as home detention under electronic monitoring. Mendelsohn was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $105,454 in restitution. On November 21, 2003, Mendelsohn pled guilty to one count of filing a false income tax return. His conviction resulted from an investigation into the dissolution of Capital Consultants, LLC (CCL). CCL clients lost over $350 million, most of which came from union pension funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 24, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Morris Diminno, former union representative of Operating Engineers Local 14, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to receive, possess and dispose of money obtained by fraud and transported across state lines, unlawful labor payment, engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction, and obstruction of justice. He was required to forfeit $800,000 in connection with the no-show job scheme at the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) headquarters. Diminno and co-defendants were jointly and severally responsible for paying $7 million in restitution. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On May 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Jerome M. Smith, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 933, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with embezzling $30,000 in union funds. On the same date, Smith was sentenced to six months home detention, three years probation, and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Darryl Maynard, former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 07-816, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $7,309 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jeffery Henson, former secretary-treasurer of Graphic Communications Workers Local 42-C, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $98,000 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Barbara Ann Hayes, former bookkeeper and office secretary for United Food & Commercial Workers Local 990, was indicted on 35 counts of embezzling $27,248.82 in union funds The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Lynch, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to an information charging him with two counts of conspiracy. Count one related to unlawful labor payments and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and count two related to defrauding the government of income taxes. This investigation was part of an ongoing investigation involving the Elevator Constructors Local One operator no-show job scheme. Charges were filed following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On May 13, 2004, in the Criminal Court for Davidson County (Tennessee), David Randolph, former president of Machinists Lodge 154, pled guilty to theft of property in excess of $10,000 and was simultaneously sentenced to six years of supervised probation. Randolph was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $33,416. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 13, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Jennifer Phillips, former office secretary for Laborers Local 1073, was sentenced to five months home confinement followed by three years probation for embezzlement. Phillips was also ordered to pay a special court assessment of $100.00 and to make restitution of $35,040.96 in 36 monthly payments of $973.36. She was indicted on November 21, 2003, and pled guilty on February 17, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 10, 2004, in the Ventura County Superior Court, James D. Torrez, former president of Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 105, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $9,801 in union funds. Torrez had been charged with two counts of embezzlement on July 21, 2003. The charges and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Michael Weiss, a contractor, pled guilty to an information charging him with obstruction of justice and making a false statement. Weiss was involved in a $10 million fraud against the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in the renovation of its new headquarters at 2 Broadway in New York City. In April 2003, an indictment was filed against seven individuals including a developer, officers from Operating Engineers Local 14 and members of Elevator Constructors, Local One. Weiss' guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On May 7, 2004, in the Superior Court of Washington for Snohomish County, a five-count information was filed against Dorothy Weber, former bookkeeper for the Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Organization Trust, charging her with first-degree theft. Weber allegedly took over $400,000 from the fund without authorization by writing over fifty checks to herself in amounts ranging from $985 to over $5,000. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

On May 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Rose Erma (Irma) Elizaldez, former secretary-treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees, IAM Local 1031, was sentenced to six months home confinement and one year probation for misdemeanor receiving stolen property (approximately $500.00). She was not ordered to pay restitution since she had previously repaid $26,655 to the union; however, she was assessed $25. Elizaldez pled guilty on February 6, 2004 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Gene Malinowski, former secretary-treasurer and business manager of Boilermakers Lodge 1851, was sentenced to six months community confinement, six months home confinement and five years probation for conspiracy and embezzlement. Malinowski was fined $100, assessed $50 and ordered to make additional restitution in the amount of $17,205. On December 18, 2003, he was indicted on one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzlement. Since the amount in the indictment was unspecified, the loss was fixed at $81,000 during the sentencing. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Office.

On May 4, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an indictment was filed against Rita Cloud, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 09-13314, charging her with one count of embezzling $16,988 in union funds and one count of concealment/destruction of union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, a two-count information was filed against Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for Retail, Wholesale District Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1050. The information charged him with one count of embezzling $182,443 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. On the same date, Lineback entered a plea agreement and pled guilty. The charge and subsequent plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for Connecticut, Alan Cahill, former president of PACE Local 745, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzling $9,582 in union funds. He had been indicted on January 26, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Office.

On April 28, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Rezin D. Hudkins, former financial secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 5-276, was sentenced to one year of probation for falsifying union records. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,274.38 and to pay a $25 special assessment. On January 9, 2004, Hudkins pled guilty to falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Becky S. Harris (nee Martin), former secretary-treasurer of Glass, Molders & Plastics Local 37, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records. On the same date, Harris entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and was assessed a $25 fine. She had already made restitution in the amount of $27,484. The charge and subsequent guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 27, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Michael D. Updike, former secretary-treasurer of Glass, Molders & Plastics Local 285, charging him with one count of embezzling $9,343 in union funds. On the same date, Updike entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and agreed to make full restitution. He was assessed a $100 fine. The charge and subsequent guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Renee Newman, former employee of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzlement. An information filed on March 5, 2004, had charged her with embezzling $29,220.60 in union funds. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C.

On April 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling $26,804 in union funds. On the same day, he was sentenced to ten months imprisonment on each count to be served concurrently and two years supervised release for each count, also to be served concurrently. In addition, Collins was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $26,804 and assessed $200. He had been indicted on May 22, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Suzanne Coleman, former secretary-treasurer of Machinist Lodge 2909, was sentenced to five years probation for embezzlement. She was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service during the first 18 months of probation, 180 days home confinement, and must make full restitution of $11,196.88. On December 16, 2004, Coleman pled guilty to one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Delgadillo, former financial secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 1066, pled guilty to a one-count superceding information charging him with stealing $12,585 in union funds. Delgadillo was previously indicted on January 29, 2004, on one count of stealing and one count of making false entries. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 20, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ray Burns, the former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 326, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzlement. He was ordered to pay a $100 assessment and restitution totaling $29,587. On November 13, 2003, Burns pled guilty to one count of embezzling $29,587 in union funds. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On April 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Julie Palmi, former bookkeeper of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1116, was sentenced to six months home confinement with work release privileges and three years probation. In addition, she was ordered to make full restitution. Palmi pled guilty on January 21, 2004, to one count of embezzling approximately $53,570 in union funds. An information charging Palmi with embezzlement was filed on October 16, 2003. This case was transferred from the District of Minnesota to the Southern District of California pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties. The charge, guilty plea, and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 15, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, James Power, former president of the Virginia Loomis Fargo Employees Union, was indicted on five counts of embezzling $7,300 in union funds. He was also indicted on one count of filing a false report and one count of failure to file. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On April 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Timothy Aldridge, former president of Florence Steelworkers Local 1, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $112,525 in union funds. Aldridge had been indicted on April 9, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, an indictment was filed against Henry Watson, former president of Carpenters Local 3031, charging him with one count of embezzling $4,125 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, an indictment was filed against Yolanda Montgomery, former secretary-treasurer of Guards Independent Local 123, charging her with one count of embezzling $3,480 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, an indictment was filed against Ivory Green, former treasurer of American Postal Workers Local 968, charging him with one count of embezzling $14,483.50 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Debbie Samples, former bookkeeper for Plasterers Local 809, was indicted on charges of embezzling $2,400 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the Dallas District Office.

On April 2, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Gerhard Hubbard, former secretary-treasurer of Roofers Local 156, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling approximately $18,000 from the local's vacation fund. He admitted to writing checks to himself, his wife, and to his roofing company from the fund. Initially, Hubbard pled not guilty at a November 12, 2003 arraignment. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 2, 2004, in the Ohio Municipal Court Criminal Division (Dayton), Ronald Richardson, former sergeant-at-arms with American Federation of Government Employees Local 2209, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint with one count of petty theft and two counts of tampering with records. The complaint alleges that Richardson embezzled $460 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Richard Krystofiak, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-1071-L, was charged in a two-count indictment with embezzlement and making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paul Bruce Ladner, former treasurer for Stage and Picture Operators Local Union 674, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with failure to maintain union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Robert Hart, former president of Steelworkers Local 9-447, was sentenced to two years supervised probation. He made full restitution in the amount of $18,257. Hart had previously pled guilty to filing a false labor organization annual financial report on December 5, 2003, at which time an embezzlement charge was dismissed. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Peter McDonegh, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of witness tampering. The charge and guilty plea were filed on the same day. McDonegh admitted to verbally threatening two primary witnesses during the course of the criminal trial of Charles Novak, the former executive vice-president of Local One and McDonegh's father-in-law. McDonegh was released on $250,000 bail and, as a result of his guilty plea, released from prison. He spent approximately 60 days in jail during Novak's trial. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 11, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Byron Boyd, former president of the United Transportation Union, pled guilty to one count of labor racketeering conspiracy. Boyd admitted to using his position as assistant international president from 1995 to 2001 and as international president from 2001 to 2003, to solicit and collect cash payments and other things of value from attorneys doing business with the union. He directed other union officials to do the same. Boyd, and former president Charles Little (who previously pled guilty to one count of labor racketeering) used the money to fund their campaigns for union office in 1995 and 1999 and Boyd's 2003 campaign, in addition to using the money for their personal use. Boyd will forfeit $100,000 to the Federal government from the proceeds of the racketeering activity. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.

On March 11, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, James Robinson, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1101, was placed on two years probation for failing to maintain union records. He was ordered to complete restitution to the union in the amount of $9,987. Robinson pled guilty to the charge on December 9, 2003. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, John Rookard, a special assistant and project coordinator to Byron Boyd, president of the United Transportation Union, pled guilty to one count of labor racketeering conspiracy. Rookard and Boyd admitted to soliciting and collecting thousands of dollars in cash from attorneys nationwide. The scheme involved attorneys seeking designation by UTU to receive lucrative business associated with the personal injury claims of rail workers. Rookard will forfeit $45,000 to the Federal government from the proceeds of the racketeering activity. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.

On March 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, an indictment was filed against Robert Levine, former business agent-financial secretary of Painters Local 1175, charging him with two counts of embezzling $212,580.05 in union funds and embezzling $3,350.00 from an apprenticeship fund. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 10, 2004, in the District Court for Ramsey County (Minnesota), a criminal complaint was signed charging Brian Wimberly, former treasurer of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 506, with one count of theft of $722 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former president of Local 294 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (Chemical Workers Union Council) pled guilty to making a willful false entry in a union record. Brabazon had been indicted in September 2003 on one count of embezzling $3672.84 in union funds. In a plea agreement, a superseding information was filed and Brabazon pled guilty to the misdemeanor false records charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On March 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, William Lane, former president of Machinists Lodge 2525, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of probation and ordered to make restitution of $16,998, which includes $2,098 to a bank. On December 16, 2003, Lane pled guilty to one count of embezzlement. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kevan D. Sprow, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists District Lodge 57, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $49, 847 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Elizabeth Martin, former bookkeeper and secretary for the New Mexico Construction Trades Council, and Iron Workers Local 495, was sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement, and ordered to pay $62,784 in restitution. On August 23, 2003, Martin pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $68,743 in union funds from the Council and Local 495. The plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On March 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Charles Novak, former executive vice president of Elevators Constructors Local One, was found guilty by a jury of charges relating to racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, unlawful labor payments, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and false ERISA statements. The charges related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. Due to a special verdict rendered against Novak, he was ordered to forfeit $400,000 to the government from the proceeds derived from the racketeering enterprise plus $100,000 for the money laundering violations. His Local One annuity and 401K fund accounts in addition to his membership in Local One will be forfeited. Federal charges were filed against Novak on February 7, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.

On February 25, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, an information was filed against Paul Bruce Ladner, former secretary-treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 674, charging him with failure to maintain union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 25, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Henry O. Ach, former union representative of Elevators Constructors Local One, pled guilty to unlawful labor payments and mail fraud relating to the Sotheby's jobsite in New York City. On August 4, 2003, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ach and the former executive vice president of Local One, Charles Novak, for RICO and other crimes. On February 7, 2002, 27 members of Local One including two Business Agents were charged in a racketeering indictment with a variety of crimes relating to a no-show scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration and the FBI.

On February 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Nancy Childs, the former financial secretary of Steelworkers, Local Union 4-151G was fined $1,000 and placed on one year of unsupervised probation for making false entries in union records. Childs pled guilty to the charge in January 2004. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 23, 2004, in United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Efrain C. Tulier, former secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America Local 2185, was sentenced for embezzlement. He was granted a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines for extraordinary family circumstances. Tulier was ordered to serve one year probation with six months of home detention and to pay restitution in the amount of $41,456. On September 15, 2003, he entered a guilty plea following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On February 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Southern Division), Mark Campbell, former president of United Automobile Workers Local 167, was sentenced to 24 months of probation, the first six of which are to be served in home detention with electronic monitoring, and to perform 200 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. On November 24, 2003, Campbell pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Jerome M. Smith, former financial-secretary of United Auto Workers Local 933, charging him with embezzling $30,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 498, pled not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of embezzlement and one count of making a false entry. Miller was indicted on February 5, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Jennifer L. Phillips, former office secretary for Laborers Local 1073, pled guilty to one count of a 27-count indictment charging her with embezzling $34,427.74 in union funds. Phillips was charged on November 21, 2003. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On February 17, 2004, in the United State District Court for the Southern District of New York, Willie Dell Clark, former treasurer of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 36, the nation's largest Letter Carrier affiliate representing over 6,300 members, was indicted for using her position to embezzle approximately $69,000 in union funds between January 1999 and July 2001. This indictment followed her arrest by the United States Marshals Service at her home in Denmark, South Carolina, and resulted from an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On February 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Cheryl Martin, the daughter of a former executive assistant of Washington Teacher's Union (WTU), charging her with conspiracy to launder more than $480,000 in union funds. The charges allege that Martin's husband, Michael Martin, and Errol Alderman set up a fictitious company that they and Cheryl Martin used to launder money back to an officer and an employee of the union. Michael and Cheryl Martin also used a portion of the laundered money for personal purchases. On the same date as the indictment, Cheryl Martin pled guilty to the charge following an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers' Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office.

On February 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Maria T. Eaton, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2714, was sentenced to five years probation, six months of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution of $14,642.84. She pled guilty on October 17, 2003, to embezzling $10,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Erma Elizaldez, former secretary-treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees, IAM, Local Union 1031, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with misdemeanor receiving stolen property (approximately $500.00). Elizaldez stipulated that she received $14,491.89 from the local's checking account and $4,151.00 from the arbitration/savings account, for a combined total of $18,642.89. Elizaldez paid restitution of approximately $26,655.00. In a plea agreement, she agreed not to hold any official title in the labor organization, other than as a member, for 13 years from the date of the plea. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, George W. Fridenstine, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 305, was charged with embezzling $24,174.64 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 6, 2004, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Linda Stewart, former secretary-treasurer of Graphic Communications, Local 182-C, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling between $68,701 and $73,428.87 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On February 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kevan D. Sprow, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists District Lodge 57, was charged with embezzling $49,847 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 5, 2004, in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former financial secretary-treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 498, was indicted on one count of embezzling $62,015 in union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for Nevada, Tim Egan, former business manager and secretary-treasurer of Bricklayers Local 3, was sentenced to four months of home detention with electronic monitoring and 24 months of probation for failure to maintain union records and making false statements and omissions of material facts in union reports. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,363.43 and to undergo treatment for gambling and drug addiction. Egan pled guilty to the charges on September 22, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On January 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Lynn Dianne Kittelson, former clerk with Teamsters Local 142, was charged in a one-count information for falsifying union records. In a plea agreement entered on the same date, Kittelson admitted to taking dues receipts to which she was not entitled (determined to be $6,497 by OLMS investigation). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Barbara Bullock, former president of the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 110 months in prison, followed by a year in a halfway house. Upon release from prison, Bullock will be on probation for three years and must perform 3,000 hours of community service. Bullock was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,662,924. The sentence resulted from an ongoing investigation of the WTU by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On January 30, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Joseph Danik, former financial secretary of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzling $6,194 in union funds. Danik was ordered to pay restitution, in addition to undergoing alcohol, gambling and mental health treatment. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kendall Williams, former president of Philadelphia Newspaper, Inc. (PNI) Security Union, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, and six months home confinement with three years supervised release. Williams was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $32,185.84 and pay an assessment of $950.00. On July 24, 2003, Kendall pled guilty to nine counts of theft from an employee benefit fund totaling $29,683.84, one count of failure to maintain records and one count of failure to file. The guilty pleas and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On January 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Delgadillo, former financial secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers LU 1066, was indicted on one count of embezzling $12,185 in union funds and one count of making a false entry. Delgadillo allegedly forged the signature of another officer on a union check and converted the proceeds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 26, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Allen Cahill, former president of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) Local 745, surrendered to federal marshals after an indictment was filed on October 7, 2003, charging him with one count of embezzlement and one count of willful violation of the reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements of the LMRDA. The indictment, which was sealed until his surrender, alleges that Cahill embezzled $42,047 in union funds by making unauthorized cash withdrawals, purchasing personal items with the union debit card, obtaining and keeping travel advances when he did not travel, receiving reimbursement for the travel of family members, obtaining duplicate expense reimbursements and taking unauthorized salary increases. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On January 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Little, former president of the United Transportation Union, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy. Little admitted to using his position as international president from 1995 to 2001 to embezzle union funds, and direct other union officials to do the same by soliciting and receiving over $525,000 in cash from thirty-four attorneys. Little was ordered to forfeit $100,000 which represents the proceeds of the racketeering activity. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.

On January 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Nancy E. Childs, former treasurer of Steelworkers, Local 151-G, pleaded guilty to falsifying union records. Between May 1996 and May 2000, Childs falsified union records to cover up an embezzlement of $9,614 in union funds. She made full restitution to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On January 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Julie Palmi, former bookkeeper for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1116, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $53,570 in union funds. An information charging Palmi with embezzlement had been filed on October 16, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. This case was transferred from the District of Minnesota to the Southern District of California pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties.

On January 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, after petitioning the court to enter a guilty plea on December 16, 2003, Suzanne Coleman, former secretary-treasurer for Machinist Local Lodge 2909, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $11,197 in union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On January 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell Taylor, former treasurer of the Machinists Lodge 90, was sentenced to thirty days of incarceration, three years probation, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $36,142.08. On September 25, 2003, Taylor pled guilty to embezzling $36,142.08 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Sandra Briggs, former treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 378, was sentenced to 24 months probation, a $1000 fine, and a special assessment of $25 for creating false records. Additionally, Briggs was ordered to pay $58.76 in restitution. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael LaForge, former president of the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, was sentenced to six months in a pre-release center and four years probation for embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, fraud, and false statements. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $15,647.67 and to pay a fine in the amount of $200. On October 9, 2003, LaForge pled guilty to embezzlement/theft of government property after cashing union dues rebate checks totaling $14,622, and to fraud and false statements. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Alan L. Spates, former president of PACE Local 5-1250, was charged with embezzling $29,746.28 in union funds and filing a false LM report. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. [

On December 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles D. Davis, former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was charged with embezzling $11,799.20 in union funds, filing a false report, and making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 16, 2003, in the District Court for Chenango County (New York), Patricia Fletcher, former treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1278, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution of $3,300 for third degree grand larceny. Fletcher pled guilty to the charge on October 14, 2003. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On December 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for District of North Dakota, William Lane, former president of Machinists Lodge 2525, plead guilty to one count of embezzlement of $13,500 in union funds, one count of bank fraud, and one count of destruction of records. Lane was indicted on these three counts February 11, 2003. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Santoro, a contractor, was sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering. Santoro converted checks from the fraudulent funds derived from the 2 Broadway project. On one specific occasion, he cashed a check of illegal proceeds from the 2 Broadway project for approximately $800,000 and gave the cash to another individual indicted in this case. This investigation was part of an ongoing investigation involving the Elevator Constructors Local One operator no-show job scheme. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On December 15, 2003, in the United States District Court of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, AFL-CIO, Division 245, was sentenced to three (3) years probation, six (6) months home confinement, and was ordered to pay a penalty of $150 and a fine of $1,500. On October 10, Rodda plead guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $26,150, and making false entries and false statements in union records. Rodda previously made full restitution to BLE, Division 245. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On December 12, 2003, in Sarpy County (Nebraska) District Court, Barbara Jo Henry, also known as Barbara Hillis, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 840, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,821 for felony theft. Henry pled guilty to the charge on September 30, 2003. The guilty plea and sentence follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office, the Bellevue Nebraska Police Department and the Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General.

