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American Federation of State County & Municipal Employe

Criminal Charges

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.

DateDescription
July 26th, 2022On July 26, 2022, in the Niagara Falls City Court for the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to attempted petit larceny, in violation of NYS Penal Code 110-155.25. He was then sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. Newton previously paid $2,421 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
March 28th, 2022On March 28, 2022, in the Niagara County Court in the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), was charged in a felony complaint with one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree for unauthorized and personal usage of union funds in excess of $1,000, in violation of NYS Penal Law 155.30. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston- Buffalo District Office with assistance from the Niagara Falls Police Department.
February 26th, 2020On February 26, 2020, in the Springfield District Court of Massachusetts, Christian Leeds, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1370 (located in Springfield, Mass.), was charged in a one-count criminal complaint for Larceny Over $1,200 by Single Scheme, in the amount of $13,444, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, §30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
August 28th, 2019On August 28, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a two-count indictment for theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Grand Jury Investigations Division of the Marion County ProsecutorÄôs Office.
June 12th, 2019On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of misdemeanor theft of $250, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(a), 939.51(3)(a), and 939.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
June 12th, 2019On June 12, 2019, in Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford (Harshman), former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), was charged with one count of felony theft of approximately $4,065, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf), 939.50(3)(i), and 939.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
July 26th, 2017On July 26, 2017, in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, William Bryles, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2406 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged and pled no contest to four counts of felony embezzlement, in violation of Oklahoma Penal Code, Title 21, Chapter 59, 1451. He then signed a three-year deferred sentence order and was ordered to pay $11,174 in restitution and court costs. The charge, plea, and deferred sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
March 27th, 2014On March 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Lewis, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3585 (located in Canton, Ill.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of approximately $77,469, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On April 14, 2014, Lewis signed a waiver of indictment and pled guilty to the information. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
February 25th, 2014On February 25, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Jesse E. Morgan, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1707 (located in Kansas City, Mo.), was indicted on 29 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling $185,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
February 7th, 2014On February 7, 2014, in the New York County (Manhattan) Criminal Court in New York, New York, Juanita Phillips, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 389 – Home Care Employees (located in New York, N.Y.), was indicted for theft of union funds in the amount of $15,273. The charges included one count of grand larceny, four counts of forgery, and four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
October 10th, 2012On October 10, 2012, in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. On July 9, 2012, a complaint was filed charging Ikerd with the same crime. The sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2013. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
August 8th, 2012On August 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
August 8th, 2012On August 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Doris Taylor, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
July 9th, 2012On July 9, 2012, in the 19th District Court of Wayne County, Michigan, a felony complaint was filed charging Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), with one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
April 27th, 2012On April 27, 2012, in the Common Pleas Court of Ross County (Ohio), Jill Ragland, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Chapter 782 (located in Portsmouth, Ohio), was charged in an indictment with one count of theft in the amount of $1,385, a fifth degree felony. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
June 20th, 2011On June 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Grace Isley, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2051 (located in Newton, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement with a loss amount of $11,943, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
June 1st, 2011On June 1, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit of Will County, Illinois, Tamika Dukes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3492 (located in Addison, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of supervision and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,600. A criminal complaint filed on December 1, 2010 charged Dukes with one count of theft of no more than $300. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
May 11th, 2011On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a one-count information was filed against Perry Taylor, former Vice President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), charging him with aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others, thereby resulting in him receiving $4,624.13 in union funds to which he was not entitled. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
May 2nd, 2011On May 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, William Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a). On March 1, 2011, an information was filed charging Edwards with the same crime. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
April 26th, 2011On April 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a one-count information was filed against Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), charging her with engaging in an ongoing scheme to embezzle labor union assets in the amount of $39,019.67 by writing herself or members of her family checks drawn on the labor union’s account, by receiving improper lost time payments, and by using union checks and electronic bank deposits to pay her personal expenses, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
March 1st, 2011On March 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging William Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), with willfully failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others resulting in him receiving $3,656.02 in union funds to which he was not entitled. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
August 11th, 2010On 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.
June 22nd, 2010On June 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Paula S. Dorsey, former President of AFSCME District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), with one count of embezzlement of funds in the amount of $532.50. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
March 17th, 2010On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michele Pedersen, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 2746 (located in Astoria, Ore.), was charged with five counts of embezzling a union funds in the amount of $8,509 and three counts of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
March 2nd, 2010On March 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. On December 16, 2009, an information was filed charging Bywater with the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
December 16th, 2009On December 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
May 27th, 2009On 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.
May 14th, 2009On 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.
January 7th, 2009On 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.
September 29th, 2008On 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 4th, 2008On 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.
March 17th, 2008On March 17, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME, with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $75,446. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
March 15th, 2007On March 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 8330, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012. On October 4, 2006, Walters was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount and five counts of falsification of union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
October 4th, 2006On October 4, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #8330, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012 and five counts of falsification of union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 9th, 2006On February 9, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 2528, was sentenced to 5 years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make full restitution. Thompson previously pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $2,727.93 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
December 14th, 2005On December 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Jackie Sikorski, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 1522, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzlement of union funds in excess of $10,000 and less than $30,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
November 15th, 2005On November 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2528, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling union funds totaling $2,727.93. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
March 24th, 2003On March 24, 2003, in Onondaga (New York) City Court, John Miller, the former president of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 727, pled guilty to one count of attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree. He had previously made restitution for depositing two dues remittance checks from CSEA in his personal checking account. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
January 22nd, 2003On January 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey L. Williams, former treasurer of Chapter 6555, AFSCME Local 11, pled guilty to embezzling $3,312.65 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
November 8th, 2002On November 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey L. Williams, former treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, was charged in an information with embezzling $3,312.65 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
June 4th, 2002On June 4, 2002, in Dunn County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court, Joanne M. Hase, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727-D, entered a plea of no contest to theft of $1,000 or less in a business setting. She was placed on probation for one year, and imposition of sentence was withheld. The charges had been brought on April 10, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
April 10th, 2002On April 10, 2002, in Dunn County (Wisconsin) state court, Judy Hase, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727-D, was charged in a criminal complaint with theft for embezzling $389 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
December 20th, 2001On December 20, 2001, Laura Greco, former treasurer of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1501 was sentenced in the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York, on charges of grand larceny for embezzling $8,965 in union funds. As a result of a plea bargaining agreement, she was sentenced to five years probation and was required to pay $5,000 restitution. The investigation was conducted by the OLMS New York District Office.