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 9th, 2010	On November 9, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Elizabeth George, the former Recording Secretary and Disaster Relief Benefits Committee Member of Steelworkers Local 9336 (located in Radford, VA), pled guilty to counts 1 and 19 of a February 19, 2002 indictment. Specifically, she pled guilty to Conspiracy to Embezzle Union Funds and to Making False Entries in Union Records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371and 29 U.S.C. 439(c). George agreed to make restitution of $4,275.56. George was denied bond due to the eight years shespent evading capture. She will remain in prisonuntil her sentencing on January 28, 2011. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
December 11th, 2002	On December 11, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Robert E. Martin, Jr., a former member of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to one count of harboring a fugitive, Elizabeth J. George, who was previously indicted for embezzlement. As part of the plea agreement, Martin agreed to pay Local 9336 $900.71 in restitution. Martin was released on bond after being incarcerated since September 9, 2002 on the harboring charge. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
October 28th, 2002	On October 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Edward Ramsey, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, was sentenced to four years probation and six months home detention. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $5,065.76. He had pled guilty on July 12, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, Roanoke Office.
October 25th, 2002	On October 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, William E. Fricker, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, was sentenced to four years probation and six months home detention. He was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $6,372.29. He had pled guilty on July 12, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, Roanoke Office.
July 12th, 2002	On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Edward A. Ramsey, former president of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books, and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $5,065.76. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
July 12th, 2002	On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, William E. Fricker, former president and grievance committee chairman of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $6,372.29. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
July 12th, 2002	On July 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Rhonda L. Creed, former vice-president of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books. Both parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $3,122.64. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
July 11th, 2002	On July 11, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Joseph W. Burress, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9336, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle union funds and make false entries in union books, and two counts of embezzlement of union funds. The parties stipulated that the amount of loss attributable to the defendant was $3,100.10. The charges had been brought on February 19, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.