On December 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, James Robinson, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1101, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with failing to maintain union records. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On December 4, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Percella Roper, former bookkeeper for Transport Workers (TWU) Local 234, was sentenced to six months home confinement and five years probation for embezzlement and aiding and abetting. She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $98,132 which will come from her union pension, including a $20,000 payment to be received by the court within five days of the sentencing. On June 10, 2003, Roper was indicted on one count of embezzlement and one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement. She pled guilty on September 4, 2003. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 3, 2003, Willie Dell Clark, former treasurer of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 36, the nation's largest Letter Carrier affiliate representing over 6,300 members, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service at her home in Denmark, South Carolina, after allegedly fleeing the jurisdiction of New York. On November 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, an arrest warrant was issued against Clark charging her with using her position to embezzle approximately $69,000 in union funds between January 1999 and July 2001. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Patricia Ford, former secretary-treasurer of the Public Employees Federation (PEF) in Albany, was sentenced to six-month home detention, three years probation and fined $5,000. On June 20, 2003, Ford was found guilty of agreeing to receive free campaign literature from a public relations consultant in exchange for an agreement to place that consultant on retainer from the union if she won re-election. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a consent decree was entered against Lee Anne Gile, former secretary-treasurer of Carpenters Local 1806, permanently enjoining her from serving as an officer or employee of a labor organization. The consent decree follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Jennifer Phillips, former office secretary for Laborers Local 1073, was indicted on 27 counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,427.74. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Joseph Danik, former financial secretary of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121, pled guilty to embezzling $6,194 in union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Lawrence Mendelsohn, the co-founder of Wilshire Financial Services Group, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with filing a false tax return. Mendelsohn becomes the tenth person charged and the seventh to plead guilty in the ongoing investigation into Capital Consultants, LLC (CCL). Clients of CCL lost approximately $350 million, primarily in union pension funds. The charge is part of an ongoing investigation of CCL by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Office of the Inspector General.

On November 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an indictment was filed against the following individuals in connection with the theft of $4 million in union funds: James Baxter, former treasurer of the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU); Gwendolyn Hemphill, former assistant to the president of WTU; James Goosby, an accountant; and Robin Klein, an accountant. The indictment includes the following 27 counts: six counts of embezzlement, one count of conspiracy, five counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, two counts of false statements (for a false LM-2 report and a false IRS form 990), one count of money laundering conspiracy, five counts of money laundering, one count of making a false record, one count of fraud and false statements in violation of internal revenue laws, one count of first degree theft, and one count of aiding and abetting. The indictment is part of an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers' Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the United States Attorney's Office.

On November 19, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ray Lynn Burns, former financial secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 326, plead guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $29,587 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office (the case was transferred from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to the Northern District of Alabama pursuant to Rule 20 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties).

On November 18, 2003, in the United States District Court in the Western District of Oklahoma, Suzanne Coleman, former secretary-treasurer of Machinist Local Lodge 2909, was indicted on 13 counts of embezzling union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On November 17, 2003, in the United State District Court for the District of Oregon, Ty Mariner, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 3083, was sentenced to three years probation for filing a false Form LM-4 report. On April 22, 2003, Mariner was indicted on five counts of embezzlement totaling $953 and one count of filing a false Form LM-4 report. He pled guilty to one count of fabrication of an annual financial report filed by a labor union. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 14, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Howard Roundtree, former recording secretary of Longshoremen's Association (ILA), Local 1759, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by five months of home detention and three years probation. Roundtree was ordered to make restitution of $26,979.46 to Federal Marine Terminals, Inc. in $400.00 monthly increments and to pay a court assessment of $100.00. On July 23, 2003, Roundtree pled guilty to one count of knowingly causing false statements and representation of facts in an ERISA document. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

On November 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, a superseding indictment was filed adding new charges against Byron Boyd, Jr., current president; Charles Little, former president; and John Rookard, current special assistant to the president, of the United Transportation Union (UTU). These individuals had been previously charged on September 12, 2003, with racketeering conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud. The superseding indictment charges all three with one count of racketeering, one count of RICO conspiracy, and one count of mail fraud. Boyd and Rookard were indicted on a second count of mail fraud. Additionally, Little and Boyd were charged with seven counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,658.59; Boyd was charged with three additional counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,185.50 and two counts of witness tampering. The indictment alleges that Boyd, Little and Rookard devised and executed a scheme to defraud the UTU membership by soliciting and receiving over $525,000 in cash from thirty-four attorneys nationwide. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On November 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Gerhard Hubbard, former business agent and financial secretary of Roofers Local 156, pled not guilty to a one count information charging him with stealing from the local's vacation fund. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ana Lorena Phillips, former secretary-treasurer for Communications Workers of America Local 3974, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by five months of home confinement and three years of supervised probation. Additionally, Phillips was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,678.79. On May 13, 2003, Phillips pled guilty to two counts of a five count indictment charging her with embezzlement and making false entries in union records. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Marcie Ballew, former employee of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,497, and fined $2,000. On September 4, 2003, Ballew pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with making a false entry in labor union records. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On November 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, an information was filed against Phyllis Harris, former secretary-treasurer of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199, charging her with one count of making a false statement and a misrepresentation of material fact knowing it to be false on the Form LM-2. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On November 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Southern Division), an information was filed against Mark Campbell, former president of United Automobile Workers Local 167, charging him with making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On November 6, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Jacob "Jake" West, former president of the Iron Workers International Union, was ordered to pay $59,383.57 in restitution to the union. West was sentenced to three years in prison followed by two years supervised probation for embezzlement and false union reports on October 8, 2003. The sentence and restitution order follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On November 5, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, an information was filed charging James Robinson, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1101, with one count of failing to maintain union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 3, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James E. Cole, former general treasurer and general secretary of the Iron Workers International Union, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by 24 months probation for embezzlement, false union reports, and false union records. Additionally, Cole was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution, a $15,000 fine, and a $150 special assessment. On June 18, 2001, he pled guilty to the charges following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On October 29, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Murdytha Stubbs, former vice president of Steelworkers Local 1-3586-S, was sentenced to two years probation for embezzling $4,309.40 in union funds. He pled guilty on August 6, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 28, 2003, in St. Louis County (Minnesota) District Court, Thomas J. Pender, former business manager and financial secretary of Laborers Local 1097, was sentenced to two years probation for theft and fraud. The conditions of the sentence require Pender to complete the following: serve a thirty-day work crew program, pay a fine of $1,000 plus court costs, refrain from using alcohol and mood altering chemicals (except as prescribed by a physician), submit to random urinalysis, submit to DNA testing, pay restitution if it is determined that additional restitution is owed, and show proof that a chemical dependency treatment program was completed. On April 7, 2003, Pender had been charged with one count of theft of $7,000 in union funds and one count of financial transaction card fraud involving $167 in union funds. The charges and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On October 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard C. Holton, president of an insurance agency, Holton & Associates, Ltd., was sentenced to four months house arrest and 12 months supervised probation for bribery. Specifically, Holton made payments on behalf of employers to Iron Workers International Union officials Jake West, LeRoy Worley, and Stephen Cooper in exchange for their assistance in influencing other employers to join the Ironworking Contractors Insurance Program consortium. Holton was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, a $75 special assessment, and perform 100 hours of community service. On October 15, 2003, Holton pled guilty to three counts of bribery. The guilty plea and sentence follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On October 24, 2003 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, an information was filed against Anna Maria Adinolfi, former dues collector for the Northern New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters, charging her with embezzling $8,036 in union funds. Adinolfi allegedly failed to deposit dues from members who were paid in cash. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,900. Haskins pled guilty on July 28, 2003, to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, James Cooper, former president of PACE Local 5-276, was sentenced to one day of probation for falsifying union records. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,000 and to pay a $25 special assessment. On October 9, 2003, Cooper pled guilty to falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Bridgette Robinson, former financial-secretary of Glass, Molders, Plastics Local 170, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with making a false statement. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Tammy Lynne Reeves, former office manager/administrative assistant of Graphic Communications International Union Local 72-C, was sentenced to 18 months incarceration and three years probation for embezzling $169,366.30 in union funds. She was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $21,366.30 and to pay a special assessment of $100; she paid $148,000 in restitution prior to the indictment. On November 18, 2002, Reeves was indicted on one count of embezzlement; she pled guilty on June 3, 2003. The sentence and guilty plea follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the FBI.

On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Maria Eaton, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2714, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $10,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nick A. Torpea, former business agent for Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $750 for making a false entry in union records. Torpea pled guilty to the charge on July 30, 2003. Torpea's sentencing followed the September 18, 2003, sentencing of his father, Nick J. Torpea, to three years probation for making a false statement to a Department of Labor investigator. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Sandra Briggs, former Treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 378, charging her with one count of false recordkeeping. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On October 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, an indictment was filed against Joseph Danik, former financial secretary of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 121 charging him with one count of embezzling $6,194.86 in union funds and one count of aiding and abetting. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Errol Alderman, a District of Columbia government employee, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money from the Washington Teachers' Union. Alderman and Michael Martin (who pled guilty to money laundering on April 11, 2003) laundered more than $480,000 through a shell corporation called Expressions Unlimited. Alderman admitted to receiving more than $47,000 in union checks, which he returned to Martin to be given to former union president, Barbara Bullock (who pled guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud on October 7, 2003), and a union employee. The guilty plea is part of an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office.

On October 14, 2003, in the Dallas County (Texas) Court, Paul Martin Clark, former president of AFGE Local 2921, was indicted on one count of misapplication of fiduciary property aggregate (amounts between $1,500 and $20,000). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On October 14, 2003, in the District Court for Chenango County (New York), an indictment was filed against Patricia Fletcher, former treasurer of Machinists, Local Lodge 1278 charging her with third degree grand larceny. The charge alleged that Fletcher made unauthorized withdrawals from the union's bank accounts in the amount of $3,300 between November 2001 and July 2002. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Debra Dougherty, former office secretary for IBEW Local 648, was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment followed by five years supervised release (the first five months will be served in home confinement) for bank fraud. She was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $36,600 and to pay a $100 assessment. On June 26, 2003, Dougherty pled guilty to bank fraud following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew Downey, a representative of Elevator Constructor Local One, was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. He was ordered to pay a total of $2.6 million in restitution for fraud involving a no-show elevator operator scheme against Local One and to forfeit the sum of $800,000 for his involvement in the Local One racketeering enterprise. Downey, jointly and severally with other co-conspirators, was ordered to pay $7 million in restitution for fraud involving the 2 Broadway Project. On February 5, 2002, Downey was indicted for unlawful activity involving Elevator Constructors Local One. Additionally, there were 27 members of Local One, including two business agents, indicted for their involvement in the no-show scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. On April 16, 2002, in a separate indictment, Downey was charged, along with seven other individuals (including the developer of the 2 Broadway Project, the Operating Engineers Local 14 treasurer, and Elevator Constructor Local One representatives), for defrauding the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and ZAR Realty of more than $10 million in construction money that was intended for vertical transportation costs on the 2 Broadway project. On April 24, 2003, Downey pled guilty to various charges in both indictments. The guilty plea and sentence follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On October 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, James Cooper, former President of PACE Local 5-276, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with falsifying union records. In addition to other possible costs to be determined at sentencing, the defendant agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $5,000. The information was filed on September 16, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael La Forge, former president of National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, entered a voluntary plea of guilty for embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, fraud, and false statements. In an earlier plea dated August 18, 2003, La Forge pled not guilty. La Forge was indicted on July 17, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On October 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Jacob F. "Jake" West, former general president of the Iron Workers International Union, was sentenced to three years imprisonment followed by two years supervised probation for embezzlement and false union reports. West was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $125,000 and to make restitution. Although the amount of restitution will be determined later by the court, West will be required to make monthly payments in the amount of $25,000. On October 25, 2002, West pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from an employee pension benefit plan and one count of false union reports. The guilty plea and sentence follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On October 7, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Barbara Bullock, former president of the Washington Teachers Union, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting, and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. On October 3, 2003, an information was filed alleging that Bullock and others embezzled over $2.5 million. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 2004; Bullock faces up to 10 years imprisonment as well as significant fines. The charges and guilty plea are part of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the United States Attorney's Office.

On October 6, 2003, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Vashone Wimbush, former treasurer for CWA Local 2381, was sentenced to two years probation and 50 hours of community service for embezzling $5,070 in union funds. On July 21, 2003, Wimbush pled guilty following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On October 3, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against former Washington Teachers' Union President Barbara Bullock charging her with one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. The information states that Bullock and others embezzled over $2.5 million by committing the following acts: making personal charges on the union's credit cards; writing and causing the writing of improper union checks to herself and others with false purposes written on the checks; writing and causing the writing of union checks to intermediaries who laundered the funds and shared the proceeds; and fraudulently instructing the District of Columbia Government to withhold $144 more than the lawful dues deduction from the paychecks of approximately 5,000 union members and then using most of this money for personal reasons. The information also charges Bullock and others, including outside accountants, with filing false Form LM-2 reports and false Form 990s. The charges are part of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the United States Attorney's Office.

On October 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ralph Dennis, former Director of Insurance for the United Transportation Union Insurance Association, pled guilty to conspiring with others to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Dennis had been indicted on September 12, 2003, on one count of RICO conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud and aiding and abetting. These charges and the guilty plea resulted from an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On October 1, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Diane Lewis, former bookkeeper for the UNITE District Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for embezzlement, three years of supervised release and ordered to undergo mental health counseling. In addition, she was ordered to pay $11,985.80 in restitution. On July 23, 2002, Lewis pled guilty to one count of embezzling more than $28,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 30, 2003, in Sarpy County (Nebraska) District Court, Barbara Jo Henry, aka Barbara Hillis, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 840, pled guilty to theft. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office, the Bellevue (Nebraska) Police Department, and the Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General.

On September 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed charging Errol Alderman, a District of Columbia government employee, with one count of conspiracy to launder money as part of a scheme to embezzle funds from the Washington Teachers' Union. The information states that Alderman conspired to launder approximately $483,000 through a shell company called Expressions Unlimited. The charge is part of an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers' Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office.

On September 26, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, John Mills, a former member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments in violation of the Taft Hartley Act. This investigation was part of Elevator Constructors Local One operator no-show job scheme for which an indictment was filed on February 5, 2002. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Hubler, the former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 14375, was sentenced to three months and three days imprisonment for embezzling $27,226 in union funds. The sentence will run concurrently with Hubler's present sentence from an unrelated conviction. Following the prison term, Hubler will be on a two year supervised release. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $24,186.79 in monthly installments of at least $5.00. Hubler pled guilty to the charge on January 23, 2003. The sentence and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell Guy Taylor, former treasurer of Machinists Lodge 90, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $36,142 in union funds. The information was filed on August 22, 2003. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Fusilli, former member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to ten months in prison for violating the Hobbs Act. He was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and fined $2,000. On November 12, 2002, Fusilli pled guilty to an information charging him with illegal activity relating to the Loews Theatre Project; he had been indicted on February 5, 2002. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James M. Duff, principal leader, organizer and manager of the Duff family business enterprise, and the following six individuals were indicted by federal grand jury on 30 counts of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering conspiracy: Patricia Green Duff, William Stratton, Terrence Dolan, Starling Alexander, John Leahy, and Edward Wisniewski. The indictment involves two alleged fraud schemes: one relating to more than $100 million in government and private contracts obtained by sham woman- and minority-owned businesses and the other relating to over $3 million in unpaid workers' compensation insurance premiums. All of the charges involve the activities of the Duff family businesses. The individuals were charged as follows:

• James M. Duff was charged with racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud, 19 counts of mail fraud, and six counts of money laundering, involving both the contract fraud and insurance fraud schemes.
• William E. Stratton, a long-time friend and associate of the Duff family, and an employee for over 18 years of Liquor Distributors Union Local 3, a union managed by members of the Duff family, was charged with racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and five counts of money laundering involving the contract fraud and insurance fraud schemes.
• Patricia Green Duff, mother of James Duff, was charged with eleven counts of mail fraud involving the contract fraud scheme.
• John J. Leahy, president of Leahy & Associates insurance brokerage, was charged with eight counts of mail fraud involving the insurance fraud scheme.
• Edward Wisniewski, insurance agent and vice president of Leahy & Associates, was charged with eight counts of mail fraud involving the insurance fraud scheme.
• Starling Alexander, operations manager for Remedial Environmental Manpower, one of the Duff family firms, was charged with one count of wire fraud involving the insurance fraud scheme.
• Terrence Dolan, an officer and director of Windy City Maintenance, one of the Duff family firms, was charged with eleven counts of mail fraud involving the contract fraud scheme.

The indictments follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On September 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 294-C, was indicted on one count of embezzlement. The indictment stated that in May 2001, Brabazon wrote an unauthorized check to himself in the amount of $3672.84 for expenses at a union conference he never attended. The indictment followed an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On September 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, C. Michael Vencill, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 101-473, was indicted on 59 counts of embezzling $13,034 in union funds, two counts of filing false reports, and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Tim Egan, former business manager, secretary and treasurer of Bricklayers Local 3, was charged with and pleaded guilty to failure to maintain union records, and making false statements and omissions of material facts in union reports. From January 1988 through March 2000, Egan failed to maintain financial records which reported, among other things, his personal use of cash from union dues and personal use of union credit cards. Egan also failed to disclose these matters on annual reports submitted to the Department of Labor. These charges and guilty pleas resulted from an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On September 18, 2003, Clyde L. Spearman, former president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1206, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Oakland, California, on two counts of bank fraud. The indictment stated that between September 1998 and May 2001, Spearman embezzled approximately $15,000 in union funds by writing unauthorized checks against the union's bank account. Spearman served as president of the Martinez, California Local from early 1997 until March 2001, when he was suspended for financial misconduct. In December 2001, following an internal AFGE proceeding, Spearman was removed from office and barred from membership for 13 years. The current indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Veterans Affairs Department's Inspector General's Office.

On September 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nicholas J. Torpea, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 was sentenced to three years probation and fined $2,000 for making a false statement to an investigator with the United States Department of Labor. A condition of probation requires Torpea to serve three months of home confinement under the surveillance of electronic monitoring. Torpea had pled guilty on July 1, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 17, 2003, in Marion County (Indiana) Superior Court, Jo Ellen Tumey, former president of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America Local 4, was charged in an information with embezzling $2,470.88 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 16, 2003, in the District Court for St. Louis County (Minnesota), Thomas Pender, former business manager and financial secretary of Laborers Local 1097, pled guilty to one count of felony theft. On April 7, 2003, Pender had been charged with one count of theft of $7,000 in union funds and one count of financial transaction card fraud involving $167 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Efrain C. Tulier, former secretary and treasurer of the Communications Workers of America Local 2185, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement. The plea was based on the indictment amount of $13,467. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, James Roemer, former treasurer of Operating Engineers Local 14, was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment and three years probation for conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of money obtained by fraud and transported across state lines; making and receiving unlawful labor payments; engaging in unlawful monetary transactions; obstruction of justice; conspiracy to defraud the United States; and tax evasion. He was ordered to pay a total of $2.7 million in restitution and to forfeit $800,000 to the United States Government within 90 days of his guilty plea. He had been indicted on April 16, 2002, along with seven other individuals, including the developer of the 2 Broadway Project and Elevator Constructor Local One representatives, for illegal activity relating to defrauding the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and ZAR Realty of more than $10 million in construction money that was intended for vertical transportation costs on the 2 Broadway project. On April 3, 2003, Roemer pled guilty to the charges following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On September 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the following international officers and employees were indicted on one count of RICO conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud and aiding and abetting: Charles Little, former international president of the United Transportation Union (UTU), Byron Boyd, current UTU international president, Ralph Dennis, former director of insurance for the United Transportation Union Insurance Association (UTUIA), and John Rookard, assistant to the UTU international president. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

On September 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16 in Evansville, Indiana, filed a petition to enter a plea of guilty and plea agreement. Under the agreement, Collins agreed to plead guilty to two counts of embezzling $26,804 in union funds; Collins must also make full restitution to the union. The remaining two counts of the indictment charging Collins with falsification of union records will be dismissed. Collins was indicted on May 22, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office and the FBI.

On September 5, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Neil Babineaux, former assistant to the assistant vice president of the United Transportation Union, pled guilty to a charge of criminal contempt. He had been indicted on April 3, 2003, on charges of obstruction of justice and making false declarations to a federal grand jury. Following the guilty plea, Babineaux was sentenced to six months home confinement, two years probation and a $3,000 fine. These charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

On September 4, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former financial secretary and treasurer of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5, pled not guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of aiding and assisting in filing a false income tax return. He had been indicted on August 20, 2003, following a multiple agency investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and Employment Benefits Security Administration, and several other federal agencies.

On September 4, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Percella Roper, former bookkeeper of Transport Workers Local 234 pled guilty to an information charging her with one count of embezzlement and aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of $98,132.00 in union funds. The information stated that Roper (1) deposited $50,058 in union funds into a savings account that she kept at the TWU Credit Union, (2) converted $2,458 in union funds to pay union dues for herself and other union clerical employees, (3) assisted a TWU Local 234 officer in the embezzlement of $26,935 from Local 234 picnics, and (4) assisted the same officer in the embezzlement of $18,681 in cash receipts for sales of union clothing. Charges were filed on June 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania following a joint investigation by the FBI and the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 28, 2003, in the Eastern District of New York, William Barthold, former Representative of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced for federal racketeering. Barthold was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $227,985, a $5,000 fine, and a special assessment to the court. Following his release from prison, Barthold will be barred from holding positions for period of up to 13 years. On February 5, 2002, Barthold was indicted for unlawful activity relating to an investigation of corruption involving Elevator Constructors Local One. The charges were filed following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS. Barthold pled guilty to the charges on January 22, 2003.

