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. 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. Lisa McCormick, chief assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County, noted the current case of St. Martha Parishin Okemos. Another group hit hard by embezzlement are churches. 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. 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. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. What you find in these embezzlement cases is very trusted employees that have worked for organizations for a number of years. Have you been accused of embezzlement in a union? In one such case, the union was taking money for one legitimate purpose and stealing it to purchase personal gifts. 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. U.S. Department of Labor documents obtained by the Free Press show embezzlementfrom hundreds of union offices nationwideover the past decade. On June 15, 2009, Lei-Petersen pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $86,116. They also said that labor unions operate on shoestring budgets and often lack resources needed to provide oversight. 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. OLMS has investigated and prosecuted union leaders for embezzling more than $100 million in union dues since 2001. 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. Texas largest charter school network ousted two of its top leaders and is working with authorities after a forensic review revealed some administrators used school The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office. #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } Two UAW incidents uncovered in 2017, one in Michigan and the other in New Jersey,exceedthe $1-million mark, among the biggest labor theft cases in a decade. 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. Tungett was also ordered to attend a drug aftercare program, pay a $250 fine and a $25 special assessment. 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 Cleveland District Office. Assistant U.S. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago 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. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. Williams was charged in a criminal information, which means a guilty plea is expected. Becker had previously made restitution in the amount of $6,500 in union funds. Subsequently, Scott was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. 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. On July 1, 2009, Wheeler had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. 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. 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 sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. 2023 Washington Policy Center All Rights Reserved Terms of Use, Mark Harmsworth talking affordable housing on the Lars Larson Show, Opinion: HB 1011 dies Keep readying for a long-term-care payroll tax starting this summer, HB 1011 dies: Keep readying for a long-term-care payroll tax starting this summer, Survivor: Legislation allowing Washington to join multistate Nurse Licensure Compact is still alive, Seattles social housing authority measure near approval with latest vote count, Elizabeth Hovde on the Lars Larson Show discussing nurse-shortage issues and policy ideas. More unions are seeking to take decisive action when theres the possibility of embezzlement occurring. Lopez and Rodriguez were ordered to pay restitution totaling $864,924. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. On April 9, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Carl W. White, former Treasurer of IATSE Local251 (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. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. On October 9, 2008, Bruno was charged with embezzling union funds, between March 2004 and March 2006, in the same amount. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks, drawn from the unions 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 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. 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. A former labor union president was sentenced in federal court for embezzling close to $20,000 from the union, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Fonti was then sentenced to two years supervised probation and fined $1,000. 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. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. Detroit Federal prosecutors charged a local United Auto Workers official Wednesday with embezzling more than $2 million in union funds, money laundering and The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. ), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,221.30. Just to clarify, that is restitution of more than $102 million. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas 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. At the hearing, the court noted Garza led a double life and had a desire for taking money from others which got him into trouble and led him to his situation today. Investigators are said to be examining General Motors and Ford union training centers, as well. 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. 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 unions designated legal counsel (DLC) to report as an employer on Form LM-10 concerning potential conflict of interest payments to unions or union officials. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Bealefeld. 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. Contact Phoebe Wall Howard:313-222-6512 or phoward@freepress.com. Ironically, its government entities and organized labor groups, which are highly regulated, that discoverembezzlement because of auditing requirements. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. On April 28, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, William I. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. 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 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. Rodriguez was convicted on two counts of mail fraud and three counts of theft of union property. 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. 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. 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. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. 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. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. Bania was found guilty on four counts of mail fraud and six counts of theft of union property. On August 21, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas Pokrywczynski, former Treasurer of the Transit Unions 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. 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. 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. Prosecutions of Union Officials in 2018 Unmasked Theft, One cant help but wonder how high the incidence of theft, fraud and other criminal activity by union officials might really be. 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. Bokaiyan was an IT employee at the school who also owned a business called Hot Rod Systems. (located in Phoenix, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of willful concealment and destruction of required union records. She is UA family to us and we want her to remain as Headmaster leading our school as she has been monumental in all UA has achieved over the last several years. 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 an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office. This is a petition to the Board of Directors to renew Dr. Ann Walters contract as Headmaster of Union Academy. Votes often appoint many union positions. ), was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. The board says Dr. Walters will be employed by Union Academy until the end of June when her contract expires. On April 17, 2009, Simpson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. That political committee received numerous contributions from the SEIU California's political arm, according to campaign finance filings. 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. was charged in a one count information of Theft totaling $1,560.The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District 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. Houston, TX 77002, Houston: 713-567-9000 The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI. Or you can peruse the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) Annual Report, which highlights the most significant enforcement actions against union officers and employees each year. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Gallant and David D. Whipple prosecuted the case. Garza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 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. People were leaving town for work.. 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. On April 1, 2003, Martin was convicted of mail fraud and theft from a labor organization. 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.