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Guilty Pleas

Office of Labor-Management Enforcement

The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) conducts both civil and criminal investigations of alleged violations of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and related laws.

These investigations by OLMS District Offices involve issues such as embezzlements of union funds, union officer elections, the filing of required reports by unions and others with OLMS, and the imposition of trusteeships over subordinate unions by a parent body. These investigations may result in legal enforcement actions.

Date	Description
November 30th, 2005	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.
December 15th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
April 4th, 2008	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.
August 11th, 2010	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.
December 15th, 2010	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.
January 7th, 2009	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.
June 26th, 2008	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.
May 14th, 2009	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.
May 27th, 2009	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.
September 29th, 2008	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.
April 25th, 2003	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.
August 31st, 2005	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.
December 11th, 2002	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.
February 11th, 2003	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.
January 16th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
June 10th, 2008	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.
June 26th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
June 4th, 2002	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.
March 11th, 2010	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) Local5095 (located in Butte, Mont.), was sentenced to five years probation on one count of embezzling union funds. Brown was ordered to makerestitution,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 embezzlingunion funds totaling $7,731.54. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
March 8th, 2001	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 TEAMs expenses, and fraudulently increasing his firms 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.
October 11th, 2002	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.
October 5th, 2004	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.
September 10th, 2002	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.
September 26th, 2003	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.
April 1st, 2010	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.
August 1st, 2007	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.
August 14th, 2002	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.
December 19th, 2005	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.
December 3rd, 2007	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.
February 14th, 2003	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.
January 10th, 2005	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.
July 13th, 2001	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.
July 31st, 2003	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.
June 16th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
March 11th, 2003	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.
March 17th, 2011	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.
March 18th, 2008	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.
March 28th, 2006	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.
May 12th, 2010	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 Councils 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 Councils 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.
May 15th, 2003	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.
November 20th, 2002	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.
October 19th, 2009	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.
October 24th, 2008	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.
October 25th, 2010	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.
December 19th, 2008	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.
June 8th, 2009	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 thatBrownlee falsified vouchers for travel, per diem, lodging and lost time. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
November 15th, 2010	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.
April 7th, 2009	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 unions check register for 101 checks.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
December 2nd, 2003	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.
February 26th, 2001	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 Labors Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labors Office of the Inspector General.
June 20th, 2003	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.
June 3rd, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
November 19th, 2004	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.
November 21st, 2001	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.
February 10th, 2004	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.
October 23rd, 2006	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.
September 19th, 2005	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.
August 25th, 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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
February 17th, 2009	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.
July 29th, 2010	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.
March 10th, 2009	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.
March 29th, 2005	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.
March 29th, 2005	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.
May 5th, 2008	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.
November 20th, 2008	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.
October 14th, 2008	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.
January 4th, 2011	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.
August 11th, 2009	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.
August 29th, 2002	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.
August 4th, 2008	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.
August 7th, 2002	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.
February 20th, 2007	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]
June 20th, 2002	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.
June 22nd, 2007	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.
June 5th, 2007	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.
March 10th, 2004	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.
March 19th, 2001	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 Labors Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration, and the Department of Labors Office of the Inspector General.
November 20th, 2001	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.
September 14th, 2009	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.
September 5th, 2003	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.
February 27th, 2007	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]
March 13th, 2007	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.
December 7th, 2009	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.
April 20th, 2010	On April 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for theSouthernDistrict ofMississippi,Rebecca Ann James, formerFinancial Secretary Treasurer ofInternational Guards Union of America (IGUA) Local123 (located inPort 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. OnJanuary 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.
January 24th, 2002	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.
April 22nd, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
February 12th, 2003	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.
December 16th, 2003	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.
February 18th, 2004	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.
February 23rd, 2006	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.
February 6th, 2004	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
January 29th, 2004	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.
July 24th, 2003	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.
March 5th, 2004	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.
November 28th, 2007	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.
November 29th, 2005	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.
November 3rd, 2010	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.
October 21st, 2005	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.
September 11th, 2007	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.
April 9th, 2009	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. 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.
November 18th, 2005	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.
December 13th, 2005	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.
December 13th, 2010	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.
March 23rd, 2006	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.
September 1st, 2010	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.
February 10th, 2003	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.
February 10th, 2003	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
June 17th, 2003	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.
August 31st, 2005	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.
July 23rd, 2002	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.
July 23rd, 2007	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.
June 11th, 2002	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.
March 4th, 2002	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.
November 1st, 2004	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.
October 1st, 2003	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.
September 11th, 2008	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.
September 15th, 2004	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.
April 14th, 2006	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.
August 18th, 2009	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.
June 19th, 2006	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.
October 22nd, 2002	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.
February 29th, 2008	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.
July 8th, 2008	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 embezzlingunion funds in the amount of $20,000. The plea follows a joint investigation bythe OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
July 8th, 2010	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.
June 12th, 2008	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 aspecial 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.
November 6th, 2008	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.
April 23rd, 2004	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.
April 23rd, 2004	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.
August 24th, 2001	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.
February 25th, 2002	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.
July 20th, 2010	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 Boards Office of the Inspector General.
June 12th, 2001	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.
March 24th, 2010	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.
November 30th, 2009	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.
May 8th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
April 3rd, 2006	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.
April 2nd, 2007	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.
August 25th, 2003	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.
February 4th, 2009	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.
January 17th, 2006	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.
January 22nd, 2003	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.
January 5th, 2009	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.
January 8th, 2004	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.
July 14th, 2003	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.