On August 25, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former secretary and treasurer of the Locomotive Engineers, Division 245, pled guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling $26,150 in union funds, willfully making false entries in union records, and making false statements in a report required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor. Rodda wrote checks payable to himself and his wife for fraudulent expenses and concealed the checks from other union officials. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Darrel E. Shelton, former general organizer for the Iron Workers International Union, was sentenced to four months in prison, followed by four months home detention and two years supervised probation. Shelton was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $80,000 and a special assessment in the amount of $965. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. The sentence was reduced due to his assistance in the larger federal investigation of the Iron Workers Union. On September 15, 2000, Shelton pled guilty to nine counts of embezzlement of union funds; one count of false entries in union records; and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. The guilty plea and sentence followed an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On August 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Elizabeth Martin, former bookkeeper and office secretary for both the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council and Iron Workers Local 495, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $68,743 in union funds. She embezzled $57,143 from the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council by taking cash advances, charging personal expenses to the union credit card, and writing and tendering unauthorized checks to herself and third parties. Also, Martin embezzled $11,600 from Iron Workers Local 495 by taking cash receipts and writing and tendering unauthorized checks to the Trades Council. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Fred G. Summers, former Director of Organizing for the Iron Workers International Union, was sentenced to six months home detention and five years supervised probation. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,000, a $5,000 fine, and a special assessment of $1,675. Summers was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. The sentence was reduced due to his assistance in the larger federal investigation of the Iron Workers Union. On March 15, 2000, Summers pled guilty to 16 counts of embezzling union funds and three counts of false entries in union records. The guilty plea and sentence followed an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On August 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Maria Eaton, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2714, was charged with embezzling $10,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 19, 2003, in Imperial County (California) Jail Court, Edward B. Adams, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2554 (which represents U. S. Border Patrol employees), pled guilty to misdemeanor grand theft for embezzling $4,100 in union funds. On the same day, Adams was sentenced to three years probation, a $100 fine, 120 hours of community service, and restitution in the amount of $4,100. He had previously made partial restitution of $2,600, and submitted the remaining $1,500 at sentencing. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 18, 2003, in the Kern County (California) Superior Court, Mark Marquez, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2730 (which represents U.S. Border Patrol agents) pled guilty to one count of misdemeanor petty theft. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Marquez was sentenced to pay $1,500 in restitution, to serve one year probation and one day incarceration (time served). Marquez pled guilty following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On August 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael La Forge, former president of National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, pled not guilty to one count of embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, and one count of fraud and false statements. He had been indicted on July 17, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 13, 2003, in the Marion County (Indiana) Superior Court Criminal Division, Casey Stewart, the son of an officer of the Employees Protection Association, received a suspended sentence of 547 days for theft. He was placed on probation for one year. On April 10, 2003, Stewart was charged in a three-count indictment with two counts of forgery and one count of theft when he negotiated two union checks totaling $2,576; the forgery counts were dismissed following a plea agreement. The sentencing and charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Robert Lee Nick, former President of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers (PACE) Local 6-921 pled guilty to a charge of failure to maintain union records. On May 22, 2003, Nick was indicted on charges of embezzling $3,525.00 in union funds and failing to maintain required records. These charges result from an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, Anibal Roldan, former President, Bakery, Tobacco and Grain Workers Local 361, was sentenced to three years probation, restitution of $14,684.00 at the rate of $100.00 per month, ordered to pay a special court assessment of $100.00 and barred from union office for a period of 13 years. On April 9, 2003, Roldan pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,684.28. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On August 6, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Murdytha Stubbs, former Vice President of Steelworkers Local 1-3586-S, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $4,309.40 in union funds. Stubbs had been charged on June 18, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On August 5, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, David Westgate, former President of United Auto Workers Local 168, was indicted on 68 counts of embezzling $31,867 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On July 31, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dana Moore, former office manager of the Carpenters Great Lakes Regional Industrial Council, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution of $22,590.41 and perform 75 hours of community service. He had pled guilty on March 11, 2003 to a one-count information following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On July 31, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judy Nowak, former treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 1107, was indicted on one count of embezzling "in excess of $10,000" in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, David Coakley of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to pay $284,196.54 in restitution. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002 for unlawful activity related to a no-show scheme involving 19 construction sites in New York City. On April 16, 2002 he was indicted for a second time along with seven others for illegal activity related to defrauding the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and ZAR Realty of more than $10 million in construction money that was intended for vertical transportation costs on the 2 Broadway project. He had pled guilty to various charges in both indictments on March 20, 2003. The charges had been brought following joint investigations by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI and, in the Elevator Constructors Local One case, also with the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration and the IRS.

On July 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nick A. Torpea, former business agent for Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making a false entry in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records, and agreed to pay restitution of $41,900. Haskins had been indicted on April 8, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Steve Floyd, former secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 05-152, was sentenced to three years probation. Conditions of probation included serving the first six months in home confinement and paying restitution in the amount of $27,882.00. On March 13, 2003, Floyd pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Bridgette Robinson, former financial secretary of Glass, Molders and Plastics Local 170, pled guilty to an information charging her with one count of making a false entry in a union record. She was ordered to make full restitution. Robinson has already made a payment to the union in the amount of $4,300. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, John Vitiello was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to pay $623,000 in restitution. He was also required to forfeit $100,000 to the Government by the time of his sentence. He had been indicted on April 16, 2002 along with seven others for illegal activity related to defrauding the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and ZAR Realty of more than $10 million in constructions money that was intended for vertical transportation costs on the 2 Broadway project. He had pled guilty to various counts in the superceding indictment on March 28, 2003 and pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On July 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kendall Williams, former President of the PNI Security Union (Ind), pled guilty to nine counts of theft from an employee benefit fund totaling $29,683.84. Additionally, Williams pled guilty to the charges of failure to maintain records in 1997 and failure to file the union's 1996 LM-3 report. Williams was indicted on February 12, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On July 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, an information was filed charging Howard Roundtree, former Recording Secretary of Longshoremen's Association AFL-CIO (ILA) Local 1759, with one count of knowingly causing false statements and representations of fact in a document required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Roundtree waived indictment and pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On July 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, John J. Quinn, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to witness tampering charges. During an investigation of Local One involving labor racketeering, unlawful labor payments, and mail fraud, Quinn attempted to tamper with testimony and information that Quinn expected investigators to ask a witness to provide. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On July 21, 2003, in the Ventura County Superior Court, James D. Torrez, former President of Civilian Technicians Chapter 105, was charged with two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $9,801. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Vashone Wimbush, former Treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 2381, pled guilty to Second Degree Theft for her embezzlement of $5,070 in union funds. This guilty plea followed an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 17, 2003, Michael Knisley, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 14766, entered into a settlement agreement with the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, prosecution was deferred for 18 months from the date the settlement agreement was signed. Knisley was indicted for embezzling $4,490 in union funds, and causing false statements and reports. Knisley previously made restitution in the amount of $214.80. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Knisley agreed to pay $237.51 for 18 months totaling $4,275.20. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Steven Namack, former business agent/financial secretary and apprenticeship coordinator of Roofers Local 188, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for embezzling funds from an employee benefit plan and eighteen months imprisonment for embezzling union assets with the sentences to be served concurrently. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $132,255.24 and to pay a $200.00 special assessment. Namack pled guilty to one count of embezzling employee benefit plan funds and one count of embezzling union funds on May 7, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Government filed a motion to dismiss an information filed on June 10, 2003, against Amy Pulaski, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council for Eastern Pennsylvania. The Government stated in its motion that further proceedings regarding this charge against Pulaski were inappropriate due to the disposition of a related pre-trial diversion matter. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On July 14, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Willie Corbett, former Local Lodge Delegate of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 616, was sentenced to three years probation and fined $500. He was previously charged with falsifying union records on September 25, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. Corbett pled guilty to the charge on May 6, 2003.

On July 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Steve Morris, former Treasurer of IBEW Local 109, was sentenced to 6 months of home detention and 4 years probation. He previously made restitution of $84,485. In addition, Morris was ordered to undergo rehabilitation and to pay a $3,000 fine. He was previously charged with embezzling $68,017.35 in union funds on January 29, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. Morris pled guilty to the charge on February 10, 2003.

On July 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Barbara Ann Fields, former financial secretary of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 255-T, was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation. She was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $10,557.79. On March 21, 2003, Fields pled guilty to one count of embezzling $10,557.79 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Frank Darvis, former treasurer of the United Transportation Union, Local 891, was sentenced to 18-months probation and ordered to pay a $100 fine. Darvis was indicted for embezzling $29,865 in union funds on January 8, 2003, and pled guilty to the charges on April 9, 2003. Darvis previously made full restitution. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On July 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Randy Carr, former president of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Local 04-575, pled guilty to embezzling $30,632 in union funds. Carr was charged on April 23, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Joleen Coughlon, former office secretary of Laborers Local 177, was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay $6,445 in restitution. Coughlon had previously pled guilty on March 27, 2003, to embezzling union funds and making a false entry in union records. Coughlon was charged following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 1, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nicholas J. Torpea, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, pled guilty to making a false statement to a Department of Labor investigator. Torpea lied to the investigator regarding his use of union staff for personal business. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. [

On June 27, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Enner Rae Edwards, former treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1-3586-S, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $500 after pleading guilty on April 3, 2003, to embezzling $1,741.53 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 27, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cynthia Barner, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 1-3586-S, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $500 after pleading guilty on April 3, 2003, to embezzling $1,751.53 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 26, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Don Hild, a member of the Stage and Picture Operators, Local 69, pled guilty to falsifying union records. He had been charged in an information on June 23, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 26, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Debra Dougherty, former office secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers LU 648, pled guilty to bank fraud after being indicted on February 5, 2003, for embezzling $41,829.95 in union funds and bank fraud in the amount of $7,030.40 following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, a complaint was filed against Robert C. Dunbar, Sr., a member of Elevator Constructors - Local One. The complaint claimed that defendant made a materially false and fraudulent statement to investigators when he stated that he and others agreed to offer cash to a high-ranking official of a local union for the purpose of making a donation to a scholarship fund. In fact, he and others agreed to offer the cash for the purpose of making an unlawful payment to the union official in connection with obtaining preferential treatment in job assignments. The complaint was filed as a result of an ongoing joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On June 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Raymond J. Robertson, former general vice president of the Iron Workers International Union and Director of the National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training and Journeyman Upgrading Fund ("National Training Fund"), was sentenced to six months home detention and three years supervised probation. Robertson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $101,689 and a fine of $30,000. Robertson's sentencing range was reduced due to the substantial assistance he provided the federal government in its larger probe of corruption within the Iron Workers Union. Robertson pled guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the National Training Fund, Aiding and Abetting Embezzlement of Federal Grant Funds received by the National Training Fund, and six counts of Embezzlement from the National Training Fund. Robertson was charged following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, DOL-EBSA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On June 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kerry J. Tresselt, former bookkeeper for the National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training and Journeyman Upgrading Fund ("National Training Fund"), was sentenced to six months home detention and five years supervised probation. Ms. Tresselt was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $234,505 (the amount remaining to be repaid from the $354,183 she embezzled). Tresselt was also ordered to submit to regular and random drug testing and undergo drug rehabilitation treatment. Tresselt's sentencing range was reduced due to the substantial assistance that she provided the federal government in its larger probe of corruption within the Iron Workers Union. Tresselt pled guilty to three counts of Embezzlement from the National Training Fund and Conspiracy to Make False Statements in the Records of the National Training Fund. Tresselt was charged following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, DOL-EBSA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On June 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, a jury found Patricia Ford, former secretary-treasurer of the Public Employees Federation, guilty of bribery. Ford was found guilty of agreeing to receive free campaign literature from a public relations consultant in exchange for an agreement to place that consultant on retainer from the union if she won re-election. Ford was found not guilty of embezzlement by the jury. It was alleged that the consultant over billed the union for the cost of the personal campaign literature and that the union paid those charges. The three other counts in the original indictment were dismissed prior to the trial. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On June 19, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Trina Tarantine, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 3944, was sentenced to one year supervised probation, ordered to make complete restitution of $9,239.05, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a special court assessment of $25. Tarantine pled guilty to making false entries in required union records following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On June 18, 2003, in the Tenth District Circuit Court of Bradley County (Arkansas), Tasha Renea Word, former office secretary for the Machinist Woodworkers Local W-484, was sentenced to 36 months supervised probation, ordered to make restitution of $2,772.15, and assessed $450.00 in court costs. Word pled guilty to five counts of second degree forgery, one count of credit card fraud and one count of theft of property following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Darryl C. Maynard, former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 7-816, was indicted for embezzling $7,509 and falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Murdytha Stubbs, former Vice President of Steelworkers Local 1-3586-S, was indicted on charges of embezzling over $4,309, falsifying and causing others to falsify union records, and conspiracy to embezzle and falsify union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Steven Seidl, Jr., a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $39,992.04 in restitution, pay a fine of $1,000, and pay a $200 special assessment. In addition, Seidl forfeited $13,022 to the United States government (representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors). On December 13, 2002, Seidl pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Donohue was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On June 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Christopher Keith, former office manager for the Chattanooga Building and Construction Trades Council and the Chattanooga Labor Council, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised probation and ordered to pay $57,406.20 in restitution. Keith had previously pled guilty on November 22, 2002, to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On June 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, an information was filed charging Amy Pulaski, former bookkeeper for the Laborers District Council for Eastern Pennsylvania, with one count of making materially false entries in records required to be maintained by the District Council in order to conceal her theft of $3,602. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Percella Roper, former bookkeeper for Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234, was charged with embezzling $98,132 in union funds. The information alleges that Roper (1) deposited $50,058 of union funds into a savings account that she kept at the TWU Credit Union, (2) converted $2,458 of union funds to pay union dues for herself and other union clerical employees, (3) assisted a TWU Local 234 officer in the embezzlement of $26,935 from Local 234 picnics, and (4) assisted the same officer in the embezzlement of $18,681 in cash receipts for sales of union clothing. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the FBI and the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Anthony King, former secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 533, was sentenced to six months home confinement on electronic monitoring and five years supervised release. He was also fined $100 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,450. He pled guilty to embezzling $14,450 in union funds on February 20, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On June 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Julia D. Mynes, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 14614, was convicted of embezzling union funds after entering a guilty plea on March 10, 2003. Because of her previous criminal record, Mynes received the maximum sentence and must serve six months in prison beginning immediately. Mynes was also ordered to make restitution totaling $4,000 and to pay a special assessment totaling $100. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 1, 2003, in Ogdensburg (NY) City Court, John Miller, former secretary-treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association, Local 727, was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service for committing grand larceny in the third degree. Miller pled guilty to stealing $4,743 from his union and made full restitution following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 29, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Gene Malinowski, former business manager and secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Local Lodge 1851, was indicted on one count of embezzlement and one count of aiding and abetting. The indictment was sealed until June 10, 2003 when Malinowski was arrested. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Office.

On May 29, 2003, in the Pennsylvania District Court in Cambia County, Randall Bills, former financial secretary of United Mine Workers Local 1269, pled guilty to three counts of theft and agreed to pay full restitution of $1,886.78 and enter into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 29, 2003, in the United State District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Delbert Steward, former president of Steelworkers Local 02-1279, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $9,578 in restitution. Steward was also ordered to draft and post a letter of apology to the union and pay a $100 special assessment. Steward pled guilty to embezzling $9,578 in union funds on August 22, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 27, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Terrance Carr, former warden of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a total of $6,225.34 in restitution and $2,100 in assessments. He had pled guilty on March 10, 2003 to a superceding information charging him with making false statements in violation of 18 USC 1001. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On May 21, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, William Klyce, former business agent for the Stage and Picture Operators, Local 69, pled guilty to falsifying union records. He had been charged in an information on March 26, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Ronald B. Alston, former secretary-treasurer of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 563, was indicted for embezzling $9,846 in union funds and making false entries in required union records. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John O'Connell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 524, was sentenced to five months incarceration, five months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $36,702 in restitution, plus a $100 special assessment. O'Connell pled guilty to embezzling $36,702 in union funds on February 13, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On May 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Robert E. Nick, former president of Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 6-921 in Lansing, Michigan, was indicted for both embezzling $3,525 in union funds and failing to maintain required records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 15, 2003, in the San Bernardino (California) Superior Court, a Felony Criminal Complaint was filed charging Gerard Davis, former president of AFGE Local 1227, with one count of Grand Theft by Embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On May 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Norma J. Reedy, former treasurer of the Louisiana American Postal Workers Union, was sentenced to 60 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution plus a $100 special assessment. Reedy pled guilty to embezzling $34,800 in union funds on January 23, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, James E. Miller, treasurer of Flint Glass Workers Local 144, in Lancaster, Ohio, appeared following his arrest by the U.S. Marshals Service. Miller was arrested pursuant to an April 23, 2003 Order finding him to be in contempt of court for failure to comply with a subpoena. Though an OLMS representative found the documents produced by Miller to be generally responsive to the subpoena, it was determined that deposit slips, cancelled checks, and bank statements for the year 2002 were missing. Miller has been ordered to appear before the U.S. Attorney in Columbus, Ohio, on or before May 30, 2003, to deliver the aforementioned records. The subpoena was issued as part of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Adela Tongson, former employee of Service Employees Local 250, was indicted on two counts of embezzling a total of $100,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the FBI.

On May 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Clyde Howard Starkey, former member of Laborers Local 177, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, three years probation, and ordered to make restitution of $28,905. Starkey was indicted on November 20, 2002 and on January 16, 2003, he pled guilty to conspiring to embezzle union funds. Specifically, Starkey received and cashed $28,905 in union checks (to which he had no legitimate claim) and returned a portion of the proceeds to former Local 177 Business Manager Fred Risius. Risius is currently serving fifteen months in the penitentiary for embezzling in excess of $100,000 from the local. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Jerry Lynn Seay, former president of PACE Local Union 3-501, and his wife Peggy Seay were sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution in the amounts of $6,940 and $1,248.30, respectively. They had previously plead guilty to embezzlement, forgery, and making false entries in required union records on May 8, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 7, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Steve Floyd, former secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 05-152, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. Floyd, who was indicted on March 13, 2003, admitted to embezzling approximately $27,000 in union funds by writing checks to both himself and others that were not authorized and were for his personal benefit. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 7, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Steven Namack, former financial secretary, treasurer/business agent, and Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee Coordinator/Instructor for Roofers Local Union 188, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with the embezzlement of $108,036.16 from employee benefit plans and the embezzlement of $24,219.06 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation conducted by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 5, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, David Shaffer, the former President of Steelworkers Local 8985-S, was sentenced to spend six months in home confinement on electronic monitoring plus 36 months of supervised release and to pay $15,000 in restitution plus a $25 special assessment. Shaffer pled guilty to one count of falsifying union records (in order to conceal the embezzlement of $21,958 in union funds) on November 6, 2002. The U.S. Attorney dropped a related obstruction of justice charge based on threats Shaffer made against his local union's officers. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Joseph Biernat, Minneapolis City Councilman, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and two years probation. He was also ordered to make restitution of $2,700 (to be paid jointly with co-defendant Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15) and pay a fine of $10,000. He was found guilty on November 21, 2002 of one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of $2,700 from Plumbers Local 15, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of making a false statement. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On April 28, 2003, in the Ogdensburg (New York) City Court, Wendy McNally, was fined $100 and sentenced to one year conditional discharge. On March 10, 2003, in Onondaga (New York) City Court, McNally, friend of former CSEA Local 727 President John Miller, pled guilty to one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree. McNally had cashed a union check for $1,000 that was improperly written and unauthorized. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On April 28, 2003, the Oakland, California based law firm of Van Bourg, Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld, P.C. and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia entered into an agreement by which criminal prosecution of the law firm for fraud, obstruction of justice, and related offenses would be deferred, and ultimately not pursued, in exchange for the law firm undertaking actions to remedy past misconduct by its founding partner, Victor Van Bourg, who is now deceased.

The matter grows from the investigation of corruption within the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers ("Iron Workers Union"). The investigation was conducted by the OLMS Washington District Office with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, and the FBI. Among the remedial actions to be taken by the law firm pursuant to the deferral of prosecution agreement, the law firm will drop the name of Van Bourg from its title, pay restitution to the Iron Workers Union and an affiliated pension fund, reimburse the U.S. Attorney's Office for costs associated with the investigation, and undertake internal reforms and training to avoid any similar misconduct by its other lawyers. In addition, the law firm has agreed to send a letter to all of its labor union clients advising them of the misconduct of Van Bourg and advising them of the proper reporting requirements for Union expenditures for top Union officers in annual financial disclosure reports to the U.S. Department of Labor.

