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.
February 19th, 2002
On February 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Joseph Buress, Rhonda Creed, William Fricker, and Edward Ramsey, former officers of Steelworkers Local 9336, and Elizabeth George, former administrator of the local's disaster relief fund, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and making false entries in union records. This scheme involved $10,000 in false or excessive lost time payments. They were also charged with embezzling approximately $11,250 in union funds and making false entries in the benefit fund's records in a scheme involving fraudulent payments from the fund. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
