He conceded it hurts the union's image internally and externally. 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 former CEO agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of theft or embezzlement by a credit union employee. Defrauding Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield out of 5.5 million dollars is one of the accusations against them. Union Academy headmaster will not return after contract expires Official websites use .gov In Detroit, four defendantsremain in the spotlight of theUAW-Fiat Chrysler (FCA) case: Jerome Durden, a former financial analyst incorporate accounting at Fiat Chryslerand former Controller of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, pleaded guiltyin August 2017 after preparing and filing tax returns that concealed millions of dollars in prohibited payments directed to others in 2009-15. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. For the UAW, its two biggest cases involved members working hand-in-hand with corrupt auto industry executives. 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 charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland 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. 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. Any negative publicity is a tremendous blow to a union. Brophy was immediately sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a special assessment of $100. 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. Ironically, the jobs he strong-armed were for friends and family members, some of whom werent even union members. 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. An information raises no inference of guilt. On September 9, 2009, Wuest was charged with the same offenses. On April 3, 2009, Welch pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a non-profit/charitable organization between $250 and $1,000. ), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,468.19. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office. What Should You Do If Suspected of Embezzlement? An official website of the United States government. On March 6, 2009, Acevedo pled guilty to attempted theft. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland 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 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Thecharges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. He and his union gang (they referred to themselves as the Perry Crew) would shake down employers and pocket the payments that were supposed to go to the union benefit fund. WebOn April 3, 2007, Brown was indicted on eight counts of embezzling union and apprenticeship funds totaling over $86,500. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 154 in Pittsburgh saw its former business manager plead guilty in September 2017 to embezzling approximately $1.5 million, plus tax evasion. 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 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. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Officials say the headmaster at Union Academy charter school will not return after her contract expires at the end of June. 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. Friday, April 9, 2021 Former charter school official sent to prison for embezzling funds HOUSTON The former superintendent of Houston Gateway Academy has been On June 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Anne ORourke, 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. Bealefeld. Law enforcement officials said less-qualified people tend to end up in union finance roles because they're often elected based on popularity rather than qualification. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. On May 13, 2009, Pfeiffer pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. The sentencing follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office. 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 admission follows and investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office. #block-googletagmanagerfooter .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } 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. Often, this situations discovery is through a routine audit, or someone sees a discrepancy in the accounts when the person is on vacation or has left the position. 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.) 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 indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. The Detroit Free Press report said individual cases compiled by the OLMS last year cite theft and fraud ranging from $1,051 to a staggering $6.5 million. Ann Walters, headmaster at Union Academy Charter School for the past six years, spoke at the school's Class of 2019 graduation ceremony on Thursday night, but the next day she Additionally, Luna was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,416.21 and a $100 assessment. Prosecutions of Union Officials in 2018 Unmasked Theft, 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. On July 8, 2009, Horton was charged with mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $19,924. One Teamsters official would introduce himself as Jimmy the Bull before threatening businesses and non-profits if they didnt hire his workers for jobs that didnt even exist (because they werent needed). On February 17, 2009, Ortiz pled guilty to extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal 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 Ingham County DA made headlines for prosecuting 53 embezzlement cases in 2014, up from 35 cases the year prior, according to the Lansing State Journal. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. I think the public has a perception that theyre all greedy mobsters and these things reinforce stereotypes that theres corruption. We have accepted Ms. Hernndez's resignation, and we have cooperated fully with authorities on this matter and will continue to do so," Bob Schoonover, executive director of the SEIU California State Council, said in a statement. 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. On May 15, 2009, Stefanik had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. When it comes to cases regarding embezzlement in unions, there is no shortage of high profile cases to use as examples. UAW leader charged with embezzling union funds amid contract 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. Also, Bruno agreed to pay restitution. 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. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco 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 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. Fax Line: 713-718-3300. 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 a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23. And law enforcement warned of a growing trend at the time. We are upset and outraged with this notification (the day after school ends). Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Hernandez did not respond to a Twitter message seeking comment and calls to phone number for Hernadez and Moscoso went unanswered. An OLMS investigation concluded thatBrownlee falsified vouchers for travel, per diem, lodging and lost time. They give workers a powerful voice heard by employers. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta 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. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. 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. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland 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. 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. 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 an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. The English definition of the offense is followed in the United States. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. Jones was sentenced to one year probation. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. All Rights Reserved. A former executive director of the Hawaii Painting & Decorating Contractors Association pleaded guilty in May 2016 to embezzling approximately $1,483,800 from the Hawaii Painters Trade Promotion & Charity Fund, which comes out of the hourly wages of Painters District Council 50 in Honolulu. Brownlee falsified travel vouchers, per diem, lodging, and lost time claims. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Veterans Administration's Office of the Inspector General. 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. 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. On October 9, 2009, Spell had been charged with embezzling funds in the same amount. 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. pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling over $5,000. The case follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator 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. 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. The AEA is the local union for Arlington public school educators. Former charter school official sent to prison for embezzling funds 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. On November 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Laura A. Bokaiyan, through his company, was to provide IT equipment and services to a new school not yet constructed. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. Burkhart pleaded guilty on April 8, 2021, admitting to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets. On September 2, 2009, Witham pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. On April 3, 2009, inthe 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. They were convicted of stealing 1,072,660 dollars from the union that they used to purchase toys, shoes, clothing, food, gas, entertainment expenses, and home improvement products. This accusation is a dire situation that could result in the loss of your job, the potential of having a difficult time finding a job in the future, fines, and even a prison sentence. In the Fiat Chrysler case in Detroit, money provided by auto companies for worker training was embezzled in 2009-15 by men who were supposed to be working together to negotiate a labor contract rather than divvying up hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal gifts. 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. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. These were essentially persons entrusted with another's property, such as agents, attorneys, bankers, and corporate officers. She is scheduled to be sentenced May 1. In one such case, the union was taking money for one legitimate purpose and stealing it to purchase personal gifts. 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. The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Dallas District Office, EBSA Dallas District Office, and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. 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. 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 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 November 17, 2009, in the District Court of Brockton, Massachusetts, Joseph J. Morana, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) SEIU Local01-86 (located in West Roxbury, Mass.) Suite 300
On June 8, 2009,Brownlee pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,221.30. OLMS has investigated and prosecuted union leaders for embezzling more than $100 million in union dues since 2001. On June 7, 2019 parents and faculty received an e-mail from the Union Academy Board of Directors notifying that Dr. Ann Walters contract is expiring on June 30, 2019. On October 30, 2008, Steinruck had pled guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree for taking union funds in the same amount. According to the Prior to his sentencing, Sargent paid restitution in the amount of $8,019.55. 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. Gambling addiction is an issue at times. On October 9, 2009, Marsalis pled guilty to one count of creating false entries in union records. 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 September 26, 2008, Luna was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount from November 2004 through June 2005. The thing that I think is most surprising is that a lot of small businesses dont think it can happen. #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } 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. On September 24, 2009, Wuest pled guilty to a charge of concealment or destruction of union records. Embezzlement plagues union offices around U.S., records show 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 sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.