On April 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Marc DeGennaro, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to perform 400 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $77,428 in restitution. He will also forfeit to the United States Government $14,230 representing the amount of unlawful contributions made on his behalf to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One. He had earlier pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments in violation of the Taft-Hartley Act. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002, on charges of conspiracy, making false statements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, money laundering, and conspiracy following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On April 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew Joseph Downey, a representative of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty under a superceding indictment to racketeering, unlawful labor payments, money laundering conspiracy, witness tampering, and tax evasion. Under a separate indictment he pled guilty to conspiracy to receive, possess and dispose of money transported across state lines. He agreed to forfeit $800,000 to the United States Government within 120 days from various assets that represent a portion of the proceeds from the racketeering enterprise. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002 on charges relating to a no-show scheme at construction sites in New York City following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS. On April 16, 2002 he had been charged in a second indictment relating to fraud against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and ZAR Realty in connection with the renovation of MTA headquarters. These charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On April 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Thomas Brown, a member of Stage and Picture Operators Local 69, pled guilty to falsifying union records. Brown was charged with making and causing false entries to be made in required union records (while being aided and abetted by others) on March 26, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Randy Carr, former president of PACE Local 4-575, was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling $30,631.89 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, James E. Miller, financial secretary of Flint Glass Workers Local 144, was ordered into custody until he purges himself of the contempt of court committed by his failure to provide documents and testimony in response to an OLMS subpoena and his failure to comply with the court's October 25, 2002; January 22, 2003; and March 17, 2003 orders to comply with the subpoena. This action was brought as a result of an ongoing audit of the local by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Williams, former treasurer of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 11, Chapter 6555, was sentenced to two months confinement followed by three years supervised release with an intensive drug treatment program. He was ordered to pay restitution of $2,725.66 (he had already made restitution of $586.70). He had pled guilty on January 22, 2003 to one count of embezzlement of $3,312.00 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Ty Mariner, former treasurer for Branch 3083 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, was indicted on five counts of embezzlement totaling $953 (of the $2,346 specified elsewhere in the indictment) and one count of filing a false Form LM-4 report. He pled not guilty on May 9 at arraignment. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On April 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, John Mylek II, former treasurer of Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 886, was sentenced to two years probation and was prohibited from using any credit cards unless cleared through the Probation Department. He was also fined $500. He had pled guilty to one count of embezzling $7,551.28 in union funds and one count of embezzling $675 in employee benefit plan funds. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On April 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Morris Diminno, a former representative of Operating Engineers Local 14, pled guilty to conspiracy to receive, possess and dispose of money obtained by fraud and transported across state lines, unlawful labor payment, engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction, and obstruction of justice. He agreed to forfeit $800,000 to the United States Government within 90 days from various assets. He had been indicted on April 16, 2002 on charges relating to fraud against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and ZAR Realty in connection with the renovation of MTA headquarters. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On April 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Michael Martin pled guilty to money laundering for conspiring to launder more than $500,000 in Washington Teachers Union (WTU) funds. Martin and a "business" associate opened a bank account under a fictitious company called Expressions Unlimited at the request of the WTU President and the WTU Executive Assistant. WTU funds were paid to Expressions Unlimited and then most of those funds were returned to the WTU President and Executive Assistant. Expressions Unlimited never provided any services to the union. Martin used some of the WTU money in the Expressions Unlimited bank account for personal purposes including his mortgage payment, private school tuition for his children, credit card bills, car payments, and vehicle repairs. Martin also received WTU funds for providing personal services to the WTU President, including styling her hair, shopping, and giving fashion advice. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and other law enforcement agencies.

On April 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Timothy Aldridge, former president of Florence Steelworkers Local 1, an independent union, was indicted on four counts. Aldridge is charged with one count of embezzling $112,525.27 in union funds and three counts of withholding or concealing union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Anibal Roldan, former president of Bakery, Tobacco and Grain Workers Local 361 in Tampa, pled guilty to embezzling $14,684.28 in union funds. Roldan had been charged on March 20, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On April 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Frank Darvis, former treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 891, pled guilty to embezzlement and falsifying signatures on more than 60 union checks which he made payable to himself. Darvis was indicted for embezzling $29,865 in union funds on January 8, 2003. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On April 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $1,025 in union funds and two counts of falsifying union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of approximately $41,600 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On April 7, 2003, in the District Court for St. Louis County (Minnesota), a criminal complaint was signed charging Thomas Pender, former business manager and financial secretary of Laborers Local 1097, with one count of theft of $7,000 in union funds and one count of financial transaction card fraud involving $167 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 3, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Enner Ree Edwards, former treasurer of Steelworkers Local 3586 in Cleveland, pled guilty to embezzling $1,741.53 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 3, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cynthia Barner, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 3586 in Cleveland, pled guilty to embezzling $1,751.53 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 2, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Michael Martin with money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1956(h), for conspiring to launder more than $1 million in Washington Teachers' Union funds in furtherance of an embezzlement from the union. Martin is the son-in-law of the former executive assistant of the union. The charges state that he was involved in setting up a fictitious company to launder most of the money back to an officer and an employee of the union. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.

On April 1, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Albert Dishong, former president of Steelworkers Local 2635, was sentenced to five months imprisonment, five months monitored home detention, and three years probation. He was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $30,509.89 plus interest in monthly payments of not less than $847.00 plus interest. He had pled guilty on January 10, 2003 to one count of embezzling union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On April 1, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and three years probation. He was ordered to make restitution of $43,323 and was fined $5,000. He had pled guilty on November 25, 2002 to one count of embezzling approximately $3,175 in union funds and one count of mail fraud. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 1, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Laura McClurg, former secretary-treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1195, was sentenced to thirty days home restriction with electronic monitoring and one year probation for her concealment of union records in connection with a $2,295 embezzlement. She had been indicted on September 3, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Gary Halvorson, former financial secretary and business manager of Bricklayers Local 3, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $9,975 in union funds. After acceptance of his plea, he was sentenced to three years probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to make full restitution of $9,975. He had been indicted on February 11, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 28, 2003, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office issued a criminal complaint against Susan Bertram, former treasurer of National Association of Government Employees Local 01-195, charging her with one count of larceny over $250. She had embezzled over $21,000 from the local by withdrawing cash, writing checks and money orders to herself, and making wire transfers to her credit accounts from union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On March 27, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Joleen Coughlon, former office secretary of Laborers Local 177, pled guilty to embezzling union funds and making a false entry in a union record. She had been indicted on November 20, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. She is the fifth defendant to have pled guilty to the embezzlement of funds from Local 177.

On March 24, 2003, in Onondaga (New York) City Court, John Miller, the former president of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 727, pled guilty to one count of attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree. He had previously made restitution for depositing two dues remittance checks from CSEA in his personal checking account. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Anibal Roldan, former president of Bakery, Tobacco and Grain Workers Local 361, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $14,684.28 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Steve Floyd, former secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 05-152, was indicted on three counts of embezzling a total of $27,882 in union funds and one count of falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas McCarthy, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $4,600 in restitution and perform 50 hours of community service. He had earlier pled guilty to misdemeanor charges for conspiracy to demand and receive illegal payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On March 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Jo Ann Vaughn, former treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, was sentenced to six months home confinement and five years probation. She was also ordered to make restitution of $29,175 to Local 220 and to pay $1,375 to Local 220 officers to reimburse them for costs incurred in the investigation. She had pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $29,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dana Moore, former office manager of the Carpenters Great Lakes Regional Industrial Council, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. A one-count information charging Moore with embezzling $20,079 was filed on February 4, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 10, 2003, in Onondaga (New York) City Court, Wendy McNally, friend of John Miller, the former president of CSEA Local 727, pled guilty to one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree. She had cashed a union check for $1,000 that was improperly written and unauthorized. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Terrance Carr, organizer and former warden of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to a superceding information charging him with making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. He had lied to investigators regarding his involvement in a no-show job scheme. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On March 6, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Craig Michael, a member of Laborers Local 177 in Des Moines, was sentenced to five years probation, two months home confinement, and ordered to make restitution of $16,900 jointly and severally with former officers Fred Risius and Henry Jannenga. Michael pled guilty on November 11, 2002 to conspiring to embezzle union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 3, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Michele K. Hearn, former financial secretary of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1174, was sentenced to spend four months in home detention plus three years on supervised release and to pay $15,635.92 in restitution plus a $100 special assessment. Hearn pled guilty on August 20, 2002 to embezzling $29,561.02 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 3, 2003, in the Superior Court for Walla Walla County (Washington), Peggy Backlund, former secretary-treasurer of National Federation of Federal Employees Local 181, was charged with felony theft in the first degree totaling $2,849 following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jack Hatch, former president of Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 43, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by three years of probation, the first five months of which will be under house arrest with an electronic monitor. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $37,782.49. He had pled guilty to embezzlement on September 18, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Fred Risius, former president of Laborers Local 177 in Des Moines, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to Local 177. Risius pled guilty on July 25, 2002 to embezzling $100,060 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Henry Jannenga, former vice-president of Laborers Local 177 in Des Moines, was sentenced to serve three months in prison, followed by three years supervised release including six months home confinement, and ordered to pay $22,500 in restitution to Local 177. Jannenga pled guilty on July 25, 2002 to embezzling $20,460 in union funds. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Thomas M. Payne, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1938 in Huntington, WV, pled guilty to committing bank fraud. Payne admitted to defrauding the bank and the Local out of funds totaling $12,184.62 by cashing dues checks and forging checks to himself. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Donald Stevens, former President of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to the falsification of union records on December 9, 2002. As a condition of probation, he was ordered to pay $810 in restitution in addition to the $4,000 he had previously paid. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On February 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John Dorrier, former business agent of Operating Engineers Local 66, was sentenced to spend 12 months and 1 day in federal prison, pay restitution in the amount of $56,195, spend three years on supervised probation, and pay a $300 special assessment. Restitution in the amount of $1,000 each month becomes payable upon release from prison. Amended tax returns are to be filed with the IRS with the applicable fines and interest to be computed by the IRS. Dorrier pled guilty to embezzlement, forgery, and interfering with the administration of IRS laws on November 14, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the IRS Criminal Investigative Division.

On February 27, 2003, in Massachusetts District Court in Lynn, MA, Edward P. Martin, former president of Utility Workers Local 446, was charged with larceny in the amount of $22,568 following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Lorena Phillips, former secretary-treasurer of Communication Workers of America Local 3974, was indicted for embezzling $48,380 in union funds, filing a false annual financial report Form LM-3, and making false entries in required union records. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Anthony King, former treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 533 in Berwyn, Illinois, pled guilty to embezzling $14,450 in union funds between May 1997 and June 1999 (a change of plea). King was charged on January 24, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Jerome Dube, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 1865, was sentenced to three years probation with the first 120 days to be served in community confinement with work release followed by 60 days in home detention with work release. Dube was ordered to pay restitution in the total amount of $14,176. Dube pled guilty to embezzling union funds on November 27, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Isadore Hampton, former president of United Auto Workers Local 835, was sentenced to 180 days home confinement, three years probation, and ordered to pay restitution of $10,389 and a special assessment of $100. Hampton was also ordered to surrender a 17-foot fiberglass boat and a 1974 Dodge to the U.S. Marshals Service so that they might be sold with the proceeds being applied toward his restitution. Hampton pled guilty to embezzling union funds on October 3, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 14, 2003, in United States District Court for Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Koehler, former business manager of Electrical Workers 965, was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution. Koehler pled guilty to embezzling $135,198 on November 8, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John O'Connell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 524 of Island Lake, pled guilty to embezzling $36,702 in union funds. O'Connell was charged on February 3, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Robert E. Martin, Jr., former member of Steelworkers Local Union 9336 in Radford, Virginia, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and ordered to pay $900.71 in restitution plus a special assessment of $100. Martin was further ordered to report to his probation officer any contacts with fugitive Elizabeth J. George and any information on her whereabouts. On December 11, 2002, Martin pled guilty to one count of harboring George and concealing her from arrest. Martin was previously charged with embezzlement before being jailed for three months on the harboring charge. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, the grand jury returned a three count indictment against Gary Halvorson, former financial secretary and business manager of Bricklayers Local 3. The indictment charges Halvorson with one count of embezzlement of $10,175 in union funds, one count of filing a false report, and one count of destruction of records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, David Koch, former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local Union #1-236, was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service after pleading guilty to filing a false union report. Koch was ordered to continuing making restitution to the union in the remaining amount of $9,445. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Thomas Lannon, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge #1562, was sentenced to six months of home detention followed by three years of probation and to perform 120 hours of community service. Lannon pled guilty to embezzling union funds and made restitution in the amount of $13,175 following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Donohue, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $244,996 in restitution, pay a fine of $1,000, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Donohue must forfeit $72,000 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 10, 2002, Donohue pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Donohue was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, James Cassidy, an employee of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $40,000 in restitution, pay a fine of $3,750, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Cassidy must forfeit $31,817 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 10, 2002, Cassidy pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Cassidy was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On February 7, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Steven Pautz, former president of Machinists Lodge 251, was sentenced to three years of probation including six months of home confinement. Pautz pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds on November 19, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 6, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Leroy Holmes, former chauffeur for the Washington Teachers Union, pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering in an amount in excess of $1 million. This guilty plea was as a result of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.

On February 5, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the grand jury returned a two count indictment against Debra Dougherty, former office secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 648. The indictment charges Dougherty with one count of embezzlement of $41,829.95 in union funds and one count of bank fraud in the amount of $7,030.40. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 31, 2003, in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Michael Van Bibber, former business manager of Asbestos Workers Local 87, was sentenced to ten months confinement, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,260. Van Bibber pled guilty to embezzling union funds on August 9, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 31, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Blanche Williams, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421, was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to pay both full restitution in the amount of $7,193 and a mandatory fine of $100. Williams pled guilty to both fraud and theft on November 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 29, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Stephen E. Morris, former treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 109 in Rock Island, Illinois, was charged with embezzling $68,017.35 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Geoffrey R. Barron, former business manager/financial secretary- treasurer of Carpenters Local 2471, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,855, and ordered to pay a special court assessment of $100.00. On October 29, 2002, Barron pled guilty to embezzling $29,855.26 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Karen Gordan, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $140,357 in restitution, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Gordan must forfeit $55,726 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On November1, 2002, Gordan pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Gordan was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Paul Downey, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $101,141 in restitution, pay a $5,000 fine, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Paul Downey must forfeit $24,949 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 17, 2002, Paul Downey pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Paul Downey was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Kevin Murphy, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $12,252.98 in restitution, pay a $500 fine, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Murphy must forfeit $3,311 representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On September 11, 2002, Murphy pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Murphy was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Michael O'Gara, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $69,452.24 in restitution, pay a $5,000 fine, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, O'Gara must forfeit $8,458.76 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 17, 2002, O'Gara pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, O'Gara was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, William Tracy, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $23,127 in restitution, pay a $500 fine, and pay a $100 assessment. On September 11, 2002, Tracy pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Tracy was charged with RICO conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Anthony King, former treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 533, was charged with embezzling $14,450 in union funds. An agreement has been reached in which King indicates he will plead guilty at a hearing scheduled on February 13. The charge was brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On January 24, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, William Brooks, former recording secretary of Painters Local 8 of Lake Station, Indiana, pled guilty to embezzling $13,755.15 in union funds. Brooks was indicted on November 15, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On January 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Barbara Ann Fields, former financial secretary of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 255-T. The indictment charges Fields with one count of embezzling $10,557.79 in union funds. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On January 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Hubler, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 14375, pled guilty to embezzling $27,226 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Willie Corbett, former delegate of Maintenance of Way Lodge 616 of Union, Mississippi, pled guilty to falsifying union records. Corbett was indicted on September 25, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 22, 2003, in the Sixth District Court of Iowa, Carl Roush, former business manager of Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees Local 497 in Cedar Rapids, pled guilty to felony theft. The Linn County Iowa Prosecuting Attorney charged Roush with the theft of $2,691 in union funds on April 12, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey L. Williams, former treasurer of Chapter 6555, AFSCME Local 11, pled guilty to embezzling $3,312.65 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond Costello, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Costello was ordered to pay $15,209 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, Turner Construction, submits an affidavit of loss to the court. Costello was also given the maximum fine of $5,000 and ordered to pay a $100 assessment. On October 10, 2002, Costello pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Costello was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Michael Coady, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Coady was ordered to pay $32,796.96 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named Morse Diesel, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Coady was also fined $500, ordered to pay $600 each month until restitution is completely paid, and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Coady pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Coady was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Frank Walker, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Walker was ordered to pay $7,338.50 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named Constructive Industries, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Walker was also given the maximum fine of $5,000 and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Walker pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. On February 5, 2002, Walker was charged with conspiracy and false ERISA statements following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Steve Schmidt, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Schmidt was ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named HRH Construction, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Schmidt was also fined $500, ordered to pay $600 each month until restitution is completely paid, and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Schmidt pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Schmidt was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On January 14, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Clyde Starkey, former member of Laborers Local 177 in Des Moines, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds. Starkey was indicted on November 19, 2002, for cashing $28,905 in union checks payable to the fictitious Starkey Construction Company and then splitting the proceeds with the Local 177 business manager. The investigation was conducted by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On January 14, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Julia Mynes, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 14614, was indicted on one count of embezzling $4,001 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Albert P. Dishong, former president of Steelworkers Local 2635, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds. Dishong submitted false and fictitious lost time vouchers to Local 2635, converting approximately $30,000 to his personal use. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 9, 2003, in West Virginia District Court in Wayne County, Dwight D. Icenhower, former president, general chairman, and financial secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Communications Union, District Lodge 6455, was sentenced to pay a fine plus court costs for attempted embezzlement. Icenhower pled guilty to a misdemeanor attempt to commit an embezzlement of $3,953.44 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On January 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Norma J. Reedy, former treasurer of the Louisiana State American Postal Workers Union, was charged with embezzling $34,800 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kenneth D. Stacey, former president of Teamsters Local 651, was sentenced to one year of probation with four months of home confinement and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a $100 assessment. Full restitution was made when Stacey pled guilty to embezzling $10,359.93 in union funds on September 26, 2002. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Conner, former financial secretary-treasurer of United Auto Workers Local 469, was sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Conner was ordered to make full restitution of $54,317.39, pay a special assessment of $125, and perform five days of community service. Conner pled guilty on October 10, 2002 to one count of embezzlement of union funds and one count of filing a false LM-2 report following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Frank Darvis, former treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 891, was indicted on one count of embezzling $29,865 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On January 8, 2003, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Municipal Court, Michelle Back, former office secretary for Local 12 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, pled guilty to theft of union funds and was sentenced to one year probation, a $100 fine, and court costs. Back was charged following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On January 6, 2003, in Blue Earth (Minnesota) District Court, Adam Wobbrock, former treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union Local 379-C, was sentenced to ten days in jail with work release and fined $537. On December 11, 2002, Wobbrock pled guilty to one count of theft related to an embezzlement of $3,675.36 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On January 6, 2003, in Bradley County (Arkansas) Circuit Court, Tasha R. Word, former office secretary for Machinist Local Lodge 484, was charged in a one-count information with credit card fraud and in a seven-count information with forgery and theft of property totaling $1,191. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On December 20, 2002, in Martin County (Indiana) Circuit Court, Joetta A. Axe, secretary-treasurer of AFGE Local 1415, pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds. Axe was sentenced to serve 365 days in county security with 363 days suspended, pay fines and court costs of $137, probation fees of $160, and restitution of $10,232.62. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, a plea agreement was filed in which Robert "Blackie" Emery, Sr., former secretary-treasurer for Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 429, pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $5,200 from Local 429 and one count of failure to file a required officer report, Form LM-30. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 16, 2002, in Martin County (Indiana) Circuit Court, Joetta A. Axe, secretary-treasurer of AFGE Local 1415, was charged in a one-count information with the theft of $10,232.62 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Cheryl Rowe, former secretary of Laborers Local 80, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $93,430 in union funds. She had been indicted on March 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Sullivan Hamlet, former president of UNITE Local 2603 in Greensboro, was sentenced to one year of supervised release. Hamlet previously made $4,567 in restitution and pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Cathy R. Josselyn, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 853, was sentenced to one year of probation, fined $25, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Josselyn pled guilty on September 9, 2002, to making false entries in union financial records following a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Jo Ann Vaughn, former treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $33,000 (not exceeding $29,000 in union funds). Vaughn was indicted on October 22, 2002, on one count of embezzlement and one count of fraud for causing a false report to be made. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, embezzlement and conspiracy charges were dismissed against LeRoy Worley, former general secretary of the Iron Workers. Federal prosecutors decided not to seek a new trial after a jury's failure to reach a verdict caused a mistrial to be declared on November 15, 2002. Worley and former Iron Workers President Jake West were the subjects of a superceding indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on August 7, 2002, that accused both men of funneling illegal payments to Worley, totaling more than $217,000, from the union pension plan for salary and expenses after Worley retired. The indictment also listed more than $37,000 for a pension that Worley was not entitled to receive. West pled guilty on October 25, 2002, to one count of embezzling from an employee pension benefit fund and one count of making a material false statement in exchange for the remaining charges against him being dropped after sentencing. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

On December 11, 2002, in Blue Earth (Minnesota) District Court, Adam Wobbrock, former treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union Local 379-C, pled guilty to one count of theft related to an embezzlement of $3,675.36 of union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On December 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Robert E. Martin, Jr., a former member of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to one count of harboring a fugitive, Elizabeth J. George, who was previously indicted for embezzlement. As part of the plea agreement, Martin agreed to pay Local 9336 $900.71 in restitution. Martin was released on bond after being incarcerated since September 9, 2002 on the harboring charge. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 10, 2002, in Kern County, California Superior Court, a 5-count criminal complaint was filed charging Mark D. Marquez, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2730 (which represents U.S. Border Patrol Agents), with embezzling $1,297.14 in union funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 9, 2002, in Winona County (Minnesota) District Court, Jeffrey J. Schueler, former trustee of Glass, Molders, Pottery Plastics & Allied Workers Local 63B, and former chairman of the Badger Foundry unit of Local 63B, was sentenced to 96 hours of community service, fined $300, ordered to make restitution totaling $9,422.82 to Local 63B and other parties, and placed on 10 years probation. Schueler pled guilty on October 28, 2002, to one count of check forgery in excess of $2,500 after being charged on June 14, 2002, with two counts of check forgery and one count of theft in relation to the embezzlement of $7,743 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On December 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Donald Stevens, former secretary-treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93 in St. Louis, pled guilty to falsifying union records. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis Distinct Office.