July 22nd, 2003	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.
March 10th, 2008	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.
March 15th, 2002	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.
November 12th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
November 21st, 2007	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.
November 21st, 2007	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.
October 2nd, 2003	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.
October 5th, 2001	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.
September 15th, 2005	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.
September 20th, 2007	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.
September 24th, 2009	On September 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Roger Wuest, formerSecretary-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.
September 25th, 2003	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.
September 25th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
September 26th, 2006	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.
September 28th, 2006	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.
September 4th, 2001	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.
September 5th, 2001	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.
September 6th, 2002	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.
September 6th, 2006	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.
September 8th, 2008	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.
July 11th, 2001	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, Local316 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.
April 11th, 2003	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.
August 21st, 2003	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.
August 29th, 2002	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.
August 31st, 2007	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.
February 10th, 2011	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.
February 26th, 2008	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 Local738, 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.
July 1st, 2002	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.
July 9th, 2004	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.
June 20th, 2005	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
June 25th, 2003	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.
June 25th, 2003	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.
March 1st, 2004	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.
March 11th, 2004	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.
November 21st, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
October 12th, 2006	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
October 15th, 2002	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.
October 24th, 2003	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.
October 5th, 2004	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.
April 11th, 2002	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.
April 11th, 2008	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.
April 17th, 2009	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.
April 18th, 2007	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.
April 19th, 2006	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.
April 21st, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
April 22nd, 2005	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
April 23rd, 2002	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 the Inspector General.
April 24th, 2003	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.
April 5th, 2002	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.
April 5th, 2006	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.
August 14th, 2008	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.
August 2nd, 2010	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.
August 22nd, 2002	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.)
August 22nd, 2007	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.
August 23rd, 2007	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.
August 29th, 2005	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.
August 7th, 2008	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.
August 8th, 2002	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.
December 1st, 2004	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.
December 13th, 2005	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.
December 15th, 2004	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.
December 16th, 2009	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.
December 7th, 2009	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 Labors Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.
February 1st, 2002	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.
February 10th, 2003	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.
February 11th, 2005	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
February 11th, 2010	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.
February 12th, 2010	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.
February 23rd, 2004	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.
February 25th, 2004	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.
February 25th, 2010	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.
February 29th, 2008	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.
February 5th, 2002	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.
February 6th, 2003	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.
February 7th, 2003	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.
February 9th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
January 14th, 2005	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.
January 14th, 2010	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 unions debit card. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
January 16th, 2003	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.
January 16th, 2003	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.
January 16th, 2003	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.
January 16th, 2003	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.
January 20th, 2006	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.
January 23rd, 2004	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.
January 23rd, 2008	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.
January 24th, 2003	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.
January 28th, 2010	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.
January 29th, 2009	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.
January 9th, 2008	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 Vanes 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.
July 1st, 2009	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.
July 11th, 2007	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.
July 12th, 2002	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.
July 2nd, 2002	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.
July 20th, 2006	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.
July 22nd, 2009	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.
July 23rd, 2004	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.
July 24th, 2003	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.
July 25th, 2007	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.
July 28th, 2003	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.
July 30th, 2003	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.
July 9th, 2004	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.
July 9th, 2004	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.
July 9th, 2004	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.
June 13th, 2007	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.
June 15th, 2005	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.
June 15th, 2007	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.
June 17th, 2001	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 January3, 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.
June 19th, 2006	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.
June 2nd, 2004	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.
June 2nd, 2005	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.
June 27th, 2001	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.
June 29th, 2006	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.
March 10th, 2003	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.
March 12th, 2003	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.
March 12th, 2007	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.
March 12th, 2009	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)
March 16th, 2004	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.
March 19th, 2009	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.
March 20th, 2001	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.
March 22nd, 2007	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]
March 29th, 2004	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.
March 3rd, 2004	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.
March 31st, 2006	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.
May 12th, 2010	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.
May 14th, 2001	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.
May 14th, 2004	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.
May 19th, 2010	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.
May 21st, 2003	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.
May 24th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
May 26th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
May 27th, 2003	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.
May 3rd, 2006	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.
May 6th, 2009	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.
May 7th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
May 9th, 2007	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.
November 1st, 2004	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.
November 1st, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
November 17th, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
November 19th, 2002	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.
November 2nd, 2007	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.
November 23rd, 2004	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.
November 27th, 2006	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.
November 27th, 2007	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.
November 29th, 2007	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.
November 3rd, 2003	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.
November 30th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
November 5th, 2001	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.
November 8th, 2001	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.
November 8th, 2004	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. [Related documents: HTML |PDF]
October 1st, 2004	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.
October 10th, 2006	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.
October 15th, 2002	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.
October 15th, 2003	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.
October 16th, 2002	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.
October 17th, 2003	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.
October 17th, 2006	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.
October 18th, 2001	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.
October 18th, 2005	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.
October 19th, 2004	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.
October 2nd, 2006	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.
October 22nd, 2008	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.
October 23rd, 2003	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. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
October 28th, 2002	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.
October 7th, 2003	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.
October 8th, 2003	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.
October 9th, 2009	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.
April 14th, 2008	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.

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