On December 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Hugh Credle, former president of Postal Workers Local 1616 in Roanoke Rapids, was sentenced to six months of home confinement followed by three years of supervised release. Credle was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $6,734 and pay a $5,000 fine. Credle previously made $1,700 in restitution. On August 19, 2002, Credle pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On December 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Deborah S. Bailey, former office manager of American Federation of Musicians Local 136, was sentenced to five-years probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $15,601.80 (jointly with former Local 136 President and Business Manager Thomas C. Bailey). Deborah Bailey pled guilty to embezzlement on September 6, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Thomas C. Bailey, former president and business manager of American Federation of Musicians Local 136, was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for embezzlement and 12-months imprisonment for falsifying the union's annual financial report (the sentences to run concurrently) and three-years supervised release for embezzlement to run concurrently with one-year supervised release for falsifying the union's annual financial report. Thomas Bailey was ordered to pay full restitution of $15,601.80 (jointly with Deborah S. Bailey), a $4,000 fine, and a $125 special assessment. Bailey was found guilty by a jury on September 11, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Hubler, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 14375, was charged in an information with embezzling approximately $27,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On December 3, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Gregory Carpenter, former president of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93 in St. Louis, was sentenced to two years of supervised release. Carpenter pled guilty to falsifying union records to conceal the misappropriation of $9,123 in union funds on September 17, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On December 2, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Barbara A. Ryan, former financial secretary of PACE Local 5-626, was sentenced to fifteen months in prison followed by two years of supervised probation. Ryan pled guilty on August 5, 2002, to embezzling $117,734.18 from her union and entering into a scheme to defraud her employer, BP Chemicals, of $33,578.59 for work she did not perform. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On November 27, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Jerome J. Dube, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 1865, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $310.46 in union funds and admitted a total embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $14,176. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On November 26, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a plea agreement was filed in which Laura L. McClurg, former secretary-treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1195, agreed to plead guilty to one count of concealing union records after a $2,295 shortage of union funds was uncovered. An information was filed on September 3, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 25, 2002 in Marion County (Indiana) Superior Court, James Johnson, former president of Auto Workers Local 36, was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 363 days suspended, and ordered to pay $132 in court costs and $1,000 in fines after pleading guilty to theft and making restitution of $4,167.76. He had pled guilty on November 25, 2002 after being charged on April 17, 2002 in an information filed following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 25, 2002, in Marion County (Indiana) Superior Court, James M. Johnson, former president of Auto Workers Local 361, pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds. An information was filed on April 17, 2002, charging Johnson with one count of theft of $4,167.76 following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico, Abdiel Navarro, former administrator, Union General de Trabajadores, Local 1199, SEIU, was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring followed by two years probation. Navarro was ordered to make restitution of $33,851.58 and pay a fine of $800. Navarro pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $3,175 from Local 15 by using Local 15 funds to pay for plumbing work for an unnamed public official and one count of mail fraud in connection with the mailing of a Local 15 check to a contractor to pay for $2,700 in free plumbing work performed at a property owned by former Minneapolis City Councilman Joseph Biernat. Martin was named in an indictment on April 17, 2002, a superceding indictment on May 21, 2002, and a superceding indictment on October 16, 2002. Councilman Biernat was convicted of embezzlement, mail fraud, and making a false statement on November 21, 2002. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On November 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Chris Keith, former office manager of the Building and Construction Trades Council in Chattanooga, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $28,092 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 22, 2002, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Dave Mitchell, former treasurer of Carpenters Local 415, was indicted on one count of misdemeanor theft without consent. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 22, 2002, Edward Carroll, a prominent figure in construction development in New York City and the vice president of 2 BW Development, was sentenced in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for obstruction of justice. The charges were filed in connection with Carroll's appearance before a federal grand jury on December 11, 2001 and January 8, 2002, at which time he provided false information to the grand jury. Carroll was sentenced to five months in jail, five months home detention, and ordered to pay a $150.00 fine. Carroll also lost his architecture license as a result of the conviction. The investigation is in connection with the $10 million fraud case arising out of the renovation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new headquarters. Individuals affiliated with Elevator Constructors Local One and Operating Engineers Local 14 were part of the indictment filed on April 16, 2002. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On November 22, 2002, in the Imperial County Superior Court in El Centro, California, a criminal complaint was filed charging Edward Adams, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2554, with one count of Felony Grand Theft of $6,540 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On November 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern Division of Ohio, Martin J. Mone, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 1052 in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $6,264.97. Mone pled guilty to one count of embezzlement on September 13, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 21, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Joseph Biernat, Minneapolis city councilman, was found guilty on one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of $2,700 in the union funds of Plumbers Local 15, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of making a false statement. Biernat was acquitted on one count of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiracy to extort under color of official right. Superceding indictments were brought against Biernat and Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, on May 21, 2002 and October 16, 2002. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On November 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Joyce Griffin, former secretary of the New Orleans Metal Trades Department, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $2,383. Griffin pled guilty to one count of embezzlement on August 14, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 20, 2002, in United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Joleen Coughlon, former secretary, and Clyde Starkey, former member, were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to embezzle the funds of Laborers Local 177 in Des Moines, Iowa. The indictment details separate activities whereby the two participated in embezzlement schemes with the previously indicted local president, Fred Risius. Starkey is charged with receiving and cashing $28,905 in union checks to which he had no legitimate claim and returning a portion of the proceeds to Risius. The indictment alleges that Coughlon accepted gifts paid for by the union by issuing fictitious payee checks to Risius from the local strike fund. Coughlon is also charged with the unauthorized receipt of strike fund checks and the falsification of related records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 19, 2002, in the United States Court for the Western District of Texas, Pedro Ojeda, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 23 in San Antonio, was sentenced to five years probation including six months home confinement and 100 hours of community service. Ojeda was also ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $250. Ojeda pled guilty to one count of embezzlement on September 19, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Steven Pautz, former president of Machinists Lodge 251, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $450 in union funds. Pautz had been indicted August 6, 2002 on two counts of embezzling $1,450 in union funds and two counts of making false entries in union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of $12,257.75 in Lodge 251 funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dennis Talbot, former secretary-treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 in Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty to an information charging him with accepting and soliciting gratuities in return for using his influence as a pension fund trustee. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the IRS, and the FBI.

On November 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Richard Smith, former president of Electrical Workers IUE Local 770 was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $2,500. Smith pled guilty to one count of failing to maintain union records on August 22, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 15, 2002, in the Circuit Court of Macon County, Illinois, Deborah Woltz, former building manager of the Allied Industrial Workers Building Association of Decatur, Illinois, was sentenced to 48 months probation and ordered to pay full restitution of $19,195.94 to the Building Association plus court costs after pleading guilty to embezzlement. The case was prosecuted by the Macon County State's Attorney following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Mary Anderson, former treasurer of Communications Workers Local 9417, was sentenced to prison for twelve months and a day, plus twelve months of probation, and was ordered to make restitution of $89,422.58. On July 19, 2002, Anderson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On November 14, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John L. Dorrier Jr., former business agent of Operating Engineers Local 66, pled guilty to three counts of a 10-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds, forgery, and interference with the administration of Internal Revenue laws. Dorrier falsified 976 picket expense vouchers by completing them in the names of union members and others who had not done any picketing and approximately 104 fictitious picketers. Dorrier routinely obtained checks from the union and forged payee signature endorsements before depositing or cashing the checks into his personal bank account. Annually the checks to each fictitious picketer purposely totaled less than $600, a threshold amount that would have triggered the required filing of IRS Form 1099. Dorrier has agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $56,195.00 and to take responsibility for a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service in an amount between $23,500.00 and $40,000.00. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.

On November 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Gwendolyn Meadows, former office secretary and bookkeeper for Post Office Mail Handlers Local 334, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment plus 24 months of supervised probation, and was ordered to make restitution of $27,882.16. Meadows pled guilty to embezzlement after being indicted on March 20, 2002. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On November 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Norval Craig Michael, a member of Laborers Local 177, entered a guilty plea to an information charging him with conspiracy to embezzle. As detailed in the information, Michael joined with Business Manager Fred Risius and Vice-President Henry Jannenga in an embezzlement scheme wherein $16,900 in union checks payable to him were cashed and the proceeds split among the parties. These charges are the result of an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. Risius and Jannegna were charged and entered guilty pleas in related investigations on July 26, 2002.

On November 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey L. Williams, former treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, was charged in an information with embezzling $3,312.65 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael E. Koehler, former business manager of Local 965 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), pled guilty to embezzling $135,197.75 in union funds. Koehler submitted false claims for the reimbursement of monies he claimed he had given to union members' families at funerals, for mileage and meal expenses that were never incurred, and for overtime he never worked. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, James Clem, former business manager of Painters Local 80, was sentenced to four months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution of $15,977. On August 21, 2002, Clem pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, David Allen Shaffer, former president of Steelworkers Local 07-8985-S, pled guilty to falsifying union records in order to conceal the embezzlement of $21,958 in union funds. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]

On November 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Tony Evans, former secretary-treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 197, pled guilty to a one-count bill of information and was sentenced to six months of home confinement followed by two years of supervised probation and fined $1,000. The information charged Evans with embezzling $16,319 in union funds that he repaid prior to being sentenced. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lorri Delaney, former bookkeeper of Sheetmetal Workers Local 78, was sentenced to one year probation (with the first four months to be served in home confinement) and ordered to make restitution of $19,500. On July 15, 2002, Delaney pled guilty to embezzling union funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On November 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Loyd Manning, former treasurer of Mail Handlers Local 325, was sentenced to three years probation and fined $500 after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with filing a false report. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Jerry Seay, former president of PACE Local 3-501, was indicted on one count of embezzling $6,949 in union funds. In a separate indictment also returned on November 1, 2002, Mr. Seay's wife, Peggy Seay, was charged with 18 counts of making, uttering and possessing a forged security belonging to PACE Local 3-501 and four counts of falsification of union records. Mrs. Seay used the forged securities (i.e., union checks) to convert $1,348 in union funds to her own use. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 31, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Roberta Cabral, a former Unity House consultant, was sentenced to ten months imprisonment and three years of probation. She was also ordered to make restitution of $25,000 to Unity House and to perform 2,500 hours of community service. Unity House is a non-profit organization established to benefit members of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 5 and Hawaii Teamsters locals. She had plead guilty on June 17, 2002, to tax evasion for 1992 and 1993, failing to file a federal income tax return for 1994, and wire fraud. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office and other federal law enforcement agencies.

On October 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Geoffrey R. Barron, former business manager/financial secretary-treasurer of Carpenters Local 2471, pled guilty to the embezzlement of $29,855.26 in union funds. He was indicted for the embezzlement of union funds on September 17, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martha Davidson, the wife of Clyde Davidson, former secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 31, was indicted. The 24-count indictment charges Mrs. Davidson with 12 counts of embezzling union funds and 12 counts of making, uttering and possessing a forged security belonging to Boilermakers Lodge 31. The combined 24 counts charge Mrs. Davidson with misappropriating $13,917.74 in union funds. Mrs. Davidson gained access to the lodge funds while performing bookkeeping duties for her husband. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Edward Ramsey, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, was sentenced to four years probation and six months home detention. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $5,065.76. He had pled guilty on July 12, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, Roanoke Office.

On October 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, George Wright, Jr., former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 267, was sentenced to six months house arrest and five years probation. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $19,206. He had been indicted for embezzlement of union funds on October 30, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Dwight West III, a former organizer for Painters District Council 78, was sentenced to one year plus one day imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation. He was ordered to make restitution of $2,106.76, which represents the unpaid balance of the funds embezzled. He had pled guilty on July 31, 2002, to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $30,343.86. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dana Moore, former office manager of the Carpenters Great Lakes Regional Industrial Council, was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling approximately $20,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, William E. Fricker, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, was sentenced to four years probation and six months home detention. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $6,372.29. He had pled guilty on July 12, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, Roanoke Office.

On October 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, David S. Koch, former treasurer of PACE Local 236, pled guilty to one count of violating 29 U.S.C. 439(a). He admitted that he failed to file the union's annual financial reports for the fiscal years ending April 30, 2000 and April 30, 2001. He made a $4,000 restitution payment to the union prior to the plea being entered. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Michael E. Koehler, former business manager of Electrical Workers, IBEW, Local 965, with embezzling union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Patricia Smith, former office secretary of the Laborers District Council of Alabama, was sentenced to six months home confinement followed by five years of supervised probation. She was ordered to pay $17,454.66 in restitution (prior to sentencing she had made restitution totaling $4,232.34). On July 10, 2002, Smith pled guilty to one count of embezzling $21,687 in union funds and one count of falsification of union records following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On October 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for South Dakota, Jo Ann Vaughn, former treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, was indicted on one count of causing a false report in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and one count of embezzling approximately $33,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On October 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James R. Dawson, Sr., former president of Mail Handlers Local 325, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and fined $1,700 (he had previously made full restitution to the local). On August 7, 2002, Mr. Dawson had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $9,400.99. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On October 18, 2002, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Michelle Back, former office secretary of Local 12 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, was indicted on one count of theft of union funds and one count of tampering with records. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Verlia Jones, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), New York/New Jersey Veterans Administration Council, and former president of AFGE Local 1012, was arrested and arraigned for the embezzlement of $44,988.84 from both labor organizations. A review of the VA Council's financial books and records, including credit union statements, copies of canceled checks, and receipt records revealed that Jones used union funds for her own use by negotiating union checks to herself and authorizing union checks to third parties on her behalf. In addition she negotiated for her personal use per-capita tax checks intended for the VA Council. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, former Vice-President Rhonda L. Creed and former Financial-Secretary Joseph W. Burress of Steelworkers Local 8-9336 were both sentenced to three years probation. Ms. Creed was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $3,122.64. Mr. Burress was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $3,100.10 and was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring. On July 11, 2002, Mr. Burress pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to make false entry in union books and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. On July 12, 2002, Ms. Creed pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, Roanoke Office.

On October 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, John Mylek II, former treasurer of Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 886, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $7,551.28 in union funds and $675 in employee benefit funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On October 16, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, a second superceding indictment was returned against Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, and Joseph Biernat, Minneapolis city councilman. The latest superceding indictment contained the same thirteen counts against Mr. Martin and seven counts against Mr. Biernat included in the May 21, 2002 superceding indictment. It added one additional count of mail fraud against both Mr. Martin and Mr. Biernat involving an individual tax return mailed to the Internal Revenue Service. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On October 16, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Nancy Barber, former office secretary for Ironworkers Local Union #12, was sentenced to five months of imprisonment followed by five months of home confinement and three years probation. She was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $57,601. On June 24, 2002, Ms. Barber pled guilty to one count of embezzling $57,769.74 in union funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the FBI.

On October 15, 2002, in the United States Court for the District of New Mexico, David Rux, former business representative of Machinists Lodge 2-W in Aberdeen, Washington, was sentenced to three years probation (including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring) and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,075. Rux pled guilty to seven counts of embezzlement and fifteen counts of falsifying union records on July 12, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On October 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard C. Holton, president of an insurance agency, Holton & Associates, Ltd., pled guilty to an information charging him with three counts of bribery via employer payments to a labor union official. Holton and others initiated a self-insurance program known as the Ironworking Contractors Insurance Program (ICIP). ICIP was an effort by the employers to self-insure or reinsure their worker's compensation liability as well as other business risks. In connection with that effort Holton paid former Ironworkers officers Jake West, LeRoy Worley, and Stephen Cooper to solicit union employers to join ICIP. When West threatened that he and the union would withdraw their support for ICIP unless they received additional payments, Holton, with the approval of some of the employers, agreed to pay West, Worley, and Cooper $10,000 each per year for their continued support. Throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and part of 1999, monthly checks were issued to West, Worley, and Cooper. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the FBI.

On October 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Anthony Brock, former treasurer of Steelworkers Local Union #4-6989, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $12,573.40 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of embezzlement on May 29, 2002. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On October 10, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Barbara Monfre, administrator of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3, Elevator Division Retirement Plan, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $314,547.49. She had been arraigned on March 22, 2002, on charges of embezzling approximately $289,000 in benefit plan funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

On October 10, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward K. Wiebeck, Sr., former business manager of Laborers Local 503, was sentenced to confinement in a community corrections center for six months followed by six months home confinement with electronic monitoring followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $32,790.82 in restitution. On May 9, 2002, Wiebeck pled guilty to one count of embezzling $32,790.82 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 10, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Connor, former financial secretary of United Auto Workers Local 469, pled guilty to an information filed on September 17, 2002 that charged her with one count of embezzling $3,365 in union funds and one count of filing a false LM-2 report. The information also noted that she had embezzled a total of approximately $54,317.19 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Robert Edward Martin, co-conspirator of Elizabeth Jane George (former recording secretary and Disaster Relief Benefit Fund Committee Chairperson of United Steelworkers Local 8-9336), was indicted for conspiring to embezzle union funds and the falsification, concealment and destruction of the union's records. In addition, Martin was charged with both conspiracy to commit a crime against the United States and harboring and concealing from arrest a fugitive from justice. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Dee Dee Gregory Lacy, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 2695, was sentenced to six months home confinement, five years probation, and 150 hours community service. Lacy was ordered to make restitution of $2,200, pay a special court assessment of $300, and participate in both a mental health treatment program and financial counseling under probation guidance. On July 25, 2002, Lacy pled guilty to embezzling union funds, theft of Postal Service funds, and access device fraud following a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the Postal Inspection Service.

On October 3, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Isador Hampton, former president of Auto Workers (UAW) Local 835, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $10,389.00 in union funds. Hampton admitted he accepted unauthorized salary and expense payments from the union. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, an information was filed charging Jerome J. Dube, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 1865, with one count of embezzling $310.46 in union funds. The information noted that Dube obtained unauthorized cash advances against his union credit card in the amount of $8,584.41 and received $5,592.26 in unauthorized and excessive payments from Local 1865's checking accounts. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.

On September 26, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kenneth D. Stacey, former president of Teamsters Local 651, pled guilty after being charged in a one-count information with embezzling $10,359.93 in union funds. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 26, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Judith F. Hamilton, former financial secretary of Electrical Workers (IUE) Local 713, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $4,666.40 in remaining restitution. On May 9, 2002, she pled guilty to embezzling $6,766.40 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Jeremias Lopez, former business manager of Laborers Local 220, was sentenced to ten months confinement followed by twelve months of supervised release, ordered to pay $10,814 in restitution to the union's bonding company, ordered to pay a special assessment of $25, and ordered to be subject to regular drug testing. The court recommended that the sentence be served at the Turning Point drug/alcohol rehabilitation center in Bakersfield. On July 10, 2002, Lopez pled guilty to falsifying union records and admitted embezzling union receipts between $10,000 and $30,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Willie Corbett, former delegate of Maintenance of Way Employees Lodge 616, was indicted for the concealment of a union record. The indictment charges that he concealed details of his travel expenses on a union record. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 25, 2002, in Linn County, Iowa, an outstanding warrant was executed with the arrest of Karl Roush, former business manager of Local 497 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE). At the arraignment hearing, he pled not guilty to a charge of felony theft of union funds. These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Mike Bruce, former secretary-treasurer of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers (PACE), Local 5-80, was sentenced to one month of home detention followed by three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $6,923 in restitution to the union. He previously pled guilty to making false entries in required union records to conceal his embezzlement of $6,923 in union funds after he was charged in a two-count indictment following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nolan Butler, former president of Bakery & Tobacco Workers Local 366G, pled guilty to embezzling $14,619.46 in union funds. He admitted forgery and making unauthorized personal charges and cash advances using the union's credit card. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Pedro Ojeda, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 23, pled guilty to one count of embezzling an unspecified amount of union funds. He had been charged in a two-count indictment on July 3, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jack Hatch, former president of Local 43 of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), pled guilty to embezzling $40,782.49 in union funds. He was indicted on March 28, 2002 for the embezzlement of at least $70,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On September 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Kim M. Connor, former financial secretary of United Auto Workers Local 469, was charged with one count of embezzling $3,365 in union funds and one count of filing a false LM-2 report. The information also noted that she had embezzled a total of approximately $54,317.19 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Gregory Carpenter, former president of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93, pled guilty to falsifying union records. An information filed on August 15, 2002, charged Carpenter with the submission of fraudulent lost time claims to his union. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Geoffrey R. Barron, former business manager/financial secretary-treasurer of Carpenters Local 2471, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $29,855.26 of local union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On September 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Martin J. Mone, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 1052, pled guilty to embezzling $6,264.97 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Thomas C. Bailey, former president and business manager of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 136, was found guilty by a federal jury of both counts in a two count indictment of embezzling $15,601.80 of union funds and filing a false annual financial report, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 10, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Gregory B. Floto, former president of the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 116, was sentenced to six months of home detention, three years of probation, fined $2,000, ordered to pay a $100 special assessment, and ordered to pay $7,714.68 in remaining restitution to the union (or bonding company). On March 15, 2002, Floto pled guilty to making a false statement to a federal agent to conceal his embezzlement of $15,714.21 in union funds after being charged in a seven-count indictment. This case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and U.S. Customs Internal Affairs Tucson office.

On September 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Cathy R. Josselyn, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 853, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On September 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Deborah S. Bailey, former office manager of the American Federation of Musicians Local 136, pled guilty to embezzling $15,601.80 in union funds, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David Dobry, former secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 177, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by five months of home detention followed by three years of supervision. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $61,510. He pled guilty to embezzling $61,510 in union funds on July 2, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On September 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Robert Mayhew and John Lontine, former union pension fund trustees, pled guilty to charges that they knowingly and willfully caused false reports to be filed on behalf of their respective trust funds. Both failed to disclose gifts received from Capital Consultants, LLC (CCL). CCL substantially paid the expense for Mayhew to take a hunting trip to New Mexico. Mayhew was a trustee for (and CCL provided investment management services to) the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Eighth District Pension Fund. Lontine took a fishing trip to Alaska and accepted season tickets for both the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies, all paid for by CCL. Lontine was a trustee for (and CCL provided investment management services to) the Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 Pension Plan. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration and Office of Inspector General, the IRS, and the FBI.

On September 3, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Laura L. McClurg, former secretary-treasurer of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1195, was charged in an information with concealment of labor union records. The information charges that she concealed and withheld records and statements required to be kept by a labor union in order to conceal her embezzlement of $2,295 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Lenette Kendrick, former secretary-treasurer of the Rural Letter Carriers in Clallam and Jefferson Counties, was sentenced to two years probation, fined $500, and ordered to pay the balance of $212 in restitution for the falsification of the union's annual financial report. Kendrick pled guilty on June 20, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On August 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Judicial District of Puerto Rico, Abdiel Navarro, former office administrator of the Union General de Trabajadores, pled guilty to three counts of embezzling a total of $15,005.63 in union funds, three counts of embezzling a total of $20,556.31 from a welfare benefit plan, and two counts of falsifying welfare benefit plan records. He had been arrested and arraigned on July 1, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On August 27, 2002, in the Superior Court of Wayne County, Indiana, Priscilla Crist, former president of United Auto Workers Local 2374, pled guilty to the embezzlement of $4,092 in union funds. She was sentenced to one year in jail with all but ten days suspended, one year of probation, and ordered to pay court costs and complete full restitution to the union. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Linda G. Chargois, former office secretary of Laborers Local 80, was sentenced to three months imprisonment followed by three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,171.10. She had pled guilty on April 1, 2002, and had been indicted on January 9, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On August 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Michele Hearn, former financial secretary of Electrical Workers (UE) Local 1174, pled guilty to embezzling $29,561.02 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Deborah Partida, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 761 and former treasurer of the Postal Workers Nevada State Association, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment followed by three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $193,337.33. She had pled guilty on May 17, 2002. She had been indicted on March 12, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Francis J. Massey, a partner in the accounting firm Thomas Havey LLP, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with aiding and abetting a conspiracy to make false statements and to defraud. The proffer of facts in the case details how Massey and other Havey accountants assisted the three top officers of the International Association of Iron Workers and others in falsifying Form LM-2 reports from 1992 to 1999 to hide in excess of $1.5 million in personal dining, drinking, and entertainment expenses. Disbursements that should have been reported by officers' and employees' names in Schedules 9 and 10 of Forms LM-2 were instead improperly concealed in categories on the report for "Office and Administrative Expenses" and "Educational and Publicity Expenses." These charges had been brought as part of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. To date, in addition to Massey, the investigation has led to the guilty pleas of six former officers and employees of the Iron Workers and another Havey accountant and the indictment of Jake West, former president, and LeRoy Worley, former general secretary. (For more information, see the criminal enforcement actions entries of August 7, 2002; June 4, 2002; June 3, 2002; December 12, 2001; August 29, 2001; and June 17, 2001.)

On August 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Delbert Steward, former president of Steelworkers Local 02-1279, pled guilty to embezzling $9,578 in union funds. He had been charged in a criminal complaint following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On August 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Dean Kirkland, a former employee of Capital Consultants, LLC, was indicted on 20 counts of giving, offering and promising gratuities to Gary Kirkland and Robert Legino, union pension trustees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1954 and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. He was also charged under 18 U.S.C 981 and 28 U.S.C. 2461 requiring forfeiture of any property obtained as a result of the other counts in the indictment. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On August 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Gary Kirkland and Robert Legino, former union pension fund trustees, were indicted on 12 counts and 8 counts respectively of accepting and soliciting gratuities to use their influence as pension plan trustees in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1954 and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C.2. Both were also charged under 18 U.S.C 981 and 28 U.S.C. 2461 requiring forfeiture of any property obtained as a result of the other counts in the indictment. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On August 21, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, James Clem, former business manager and financial secretary of Painters Local 80, pled guilty to embezzling $15,977 in both union funds and apprenticeship/training funds. He had been charged in a 16-count indictment following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Hugh C. Credle, former president of Postal Workers Local 1616, pled guilty to making false entries in required union records. He admitted making the false entries in order to conceal his embezzlement of union funds totaling $8,163.09. Credle had been charged in a two-count indictment on April 17, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Gregory Carpenter, former president/organizer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93, was charged in an information with embezzling union funds by submitting false lost time claims to his union. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 14, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Donald Stevens, former secretary-treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local 93, was indicted on charges of embezzling $41,550 from the Local 93 Sheet Metal Welfare Fund. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On August 14, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Tony Evans, former treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 197, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $16,319.56 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 14, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Joyce Griffin, former office secretary for the New Orleans Metal Trades Council, pled guilty to embezzling $2,383 in union funds. She admitted to charging personal items to the union's charge accounts and taking cash from the union's petty cash fund. She had been charged in a one-count information on April 25, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Laverdia Ann Brockman, the former bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 155 who pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, was sentenced to five years probation, including six months in home detention with electronic monitoring, assessed $100, and ordered to make full restitution of $57,938.46 ($9,400 had already been paid to the bonding company). The charges were brought following an investigation by the Dallas District Office.

On August 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Michael Van Bibber, former business manager/financial secretary of Asbestos Workers Local 87, pled guilty to embezzling $30,260.57 in union funds. He admitted to charging personal expenses to the union's credit card, obtaining duplicate expense reimbursements, and taking cash from union receipts. He had been indicted on June 5, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On August 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Thomas A. Lannon, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1562, pled guilty to embezzling $13,175 in union funds. He admitted writing unauthorized checks to himself and not depositing cash receipts. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On August 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James R. Dawson, Sr., president of Postal Mail Handlers Local 325, pled guilty to embezzling $9,401 in union funds. He admitted to obtaining unauthorized cash advances with the union's credit card and using the money for gambling. Loyd C. Manning, the union's former treasurer and current comptroller, pled guilty to filing a false report. He admitted signing the union's Form LM-2 for the year 2000 knowing it contained false information in that Dawson's embezzlement of union funds was not reported. Dawson and Manning had been indicted on May 21, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On August 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Shannon, former executive board member/trustee of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and three years probation, fined $5,000, and ordered to make restitution of $5,107. He had pled guilty to Unlawful Labor Payments in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186. The plea was in connection with the investigation of corruption in Local One relating to a no-show scheme at 19 construction sites in New York City. Union officials acquired money by falsely claiming that certain union members had worked certain hours, when in reality they had not, and in many cases were actually working at other construction sites. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the IRS.

On August 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Jake West, general president emeritus of the Iron Workers International Union, and LeRoy E. Worley, former general secretary. The new indictment charges West and Worley with conspiracy, embezzlement from a labor union, aiding and abetting, and embezzlement from an employee pension benefit plan. West and Worley are charged with causing illegal payments to be made to Worley totaling over $217,000 from the union for salary and expenses after Worley retired, and totaling over $37,000 for a pension that Worley was not entitled to receive. The new indictment represents a second indictment of West who was previously charged in a 51-count indictment on December 12, 2001. The new indictment supercedes a previous one-count indictment of Worley on May 17, 2002. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On August 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John L. Dorrier, Jr., former business manager of Operating Engineers Local 66, was indicted for embezzlement of union funds, bank fraud, forgery, and interference with the administration of Internal Revenue Laws. The indictment alleged that he falsified 976 picket expense vouchers causing the union to issue checks that he cashed for a total of approximately $14,400 from August 8, 1997 through November 1998. He is alleged to have previously converted $37,295 in union funds to his own use from 1992 through August 7, 1997. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.

On August 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Steven Pautz, former president of Machinists Lodge 251, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $1,450 in union funds and two counts of making false entries in union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of $12,257.75 in Lodge 251 funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On August 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Barbara A. Ryan, former financial secretary of Local 5-626 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), was indicted for embezzling $117,734.18 in union funds and entering into a scheme to defraud her employer, BP Chemicals, of $33,578.59 for work she did not perform. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On July 31, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Dwight West III, a former organizer for Painters District Council 78, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $30,343.86 from Painters Local 164 while serving as the appointed treasurer of the local. He had been charged on July 12, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On July 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Wesley J. Sharp, former financial secretary -treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union Local 6-647, was sentenced to 36 months probation and was ordered to make restitution to the union of $9,362 and to complete 100 hours of community service. He had pled guilty on May 6, 2002, to embezzling $13,062.86 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On July 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Fred T. Risius, business manager of Laborers Local 177, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $100,060 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Henry Jannenga, vice president and training fund coordinator of Laborers Local 177, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $20,460 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Dee Dee Gregory Lacy, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 2695, pled guilty to a three-count information charging her with embezzling $4,803 in union funds, theft of U.S. Postal Service funds in excess of $1,000, and access device fraud to obtain in excess of $1,000. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Martin Mone, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 1052, was indicted on charges of embezzling $6,264.97 in union funds and falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On July 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Diane Lewis, former bookkeeper for the Northeast District Council of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in excess of $28,000. She had been indicted on November 14, 2000, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On July 23, 2002, in Marion County (Indiana) Superior Court, Mack Dykes, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1411, was sentenced to four years imprisonment and ordered to make restitution of $7,181.14. He had pled guilty to two counts of forgery in the amount of $7,100 on June 25, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Mary Dolores Anderson, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 9417, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and agreed to make full restitution of up to $89,422.58. She had been indicted on September 28, 2000, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On July 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lori Delaney, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal Workers Local 80, pled guilty to embezzling approximately $18,000 in union funds. The charges had been brought on February 6, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, David Rux, a former business representative for Machinists Local Lodge W2 in Aberdeen, Washington, pled guilty to 7 counts of embezzling a total of $21,557 in union funds and 15 counts of falsifying union records. He had been charged in a sealed indictment on March 27, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Edward A. Ramsey, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books, and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $5,065.76. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, William E. Fricker, former president and grievance committee chairman of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $6,372.29. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Rhonda L. Creed, former vice-president of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $3,122.64. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 11, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Joseph W. Burress, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books, and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. The parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $3,100.10. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 10, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Jeremias Lopez, former business manager of Laborers Local 220, pled guilty to falsifying union records. Under terms of a plea agreement entered and accepted by the court, he also admitted to having embezzled receipts of the local, causing a loss of between $10,000 and $30,000. Charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 8, 2002, in Cherokee County (Iowa) court, Diana Commons, former secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1523, was named in a criminal complaint with felony theft in the amount of $3,192. The charges, which allege that she fraudulently received state unemployment benefits by concealing salary payments from Local 1523, were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Gwendolyn Meadows, former bookkeeper of Mail Handlers Local 334, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $27,882.16 in union funds. She had been indicted on March 20, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On July 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, John Mylek II, former treasurer of Plasters & Cement Masons Local 886, was charged in an information with embezzling $7,551.28 in union funds and $675 in employee benefit plan funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On July 3, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Pedro Ojeda, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 23, was indicted on one count of embezzling an unspecified amount of union funds and one count of falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On July 3, 2002, in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, Mary Katherine Johnson, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2552, was sentenced to incarceration for four months followed by five years probation and was ordered to make full restitution to the union of $28,853.69. She had pled guilty on June 3, 2002, to attempted theft following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 2, 2002, in Wayne County (West Virginia) court, Dwight D. Icenhower, former secretary-treasurer of Transportation Communication Workers Lodge 6455, was indicted on one count of embezzling $3,953.44 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On July 2, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David Dobry, former secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 177, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $61,510 in union funds. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Abdiel Navarro, former office administrator of the Union General de Trabajadores, was arrested, arraigned, and pled not guilty to three counts of embezzling a total of $20,556.31 from an employee welfare benefit plan, two counts of falsifying benefit plans records, and three counts of embezzling a total of $15,005.63 in union funds. Bond was set at $50,000. He had been indicted on June 26, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On June 26, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Efrain Tulier, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 2185, was indicted on one count of embezzling $13,467 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On June 25, 2002, in Marion County (Indiana) court, Mack Dykes, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1411, pled guilty to two counts of forgery in the amount of $7,100. He had been indicted on March 21, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Nancy L. Barber, former office secretary for Ironworkers Local 12, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $57,769.74 in union funds. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the FBI.

On June 21, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Anna May Ervolino, former officer of the Buffalo and Western New York Hospital and Nursing Home Council and Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 4 and their associated funds, was sentenced to one year probation and 150 hours of community service and was fined $5,000. She had pled guilty on March 22, 2002 to one count of willful and unlawful failing to disclose for a benefit plan annual report a payment to a party in interest. She had previously made restitution of $144,470.79 to the unions and the funds. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On June 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Toy Jones, secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1012, was indicted under 18 U.S.C. 661 on charges of embezzling in excess of $41,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On June 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Delbert Steward, former president of Steelworkers Local 1279, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzling $9,578.87 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On June 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Joseph Martin, brother of Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of $9,177 in union funds. According to the plea and cooperation agreement, Joseph Martin presented bills for plumbing services and materials for work on a house he was constructing to Thomas Martin, who arranged the payment of $9,177 for Joseph Martin's plumbing work through the Local 15 Target Fund. Joseph Martin had been indicted on April 17, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On June 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Lenette Kendrick, former secretary-treasurer of the Rural Letter Carriers in Clallam and Jefferson Counties, pled guilty to a one-count information that had been filed on May 30, 2002, charging her with false reporting. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Judith F. Hamilton, former financial secretary of Electrical Workers (IUE) Local 713, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $6,766.40 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On June 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Roberta Cabral, a former Unity House consultant, pled guilty to three felony charges of evading personal income taxes in 1992 and 1993 and wire fraud for attempting to defraud Unity House. She also pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to file an individual federal income tax return for 1994. Unity House is a non-profit organization established to benefit members of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 5 and Hawaii Teamsters locals. The fraud involved a kickback scheme to defraud Unity House by inflating the costs of producing a television movie. Cabral had been indicted on May 4, 2000 on charges of wire fraud in the amount of $150,000 following a joint investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office and other federal law enforcement agencies.

On June 14, 2002, in Winona County (Minnesota) circuit court, a criminal complaint was signed charging Jeffrey J. Schueler, former trustee of Glass, Molders, Pottery Plastics & Allied Workers Local 63B, and former chairman of the Badger Foundry unit of Local 63B, with two counts of check forgery and one count of theft in relation to an embezzlement of $7,743 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On June 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Robin Neither, former bookkeeper for Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 10, was sentenced to five years probation and six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and was ordered to pay full restitution of $42,487. Neither had earlier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On June 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Stephen Burks, former comptroller of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 71, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and fined $2,000. He had previously made restitution to the union of $24,000. On March 4, 2002, he had pled guilty to embezzling in excess of $23,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On June 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Geri Abbe, former office secretary for the Western Association of Pulp & Paper Workers Local 5, was sentenced to two months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and five years probation. She was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. She previously made restitution of $14,754. She had pled guilty on March 22, 2002, to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On June 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Raymond F. Pendygraft, former financial secretary of American Flint Glass Workers Local 1009, was sentenced to five years probation, including six months home incarceration with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution of $14,419.23 along with the costs of monitoring. On February 20, 2002, he had pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Michael Van Bibber, former business manager/financial secretary of Asbestos Workers Local 87, was indicted on one count of embezzling $30,261 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On June 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Alfred S. Garappolo, a partner in the accounting firm Thomas Havey LLP, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with being an accessory after the fact to embezzlement from an employee welfare benefit plan in violation of 18 U.S.C. 3 and concealing and covering up a material fact in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. He pled guilty to assisting Kerry Tresselt, the bookkeeper for the Iron Workers National Training Fund, in order to hinder or prevent her apprehension, trial and punishment for her embezzlement from the Training Fund. He also pled guilty to knowingly and willfully concealing and failing to disclose to OLMS investigators statements made at a September 1992 meeting by Victor Van Bourg, then general counsel of the Iron Workers International Union, to Jake West, then the international president. These statements were to the effect that the Havey Company should be replaced as the Iron Workers' accountants if Havey accountants did not assist the scheme to underreport and conceal the true nature and amount of the union's disbursements for its officers on the union's annual financial report, Form LM-2, filed with OLMS. The documents filed as part of the plea agreement charge that after the meeting, Havey accountants aided and assisted in the preparation of union reports that concealed the true amount of union disbursements for union officers Jake West, LeRoy Worley, and James Cole. This is part of an ongoing investigation that has resulted in the guilty pleas of six former officials and employees of the Iron Workers to a variety of embezzlement and conspiracy charges. Former President Jake West and former General Secretary LeRoy Worley, have been indicted and are separately awaiting trial. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On June 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Carroll, vice president of 2 BW Development Corporation, pled guilty to an information charging him with obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1503 and 3551. The charges were filed in connection with false information that he provided to a Federal grand jury. This prosecution resulted from a case relating to the April 16, 2002, indictment of seven individuals involved in a $10 million fraud against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the renovation of their new headquarters at 2 Broadway in lower Manhattan. The seven individuals included a developer, union officials from Operating Engineers Local 14, and members of Elevator Constructors, Local One, as well as two other individuals. This money was intended for vertical transportation costs relating to Elevator Constructors, Local One and Operating Engineers, Local 14 elevator operators. A substantial amount went to Frederick Contini, owner of 2BW Development, in the form of cash kickbacks for his participation in the scheme. Carroll, who was partners with Contini, submitted false invoices to the MTA from a subcontractor known as Links. These invoices purporting to be from Links totaled in excess of $13 million and were prepared by Carroll under the direction of Contini. When asked questions concerning the handling of Links invoices, Carroll misled the grand jury by leading it to believe that Links invoices had been handled like other invoices in the normal course of business. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the IRS.

On June 4, 2002, in Dunn County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court, Joanne M. Hase, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727-D, entered a plea of no contest to theft of $1,000 or less in a business setting. She was placed on probation for one year, and imposition of sentence was withheld. The charges had been brought on April 10, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On June 3, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a May 17, 2002, indictment was unsealed which charged LeRoy Worley, former general secretary of the Iron Workers International Union with embezzling an amount greater than $37,000 from an employee pension benefit plan in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664. The indictment charged that he resigned and retired when he was 58 years old and had worked between 17 and 18 years for the international union, but he was paid a full pension from the Iron Workers Staff Retirement Pension Fund as if he had retired at age 60 and as if he had worked 20 years for the international union. The indictment also charged that his annual salary preceding his retirement was approximately $152,000, yet he was paid a pension as if his annual salary preceding retirement had been $169,184. The charges were brought as the result of an investigation led by the OLMS Washington District Office and assisted by the FBI and the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

On June 3, 2002, in the Maricopa County (Arizona) Criminal Court, Katherine Johnson, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2552, pled guilty to one count of attempted theft. Per the plea agreement, and subject to the pre-sentencing investigation and the sentencing judge's approval, she will be placed on probation and pay restitution of $26,516. She had been charged in a criminal complaint on January 29, 2002, which was superceded by a local grand jury indictment on February 27, 2002. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On June 2, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Ygnacio Angel, former president of Postal Workers Local 402, was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and two years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $1,646.16 in addition to the $6,000 voluntary restitution previously made. He had earlier pled guilty to one records violation count following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 31, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, David S. Manes, former business representative of Steelworkers Local 711-A, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and was ordered to make restitution of $15,657.77. On February 20, 2002, he had pled guilty to one count of a 153 count indictment charging him with embezzling union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 30, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jimmy Reed, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 3295, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with false recordkeeping. He was sentenced to six months home confinement to run concurrently with six months probation. The charges had been brought on April 18, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Anthony Brock, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-6989, pled guilty to embezzling $12,573 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Sullivan Hamlet, former president of UNITE Local 2603, was indicted on one count of embezzling $4,567 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, David Lareau, former business manager of Painters Local 160, was sentenced to two years probation and was fined $1,000. He had pled guilty on March 13, 2002, to willfully and knowingly withholding and concealing union financial records. He had been charged in an information on December 17, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On May 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Jill C. Gonzales, spouse of a former secretary-treasurer of Maintenance of Way Employees Local 1227, was sentenced to six months home confinement and 24 months probation (concurrent with the home confinement), and was ordered to make restitution of the balance of $27,861 from a total of $49,706.46. She had pled guilty to mail fraud on March 13, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On May 22, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16, was indicted on one count of embezzling $25,370 from the Local's Target Fund, one count of embezzling $1,434.50 in local dues money, and two counts of falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 21, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota a superceding indictment was returned against Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, and Joseph Biernat, Minneapolis city councilman. The superceding indictment contained the same five counts against Thomas Martin and five counts against Joseph Biernat that were in the original April 17, 2002 indictment. It added two additional counts of mail fraud against both Joseph Biernat and Thomas Martin, and added three additional counts of embezzling a total of $25,446 in union funds, one count of obstruction of justice concerning an OLMS investigation, and one count of concealing a material fact from OLMS against Thomas Martin. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On May 21, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, James Dawson, Sr., president of Postal Mail Handlers Local 325, and Loyd Manning, comptroller and former treasurer of Postal Mail Handlers Local 325, were indicted. James Dawson, Sr. was indicted on one count of embezzling $9,401 in union funds and Loyd Manning was indicted on one count of filing a false report. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On May 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Deborah Partida, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 761 and former treasurer of the Postal Workers Nevada State Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. According to the plea memorandum, she embezzled approximately $200,000 from the unions by making unauthorized payments by check and credit card to herself and her creditors. She had been indicted on March 12, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 16, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Emmanuel Graham, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2031, on trial before a judge magistrate, was acquitted on 14 misdemeanor counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 641. Mr. Graham had been charged in a 32 count indictment on June 20, 2001, with violating 18 U.S.C. 287 by filing false claims for travel and per diem with the Veterans Administration when he had already been reimbursed for those expenses by the union and 16 counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 641 for theft of U.S. government money corresponding to those claims. Pursuant to an agreement, the subject was tried on the misdemeanor charges only and the felony charges were dropped at the conclusion of the court proceedings. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On May 14, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Kelli S. LaLonde, a former bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 278, was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $3,926.63 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On May 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Judith F. Hamilton, former financial secretary of Electrical Workers (IUE) Local 713, was charged in an information with embezzling $6,766.40 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On May 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward K. Wiebeck, Sr., former business manager of Laborers Local 503, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $32,790.82 in union funds. The charges had been brought on April 9, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On May 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Wesley J. Sharp, former financial secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union Local 6-647, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $13,062.86 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, an information was filed charging John Cornwell, former financial secretary-treasurer for Sheet Metal Workers Local 479, with one count of embezzling "more than $10,000" in union funds. He pled guilty and in the related plea agreement admitted embezzling "over $50,000" and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $52,009.33. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On April 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Joyce Griffin, former office secretary of the New Orleans Metal Trades Council, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $2,383 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On April 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, L. Ann Brockman, former bookkeeper for Plumbers Local 155, signed a plea agreement in which she agreed to plead guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and make full restitution of $67,338. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On April 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Steven Call, former president of Musicians Local 150, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to perform 250 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution of $18,536. On November 29, 2001, he had pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Springfield, Missouri Resident Investigative Office.

On April 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Bobby Ray Putnam, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 14708, was sentenced to five years probation, including six months in home detention with electronic monitoring , and was ordered to make restitution of $18,026.95. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On April 23, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Jeffrey Grayson, former CEO of Capital Consultants, LLC, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in connection with devising a scheme to defraud union pension plans, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, and one count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(2). He had been indicted on October 2, 2001, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On April 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Richard Adams, former treasurer of Fire Fighters Local 639, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $144,939.46. He had pled guilty on January 28, 2002, to one count of bank fraud following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On April 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jimmy Reed, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 3295, was charged in an information with one count of false recordkeeping. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On April 18, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Willie Ray Walker, former secretary-treasurer of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1349, was sentenced to 12 months plus one day imprisonment and three years of supervised release and was ordered to make total restitution of $91,423.11. He had pled guilty on January 25, 2002 to embezzling union funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On April 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert D. King, Jr., former financial secretary of Roofers Local 86, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $130,507. He had pled guilty on December 11, 2001, to embezzling union funds and employee benefit (apprenticeship) funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On April 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Thomas Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Local 15, and Joseph Biernat, Minneapolis city councilman, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to extort under color of official right in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951 (Hobbs Act), one count of embezzling $2,700 in union funds, and one count of mail fraud. Thomas Martin was further indicted on two counts of embezzling $15,177 in union funds, and Joseph Biernat was further indicted on one count of extortion under color of official right in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951 and one count of making a false statement. Also indicted was Joseph Martin, Thomas Martin's brother, on one count of aiding and abetting an embezzlement of $9,177 in union funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the FBI.

On April 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Hugh Credle, former president of Postal Workers Local 1616, was indicted on one count of embezzling $8,163 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 17, 2002, in Marion County (Indiana) state court, James M. Johnson, former president of Auto Workers Local 361, was charged in a one-count information with theft for embezzling approximately $4,150 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On April 16, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Frederick Contini, the developer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new headquarters at 2 Broadway in Manhattan; James Roemer, the treasurer of Operating Engineers Local 14; Morris Diminno, a Local 14 shop steward; Matthew Joseph Downey and David Coakley, members of Elevator Constructors Local 1; Constantine Vafias, a construction contractor; and John Vitiello were indicted on 55 counts relating to a $10,000,000 fraud against the Transportation Authority in connection with the renovation of its new headquarters. Charges in the indictment include interstate transportation of property or money obtained by fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, unlawful payments to union officials and representatives, money laundering, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and conspiracy. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.

On April 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Michelle Arington, former bookkeeper of Steelworkers Local 9-194-L, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $5,707. As a special condition of probation, she must disclose her conviction to any employer for whom she is handling funds. She had earlier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making false entries in required union records following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Ralph Varnardo, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1674, was sentenced to five years probation and six months of home confinement and was ordered to make total restitution of $15,973.99. He had pled guilty on September 17, 2001, to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 641, embezzlement of public money, after an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On April 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Raymond Robertson, former general vice president of the Iron Workers International Union and director of its National Training Fund, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud an employee welfare benefit plan, one count of aiding and abetting embezzlement from an organization receiving federal funds, and six counts of embezzlement from an employee welfare benefit plan. According to the plea agreement, he agreed to pay a fine of $30,000, to make restitution of $103,170, and to assist the government in other investigations. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On April 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Steven Jones, former business manager/secretary-treasurer of Iron Workers Local 387, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $90,000. He had pled guilty on October 11, 2001 to embezzling union funds and apprenticeship funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On April 10, 2002, in Dunn County (Wisconsin) state court, Judy Hase, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727-D, was charged in a criminal complaint with theft for embezzling $389 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On April 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward Wiebeck, Sr., former business manager of Laborers Local 503, was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $32,790.82 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On April 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Robert Michael Bruce, former financial secretary of Local 5-0080 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE), was indicted on one count of embezzling $5,546 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On April 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Leonard Duge, former vice president of Communications Workers Local 53, pled guilty to making false entries in union records. He was sentenced to 24 months of unsupervised probation. He had previously made full restitution to the union of $22,137.66. The charges had been brought on March 5, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On April 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Carey McClure, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2731, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with failure to maintain records. He was sentenced to three months home confinement with a monitor and 36 months probation, and he was ordered to make restitution of $16,621.22. Charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On April 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Linda G. Chargois, former office secretary for Laborers Local 80, pled guilty to count one (charging her with embezzling $57) of a 29-count indictment that had charged her with embezzling a total of $35,171 in union funds. She had been indicted on January 9, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 29, 2002, in Cuyahoga County (Ohio) court, Rollie McHugh, former financial secretary of Auto Workers Local 2358, was indicted on one count of theft, two counts of forgery, two counts of uttering, and two counts of tampering with records for embezzling between $500 and $5,000. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On March 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jessie A. McGee, former business agent of Teamsters Local 891, pled guilty to making false entries in union records and was sentenced to two years probation. He had previously made restitution of $2,782 to the union. He had been indicted earlier on one count of embezzlement and one count of falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jack D. Hatch, former president of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Local 43, was indicted on one count of embezzling approximately $70,000 in union funds by charging excessive and unauthorized lost time, making personal charges on the union's credit cards, and receiving unauthorized expense reimbursements. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 26, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert Dean Meyer, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 1481, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment and two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to make full restitution of $47,346 to the union and the union's bonding company. He had pled guilty to embezzling union funds on December 6, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Barbra Monfre, administrator of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3, Elevator Division Retirement Plan, was arraigned on charges of embezzling approximately $289,000 in benefit plan funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

On March 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Anna May Ervolino, former vice president of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 4, pled guilty to one count of willful and unlawful failing to disclose for a benefit plan annual report a payment to a party in interest. She and her husband Frank Ervolino, former president of the local, had been indicted on May 16, 2000, on multiple charges of embezzlement and conspiracy relating to the local, an associated union, and their benefit plans. Mrs. Ervolino had earlier made restitution of $144,470.79 to the benefit plans. (Mr. Ervolino died subsequent to the indictment.) The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Geri Abbe, former office secretary for Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 5, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $15,690 in union funds. She had earlier been charged with embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On March 21, 2002, in Marion County (Indiana) court, Mack Dykes, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1411, was indicted on five counts of forgery and one count of theft for embezzling approximately $7,100 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Gwendolyn M. Meadows, former bookkeeper for Postal Mail Handlers Local 334, was indicted on one count of embezzling $27,882.16 in union funds by failing to deposit dues check-off checks and purchasing postal money orders for personal use with union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Michael G. Brown, former treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1007, was ordered to make full restitution to the local of $2,160.16, which he had already done. He had pled guilty on February 13, 2002, to making false entries in union records. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Cheryl Rowe, former office secretary of Laborers Local 80, was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling $93,430 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John Serpico, former president of the Central States Joint Board of the Novelty and Production Workers (and a former vice president of the Laborers International Union) was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on each of the six mail fraud counts of which he was convicted on July 16, 2001, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also fined $100,000; ordered to make restitution of $30,000; and ordered to pay the cost of imprisonment. Maria Busillo, also a former president of the Central States Joint Board, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release on each of two mail fraud counts and one count of making a false statement on a loan application of which she had been convicted, with the sentences to run concurrently. She was also fined $100,000 and ordered to pay the cost of imprisonment. Gilbert Cataldo was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release on each of three mail fraud counts of which he had been convicted, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also fined $5,000 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On March 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Gregory B. Floto, former president of National Treasury Employees Chapter 116, pled guilty to one count of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. He had earlier been charged with misappropriation of union funds following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and U.S. Customs Internal Affairs.

On March 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, David Lareau, former business manager of Painters Local 160, pled guilty to willfully and knowingly withholding and concealing union financial records in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). He had been charged in an information on December 17, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On March 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Jill C. Gonzales, spouse of a former secretary-treasurer of Maintenance of Way Employees Local 1227, pled guilty to mail fraud relating to a loss of union funds. The charges had been brought earlier following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On March 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Deborah Partida, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 761, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $132,824 from Local 761 and $1,764 from the Postal Workers' Nevada State Association and two counts of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On March 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Nancy Groome, former treasurer of State, County and Municipal Employees, CSEA, Local 316, was sentenced to one year and a day imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to make restitution of $111,476.48. She had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds on July 11, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Daniel Valle, former president of State, County and Municipal Employees, CSEA, Local 316, was sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release which will include six months of home confinement. He was also ordered to make restitution of $19,300.09. He had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds on November 9, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On March 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Terrance P. Baldridge, former secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 1349, was sentenced to 24 months probation, fined $1,000, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and ordered to complete restitution to the union. He had pled guilty to embezzling union funds on December 3, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Leonard Duge, former vice-president of Communications Workers Local 53, was charged with falsifying union records in an agreement with the Office of the United States Attorney. The agreement noted that he had already made full restitution to the local of $22,137.66. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 4, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Stephen Burks, former comptroller of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 71, pled guilty to embezzling in excess of $23,000 in union funds. He had been indicted on May 15, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On February 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Judy Domning, former executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses Association and former executive director of the Technical Employees Association of Minnesota, was convicted of making a false statement by making false entries in union records. She was sentenced to two years probation and barred from employment by unions "for life." She had pled guilty on August 24, 2001, and had previously made restitution of $18,772. The sentence was a downward departure for her substantial assistance in the prosecution of Elliot Cohn who had pled guilty to mail fraud on March 8, 2001. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Geri E. Abbe, former office secretary for Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 5, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $15,690 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Patricia Ford, former secretary-treasurer of the New York State Public Employees Federation, was charged in a five-count indictment with embezzlement of approximately $10,000 in union funds, falsification of union records, false statements to a Federal investigator, receipt of a bribe, and embezzlement by an agent of an organization receiving Federal funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Deborah Bankston, former financial secretary-treasurer of Western Pulp and Paperworkers Local 83, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. She was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation and was ordered to make restitution of $64,711.65. An information had been filed against her on September 26, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Raymond F. Pendygraft, former financial secretary of American Flint Glass Workers Local 1009, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $14,419.23 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On February 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, David S. Manes, former business agent of Steelworkers Local 711-A, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $1,500 in union funds. He had been indicted on August 29, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Joseph Buress, Rhonda Creed, William Fricker, and Edward Ramsey, former officers of Steelworkers Local 9336, and Elizabeth George, former administrator of the local's disaster relief fund, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and making false entries in union records. This scheme involved $10,000 in false or excessive lost time payments. They were also charged with embezzling approximately $11,250 in union funds and making false entries in the benefit fund's records in a scheme involving fraudulent payments from the fund. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On February 14, 2002, in Kings County (California) Superior Court, Robert S. Ramos, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 193-I, entered a plea of no contest to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to one year in the county jail and three years of supervised probation and was fined $2,700. He was also required to pay $6,000 in restitution ($1,000 was previously paid) over the next three years. The charges had been brought on November 1, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Michael G. Brown, secretary-treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1007, pled guilty to making false entries in union records to conceal his taking of union monies for his personal expenses. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On February 13, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Stephen M. Hanlon, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 01-4564-S, was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and five years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $21,657.58. He had pled guilty on November 16, 2001, to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kendall Williams, president of PNI Security Union, was indicted on ten counts of theft from a health and welfare fund totaling $32,183.84, four counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $18,800, three counts of failure to maintain union records, and four counts of failure to file labor organization reports. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On February 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, William Fast, former treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1013-L, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $1,000. He had pled guilty on October 22, 2001, to embezzling $3,893.71 in union funds and had previously made restitution. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Donald Martin, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 35-8681, was sentenced to five months at a half-way house and five months home detention followed by three years of supervised probation and ordered to make restitution of $10,400 and pay $5,075 in special assessments. He had been indicted on March 21, 2001, on charges of embezzling $10,591 in union funds, making false entries in union records, and false reporting. He was found guilty on all counts by a jury trial on October 10, 2001. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Cathy Josselyn, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 853, was charged in a one-count information with making false entries in union financial records. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On February 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lorri Delaney, bookkeeper for Sheet Metal Workers Local 80, was charged with embezzling $32,890 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lorri Delaney, bookkeeper for Sheet Metal Workers Local 80, was charged with embezzling $32,890 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Joseph Argo, former president of Machinists Lodge 615, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. He was sentenced to six months probation, fined $500, and ordered to make restitution of $2,643.80. He had been charged in a one-count information on January 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Charles Astin, former president of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 343, pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain records. He was sentenced to six months probation, fined $750, and ordered to make restitution of $1,735. He had been charged in a one-count information on January 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, L. Ann Brockman, former office secretary for Plumbers Local 665, was indicted on 26 counts of embezzling $11,621 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 27 representatives and/or members of Elevator Constructors Local 1 were charged in a 137-count indictment with conspiracy, money laundering, extortion, witness tampering, mail fraud, tax evasion, and other racketeering crimes. The crimes were committed at more than 20 construction sites throughout New York City from 1989 through early 2001. During that time, contractors paid more than $3,000,000 in the names of no-show elevator operators and, with the addition of withholding taxes and contributions to benefit plans, the charged racketeering enterprise stole more than $6,000,000 from construction projects. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.

On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David Dobry, former secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Lodge 177, was indicted on one count of embezzling $61,510 in union funds, one count of filing a false report, and one count of destruction of union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On February 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Sharon K. Schmenk, former treasurer of Lima Memorial Professional Nurses Association, was sentenced to three years probation, the first six months to be spent in home confinement with an ankle monitor at a cost of $4.95 a day paid by her, and she was ordered to make full restitution. She had pled guilty on October 5, 2001, to embezzling $19,170 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On January 30, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Roger Causby, former secretary-treasurer of Food and Commercial Workers Local 427, was sentenced to four months imprisonment and four months home detention, followed by two years of supervised probation. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds and had made restitution of $13,218.46. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On January 29, 2002, in the Maricopa County (Arizona) court, Mary Katherine Johnson, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2552, was charged in a criminal complaint with knowingly converting union funds of a value more than $25,000 but less than $100,000, with the intent to deprive the local of those funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On January 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Richard S. Smith, former president of Electrical Workers Local 770, was charged in a one-count information with failure to maintain union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On January 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Richard Adams, former treasurer of Fire Fighters Local 639, pled guilty to bank fraud for a scheme to deprive the union of $142,715.78. The charges had been brought on January 17, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On January 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Willie Ray Walker, former secretary-treasurer of Longshoremen's Local 1349, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzling $91,423 in union funds. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.

On January 24, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Roy Summerlin, former treasurer of Guards Independent Regional Council 10, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution of $1,212. Tom T. Hall, former vice-president of Regional Council 10, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution of $3,636.95. They had been charged on November 29, 2001, with making false entries in required union records and had pled guilty on January 22, 2002. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On January 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Carey McClure, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2731, was indicted on one count of embezzling $16,917.13 in union funds and one count of failure to maintain records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Ricky Sanders, former business manager of Roofers Local 136, was indicted on one count of embezzling $7,433.51. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Richard Adams, former treasurer of Firefighters Local 639, was charged in a one-count information with bank fraud in the amount of $3,139.25. The embezzlement of union funds totaled $144,939.46 and restitution will be based on that amount. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI.

On January 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Bryant, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2061, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution of $1,980, and fined $500. (He had previously made restitution of $1,500.) He had pled guilty on September 12, 2001, to two counts of theft by unlawful taking within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On January 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Joseph Argo, former president of Machinists Lodge 615, was charged in a one-count information with false recordkeeping. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 15, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Charles Astin, former president of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 343, was charged in a one-count information with failure to maintain records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Linda Chargois, former office secretary of Laborers Local 80, was indicted on 29 counts of embezzling $35,171 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On January 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Hank Van Heyningen, former president of Christian Labor Union Local 17 (Dairy Employees), was sentenced to 36 months probation, 300 hours of community service, $100 restitution, and a $2,500 fine. He had pled guilty to extortion on October 23, 2001, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.

On December 20, 2001, Laura Greco, former treasurer of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1501 was sentenced in the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York, on charges of grand larceny for embezzling $8,965 in union funds. As a result of a plea bargaining agreement, she was sentenced to five years probation and was required to pay $5,000 restitution. The investigation was conducted by the OLMS New York District Office.

On December 17, 2001, in Wayne County (Indiana) Superior Court, Priscilla Crist, former president of Auto Workers Local 2374, was indicted for forgery and theft of $4,092. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On December 17, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, David Lareau, former business manager of Painters Local 160, was charged in a one-count information with concealing and withholding financial records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On December 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a superceding indictment was returned against Jake West, general president emeritus of the Iron Workers International Union. The superceding indictment contained the same 49 counts that were in the original indictment which was unsealed on August 29, 2001, plus one count of conspiracy to embezzle, defraud, and file false reports and one count of obstruction of justice. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On December 12, 2001, in Winnebago County (Illinois) court, Todd Mosley and Laura Reilly, former business agent and recording secretary, respectively, of Stage & Picture Operators Local 217, were indicted for felony theft. Mosley is alleged to have taken approximately $3,126 in union funds and Reilly is alleged to have taken approximately $1,522. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 11, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert D. King, Jr., former financial secretary of Roofers Local 86, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling $88,757 in union funds and $41,750 in employee benefit funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On December 7, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a criminal complaint was signed charging Isador Hampton and Willie Lyons, former president and financial secretary, respectively, of Auto Workers Local 825, with embezzling union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On December 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert Dean Meyer, former financial secretary of Carpenters Local 1481, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $47,346.40 in union funds. The charges had been brought on November 19, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On December 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Thomas C. Bailey, former president and business manager of Musicians Local 136, and his wife, Deborah S. Bailey, an employee of the local, were indicted on charges of embezzling $15,601 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On December 3, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Terrance P. Baldridge, former secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 1349, pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The plea agreement stipulates to a loss amount of $5,307. The charges had been brought on October 5, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 30, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Michelle Terrell Spargur, former bookkeeper/office secretary for Carpenters Locals 364 and 1124, was sentenced to ten months home confinement with electronic monitoring and five years probation and was ordered to make restitution to the locals of $29,673. The charges had been brought on July 13, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On November 30, 2001, Judge Robert W. Curran of the Circuit Court for the City of Newport News, Virginia, accepted a plea agreement from Stanley Coppedge, former grievance person for Steelworkers Local 8888. Mr. Coppedge pled guilty to petty larceny, a Class 1 misdemeanor, in violation of Virginia Code 18.2-178 (obtaining money or property by false pretenses). He was sentenced to one year incarceration, suspended as long as he remains in good behavior and makes restitution of $13,761.67. The charges had been brought on July 9, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On November 29, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Steven Call, former president of Musicians Local 150, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $18,536 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On November 29, 2001, in Edgar County (Illinois) court, Judith Elaine Cline, former secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 2343, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with misdemeanor theft of $300. She was sentenced to 12 months of supervised release and ordered to make restitution of $900 to the union. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 29, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Roy Summerlin and Thomas Hall, former treasurer and vice-president, respectively, of Guards Tenth Regional Council, were charged in two separate informations with making false entries in required union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On November 26, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lillian Agredano, former office secretary of Painters Local 1348, was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make restitution of $15,000. She had pled guilty on September 19, 2001, to the embezzlement of union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On November 21, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Abbott, former secretary-treasurer of the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and one year probation. He was ordered to make restitution of $194,400 and settle his income taxes with the IRS for the years 1994 through 1998. He had pled guilty on February 26, 2001, to accepting gratuities to use his influence as a pension plan trustee and filing a false tax return following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On November 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Keith R. Sharp, former business agent for Stage and Picture Operators Local 132, was sentenced to six months home detention with electronic monitoring and three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $7,873. He had pled guilty on September 6, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Barclay Grayson, the former president of Capital Consultants, LLC, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years probation. He had pled guilty on March 19, 2001, to mail fraud following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On November 19, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed charging Robert Dean Meyer, former secretary-treasurer of Carpenters Local 1481, with one count of embezzling $47,346.40 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Stephen M. Hanlon, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 01-4564-S, pled guilty to embezzling $21,657 in union funds. The charges had been brought on November 2, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Willie R. Walker, former secretary-treasurer of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1349, was indicted on one count of embezzling $91,423 in union funds and one count of falsifying union records. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On November 15, 2001, in the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Court of Common Pleas, Kathleen L. Frost, former bookkeeper of Iron Workers Local 420, pled guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received. She was sentenced to two years probation. The charges had been brought on August 14, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On November 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, William Brooks, former recording secretary of Painters Local 8, was charged in a three-count indictment with embezzling $14,480 in union funds, false recordkeeping, and aiding and abetting. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Robert Gordon, former financial secretary-treasurer of Local 366 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $88,431. He had pled guilty on July 27, 2001, to embezzlement of union funds and falsification of union records following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On November 9, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Daniel Valle, former president of State, County, and Municipal Employees, CSEA, Local 316-Health Research, pled guilty to embezzling $19,301 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On November 8, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Kerry J. Tresselt, an employee of the Iron Workers International Union who worked as a bookkeeper for the National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training and Journeyman Upgrading Fund, pled guilty to three counts of embezzling more than $350,000 from an employee welfare benefit plan and one count of conspiring to make false statements. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On November 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jessie McGee, former business agent for Teamsters Local 891, was indicted on one count of embezzling $2,492 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On November 5, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Glenn Reys, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 4644, was sentenced to five years probation (including six months home detention) and ordered to make restitution of $10,011 to the union. He had pled guilty on May 14, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office with assistance from the Los Angeles District Office.

On November 2, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Stephen Hanlon, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 01-4564-S, with embezzling $21,657 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On November 1, 2001, in the State Court of California, Kings County, a complaint was filed against Robert S. Ramos, former president of Food and Commercial Workers Local 193-I, charging him with embezzling more than $400 in union funds in violation of Section 487(a) of the California Penal Code. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On October 31, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Bobby Putnam, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 14708, was charged in a 40-count indictment with embezzling union funds and making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On October 30, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, George Wright, Jr., former financial secretary of United Automobile Workers Local 267, was indicted on one count of embezzling $19,206 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On October 30, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew Downey, lead operator for Elevator Constructors Local 1, was indicted for witness tampering and obstruction of justice. The charges were brought as part of a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

On October 26, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Shawn Drake, former secretary-treasurer of Local 736 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. He was sentenced to 21 months in jail, three years probation, and was ordered to make restitution of $21,376. He had been indicted on February 14, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On October 23, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Paul Morgan, former secretary-treasurer of Musicians Local 694, was indicted on one count of embezzling $6,950 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 23, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Earnest W. Carter, former business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 399, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by five months in a halfway house and two years probation. He was ordered to make restitution to the union of $22,092.82. He had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds on August 7, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On October 23, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Hank Van Heyningen, president of Christian Labor Union Local 17 (Dairy Workers), pled guilty to one count of extortion. The charges had been brought on September 4, 2001, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On October 22, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, William A. Fast, former treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1013-L, was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $3,893.71 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 19, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Ogg, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 7401, was sentenced to four months imprisonment and two months home confinement to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to make restitution of $65,285. She had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds on August 1, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 18, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Rhonda Ostendorf, former office secretary for Painters District Council 58, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution of $6,331. She had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds and falsification of union records on June 27, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Robin Neither, former bookkeeper for Longshoremen & Warehousemen Local 10, was indicted on charges of embezzling union funds and making false entries in required union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On October 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Wilfield Bloomfield, former bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 1553, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release. He had pled guilty on July 16, 2001, to the embezzlement of $2,275 in union funds. He was ordered by the court to make restitution of $110,886.65 to the union's bonding company. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On October 11, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Steve Jones, former business manager/secretary-treasurer of Iron Workers Local 387, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling $29,724.73 in union funds and $39,949.42 in apprenticeship funds. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On October 5, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Sharon K. Schmenk, former treasurer of the Lima Memorial Professional Nurses Association, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling $19,170 in union funds. The information had been filed on September 4, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On October 5, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Terrance P. Baldridge, former secretary-treasurer of United Auto Workers Local 1349, was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling $1,150 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 3, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Ygnacio Angel, former president of American Postal Workers Local 402, pled guilty to an information charging him with false recordkeeping in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On October 3, 2001, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court, Michaelene Vandine, secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2031, pled guilty to theft by deception. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail which was suspended, one year probation, and 40 hours of community service. She had previously made restitution to the union in the amount of $1,574.50. She had been indicted on August 7, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 2, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Jeffrey Grayson, CEO of Capital Consultants, LLC, was indicted on 14 counts of mail fraud in connection with devising a scheme to defraud union pension plans, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. He was also charged with three counts of giving and offering to give over $200,000 in gratuities to John Abbott, a union pension trustee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1954; three counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1956(a); one count of witness tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512; and one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On September 26, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Deborah Bankston, former financial secretary-treasurer of Western Pulp and Paperworkers Local 83, was charged in an information with embezzling $64,711 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On September 25, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Donna Hill, former office secretary for Painters Local 970, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to make restitution of $53,906.50. She had pled guilty on July 9, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 25, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Craig J. Rider, former business manager of Laborers Local 1290, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for embezzlement of union funds, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to make restitution of $15,044. He had pled guilty on May 21, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On September 19, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lillian Agredano, former officer manager of the now-defunct Painters Local 1348, pled guilty to the embezzlement of $9,486 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 18, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Angela Smith, secretary-treasurer of Local 1325 of the Paper Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers (PACE), was sentenced to 120 days home confinement with four years supervised probation and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,524.95. She had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On September 17, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Ralph Varnardo, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1674, pled guilty to one count of violating 18 USC 641, Embezzlement of Public Money, in the amount of $15,724. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 14, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Gary Monsson, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3000, was sentenced to 12 months incarceration and three years of supervised released. He was ordered to make restitution to the union of $12,176.74 in addition to the amounts he had already repaid. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On September 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Bryant, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2061, entered into a plea agreement in which he agreed to plead guilty to two counts of theft by unlawful taking within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. He agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $3,480. He had been indicted following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On September 7, 2001, in the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Timothy Daley, former office secretary for Steelworkers Local 8248, was sentenced to 14 months incarceration with three years probation and was ordered to make restitution to the union of $11,280.13. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On September 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Donnie Block, former financial secretary of Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Local 66, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment and ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $38,702. He had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement on May 14, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Keith Sharp, former business agent for Stage and Picture Operators Local 132, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $7,873.91 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marvin Savant, former paymaster of Longshoremen's Association Local 1316, was sentenced to five months in a community correction center to be followed by five months home detention and three years supervised release. He was also ordered to make restitution to the union of $4,820. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On September 5, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Nadine Corey, former president of the Association of Credit Union Employees, was sentenced to one year home confinement and three years probation. She was also ordered to make restitution to the union of $49,385.95. She had earlier pled guilty to an information which charged her with embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Sharon K. Schmenk, former treasurer of the Lima (Ohio) Memorial Professional Nurses Association, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $19,170 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Hank Van Heyningen, president of Christian Labor Union Local 17 (Dairy Workers), was charged in an information with extorting $100 from a worker in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951(a), (b)(2) (interference with interstate commerce by threats of violence). The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On September 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Ray Curtis, former secretary-treasurer of Laborers Local 327, was sentenced to three years probation with a condition that he serve six months in home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to make restitution to the union of the balance he owes, $6,655. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling $8,547 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Larry Turman, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 2119, was sentenced to one year supervised probation and fined $1,000. The judgement order made note that full restitution of $1,700 had already been made to the union. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 30, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Stanley Bennett, former secrretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 1137, was sentenced to three years probation; fined $200; ordered to serve four months of home detention, including two months with electric monitoring; and ordered to make restitution of $6,477.56. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 29, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a 49-count indictment against Jake West, general president emeritus of the Iron Workers International Union, was unsealed. The indictment charges him with 43 counts of embezzling a total of approximately $51,000 in union funds and 3 counts of concealing and falsifying a material fact and 3 counts of making false statements, both in connection with the Form LM-2 reports he filed in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

On August 29, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, David Manes, former business representative of Steelworkers Local 711-A, was indicted on 153 counts of embezzling a total of $24,923.42 in union funds. Twenty counts involved unauthorized salary, 119 counts involved personal purchases on the union's credit card and other accounts, and 14 counts involved use of union funds for personal debts. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On August 24, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Judy Domning, former executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses Association, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 by making a false entry in a union record. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On August 21, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Michele Arington, former bookkeeper for Steelworkers Local 9-194-L, was indicted on one count of embezzling $5,635 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On August 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Lillian Agredano, former office manager for Painters Local 1348, was charged in a one-count information with embezzling $9,486 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On August 14, 2001, in the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Court of Common Pleas, Kathleen L. Frost, former bookkeeper of Iron Workers Local 420, was indicted on one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received in the amount of $7,653.46 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On August 13, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Shelly Sue Pfeiffer, former bookkeeper-office secretary for Plasterers Local 577, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. She was ordered to make restitution of $30,863.55 to the union's bonding company and was sentenced to six months of home detention monitored by an electronic device and five years probation. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On August 9, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Richard P. Miller, former secretary-treasurer of United Railway Supervisors Local 202, was sentenced to five months imprisonment, followed by five months community confinement and three years of supervised release, and was ordered to make restitution of $100,000 to the union. He had pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds on May 31, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On August 7, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Earnest W. Carter, former business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 399, pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of embezzling $22,092.82 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On August 7, 2001, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Michaelene Vandine, secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2031, was indicted on one count of theft by deception from the union in the amount of $1,574.50. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On August 1, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Ogg, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers Local 7401, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $67,637 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 27, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Robert Gordon, former financial secretary-treasurer of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 366, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $485 in union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On July 23, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Terry Wilson, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 09-1133-L, was placed on three years supervised probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $6,073, the amount of the $22,073 in union funds he embezzled which is still outstanding. He had entered a guilty plea on May 5, 2001. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On July 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, an information was filed charging Judy Domning, former executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses Association, with one count of making a false statement in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On July 17, 2001, in Sedgwick County (Kansas) court, Norman George, former secretary-treasurer of Bakery & Tobacco Workers Local 99G, was charged in a criminal complaint with felony theft ($3,500). The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On July 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John Serpico, former president of the Central States Joint Board of the Novelty and Production Workers (and a former vice president of the Laborers International Union), was convicted of mail fraud for, among other things, using his influence over union funds to obtain millions of dollars in personal loans from banks and receiving a kickback in return for arranging a union loan for a hotel project. Maria Busillo, also a former president of the Central States Joint Board, was convicted of mail fraud and making false statements to a bank and Gilbert Cataldo was convicted of mail fraud. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.

On July 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Wilfield Bloomfield, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1553, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $2,275 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On July 13, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Michele Terrell Spargur, former office secretary for Carpenters Locals 364 and 1124, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling a total of $29,673 in union funds and two counts of destroying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On July 11, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Nancy Groome, former secretary-treasurer of the Civil Service Employees Association, Local 316 of the State, County, and Municipal Employees, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $111,476.48 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On July 9, 2001, in the Circuit Court for the City of Newport News, Virginia, Stanley Coppedge, former grievance person for Steelworkers Local 8888, was indicted on charges of defrauding the Newport News Shipbuilding Company and/or Steelworkers Local 8888 by obtaining money or property by false pretenses. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On July 9, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Donna Hill, former office secretary for Painters Local 970, pled guilty to count one of an indictment which charged her with embezzling $59,167 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On June 27, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Leo MacGillvray, former treasurer of Utility Workers Local 446, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $86,311 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On June 27, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Rhonda Ostendorf, former bookkeeper for Painters District Council 58, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $6,331 in union funds and one count of false statements under 18 U.S.C. 1001. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On June 21, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Jeremias Z. Lopez, former business manager/secretary-treasurer of Laborers Local 220, was indicted on one count of embezzling $10,814 in union funds and one count of falsifying union records. This case was investigated by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office jointly with the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.

On June 20, 200l, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Emanuel Graham, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2031, was indicted on 16 counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 287 by filing false claims for travel and per diem expenses with the Veterans Administration when he had already been reimbursed for those expenses by the union. He was indicted on 16 additional counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 641 for theft of U.S. government money corresponding to those claims. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On June 17, 2001, James E. Cole, General Secretary of the Iron Workers International Union, pled guilty in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of union funds embezzlement, one count of failing to disclose a material fact in a union financial report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, and one count of making a false entry in union records. Mr. Cole had been charged in an 18-count indictment on January 3, 2001, with embezzlement of more than $10,000 in union funds, false reporting and mail fraud. The OLMS Washington District Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI. Mr. Cole is the fourth official of the Iron Workers to plead guilty as a result of the investigation.

On June 15, 2001, Earnest W. Carter, former financial secretary and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 399, was charged in a one-count information in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina with embezzling $22,092 in union funds. The OLMS Atlanta District Office conducted the investigation.

On June 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Gary Monsson, former secretary-treasurer of AFGE Local 3000, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $51,464.49 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On June 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former secretary-treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On May 31, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Richard P. Miller, former secretary-treasurer of United Railway Supervisors Local 202, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling between $20,000 and $40,000 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On May 31, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, a two-count indictment was returned charging Patricia Smith, former office secretary for the Laborers Alabama District Council, with one count of embezzling $21,687.85 in union funds and one count of making false entries in records required to be maintained. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On May 31, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, a two-count indictment was returned charging Eugene Wilkinson, former financial secretary of Mine Workers Local 7154, with one count of embezzling $12,024.89 in union funds and one count of false reporting. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.

On May 21, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, J. Craig Rider, former business manager of Laborers Local 1290, pled guilty to charges that he embezzled $15,345 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Stephen Burks, former comptroller of State, Country and Municipal Employees Council 71, was indicted on one count of embezzling over $23,000 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On May 14, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Donnie L. Block, former president of Bakery & Tobacco Workers Local 66, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $38,702 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On May 14, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Glenn Reys, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 4644, entered a guilty plea to one count of embezzling $2,000 in union funds and one count of filing a false labor organization annual report, Form LM-4. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On May 11, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Roy Keith Harris, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 11-659, entered a plea of guilty to the embezzlement of $28,123 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On May 11, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Robert Emery, Sr. former financial secretary of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 429, was indicted on three counts of embezzling a total of $16,851 in union funds and two counts of failure to file Form LM-30, Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report, relating to transactions the union conducted with a T-shirt business owned by his wife. His wife was charged in one count of the indictment with aiding and abetting him in embezzling $5,340 for her personal benefit. Terri Myatt, Local 429 office manager, was also charged in one count of the indictment with aiding and abetting Mr. Emery in embezzling $5,818 for her personal benefit. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On May 8, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Robert Gordon, former financial secretary-treasurer of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 366, was indicted on six counts of embezzling $88,000 in union funds and making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On May 4, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Britt Commons, former business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1523, entered a plea of guilty to falsifying union records to conceal an embezzlement of $8,025 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On April 25, 2001, in New York County, Laura Greco, former treasurer of Local 1501, State, County and Municipal Employees (District Council 37), was indicted for grand larceny in the amount of $8,965 for using union funds for personal expenses. The charges were the result of information provided by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 26, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Frederick Michael Jordan and Robert Gaillard, president and former treasurer, respectively, of Local 1575 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), each pled guilty to one count of failing to maintain union records. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 23, 2001, in the United Sates District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Steven Lathrop and Randy Kamp, former treasurer and president, respectively, of Local 07-9937 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), entered guilty pleas to informations charging them with embezzling $52,997 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 21, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Donald G. Martin, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 35-8681, was indicted on fifty counts of embezzling a total of $10,591 in union funds, five counts of making false entries in union records, and two counts of false reporting. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Comerford, former treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 31, pled guilty to one count of embezzling in excess of $10,000 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On March 19, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Barclay Grayson, a minority owner and President of Capital Consultants, LLC, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in connection with his participation in a scheme to defraud union pension plans in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Labor’s Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.

On March 16, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Janet Hornsby, former office secretary/bookkeeper of Plumbers Local 6, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $54,649 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 9, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Wilfield Bloomfield, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 1553, was indicted on 12 counts of embezzling $25,140.57 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 8, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elliot Cohn, president of a Florida-based firm that held itself out as providing collective bargaining and related services to labor organizations, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud which charged him with defrauding the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses (MLPNA) of $22,248 in reimbursement for airfare expenses never incurred, fraudulently increasing his compensation from the Technical Employees Association of Minnesota (TEAM) – which compensation was a percentage of TEAM’s expenses, and fraudulently increasing his firm’s compensation from TEAM from 70% of dues after TEAM expenses were paid to 100% of that amount, which resulted in an overpayment of $31,670. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, was indicted on one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds and one count of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 by filing false LM-3 Labor Organization Annual Reports with OLMS. Also indicted was Kroh’s spouse, Dinah, on one count of aiding and abetting him in embezzling $6,105 of the total amount he was charged with embezzling. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 28, 2001, the District Attorney of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania charged Gail McGranahan, a former employee of Mine Workers Local 1378, with 20 counts of forgery and 20 counts of theft and is seeking $6,610 in restitution to the union. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.

On February 28, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Shelley Sue Pfeifer, former bookkeeper-office secretary for Plasters Local 577, was indicted on charges of embezzling $16,493.27 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 26, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, John Abbott, former secretary-treasurer of the Laborers District Council of Oregon, Southern Idaho, and Wyoming, pled guilty to one count of accepting $194,940 in gratuities to use his influence as a pension plan trustee in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1954 and one count of filing a false tax return by omitting gratuities of $76,560 in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1). The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office, the IRS, FBI, the Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General.

On February 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, a one-count bill of information was filed charging Terry K. Wilson, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1133-L, with embezzling $22,073 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On February 14, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Shawn Drake, former secretary-treasurer of Local 736 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), was indicted on one count of embezzling $17,419 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On February 5, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Barry James, former president of Musicians Local 389, pled guilty to a one-count information for filing a false labor organization annual financial report. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.

On January 17, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gregory Floto, president of Treasury Employees Chapter 116 in Tucson, Arizona, was indicted on seven counts of mail fraud/deprivation of honest services (three counts), making false statements (three counts), and obstruction of justice (one count). The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the U.S. Customs Service Office of Internal Affairs.

On January 9, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, a one-count indictment was returned charging Roger Causy, secretary-treasurer of Food and Commercial Workers Local 427-C, with embezzling $13,218 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.