Government Employees

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
March 9th, 2011	On March 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stanley Barringer, former Vice President and Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3707 (located in Chicopee, Mass.), was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. In November 2010, Barringer pled guilty to one count of concealing a material fact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. Before pleading guilty, Barringer made restitution in the amount of $22,180. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
July 13th, 2010	On July 13, 2010, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, Lucy Irene Hastings, former Recording Secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1969 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty and received a stay of imposition of sentence, three years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution. On April 30, 2010, Hastings was charged with theft of union funds in the amount of $3,328.29. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
July 8th, 2010	On July 8, 2010, in Circuit Court for Arlington County, Virginia, Richard James, former President of AFGE Local 1402 (located in Arlington, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement greater than $200 associated with his embezzling unions funds in the amount of $1,550. James previously made restitution in the amount of $9,850. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Arlington County Police Department.
June 23rd, 2010	On June 23, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Kevin McGee, former President of AFGE Local 3028 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to eighteen months of probation with thirty days of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $2,400 fine in addition to a restitution payment of $2,400. On February 26, 2010, McGee pled guilty to making a false representation in a federal form. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
November 5th, 2009	On November 5, 2009, in the City and County of Denver District Court, Denver, Colorado, Sherri Pemberton, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1802 (located in Denver, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of theft. Pemberton was immediately sentenced to two-years supervised probation, with judgment being deferred, was ordered to pay restitution of in the amount of $7,958, and was prohibited from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
November 5th, 2009	On November 5, 2009, in the City and County of Denver District Court, Denver, Colorado, Sherri Pemberton, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1802 (located in Denver, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of theft. Pemberton was immediately sentenced to two-years supervised probation, with judgment being deferred, was ordered to pay restitution of in the amount of $7,958, and was prohibited from serving as a union official for a period of 13 years. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
August 26th, 2009	On August 26, 2009, in Cambria County (Pennsylvania) Court, Richard J. Vincent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3951, was sentenced to seven years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $43,694 and court costs of $900. On February 24, 2009, Vincent pled guilty to two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
August 26th, 2009	On August 26, 2009, in Cambria County (Pennsylvania) Court, Richard J. Vincent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3951, was sentenced to seven years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $43,694 and court costs of $900. On February 24, 2009, Vincent pled guilty to two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
August 13th, 2009	On August 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation. Elsezy was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $44,316.58. On June 19, 2009, Elsezy had pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
August 13th, 2009	On August 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to six months home confinement and three years probation. Elsezy was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $44,316.58. On June 19, 2009, Elsezy had pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 19th, 2009	On June 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former bookkeeper of AFGE Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks totaling $44,316.58, drawn from the unions bank account for personal use. Elsezy affixed the signature stamps of the President and Treasurer, altered the name of the payees in the union's accounting system, and removed checks from the union's records to conceal the true beneficiary of the funds. On April 7, 2009, Elsezy was indicted on one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of aiding and abetting. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington Distrct Office.
June 19th, 2009	On June 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former bookkeeper of AFGE Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks totaling $44,316.58, drawn from the unions bank account for personal use. Elsezy affixed the signature stamps of the President and Treasurer, altered the name of the payees in the union's accounting system, and removed checks from the union's records to conceal the true beneficiary of the funds. On April 7, 2009, Elsezy was indicted on one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of aiding and abetting. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington Distrct Office.
June 11th, 2009	On June 11, 2009, in the Montgomery County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Monica Smalls, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2209 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $3,790, and required to attend the Montgomery County Theft Counseling Program. Smalls was indicted on April 10, 2009. On May 14, 2009, she pled guilty to theft of more than $500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
June 11th, 2009	On June 11, 2009, in the Montgomery County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Monica Smalls, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2209 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $3,790, and required to attend the Montgomery County Theft Counseling Program. Smalls was indicted on April 10, 2009. On May 14, 2009, she pled guilty to theft of more than $500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
February 19th, 2009	On February 19, 2009, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Willie Harris, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 2823 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,784.61 following a guilty plea to one count of aggravated theft. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Veterans Administration's Office of the Inspector General.
February 19th, 2009	On February 19, 2009, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Willie Harris, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 2823 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $5,784.61 following a guilty plea to one count of aggravated theft. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Veterans Administration's Office of the Inspector General.
February 12th, 2009	On February 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, Jr., former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to five months imprisonment and one year supervised release and ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $22,995.74 and a $25 assessment. On November 20, 2008, Sargent pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Prior to his sentencing, Sargent paid restitution in the amount of $8,019.55. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 12th, 2009	On February 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, Jr., former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to five months imprisonment and one year supervised release and ordered to pay remaining restitution in the amount of $22,995.74 and a $25 assessment. On November 20, 2008, Sargent pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Prior to his sentencing, Sargent paid restitution in the amount of $8,019.55. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
November 20th, 2008	On November 20, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William Sargent, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 704 (Chicago, Ill.) pled guilty to one count of theft of property in a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $800. On November 10, 2008, a superseding information had charged Sargent with theft in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
October 27th, 2008	On October 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Janet Louise Johnson, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2152 (located in Reno, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds at a place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.On June 4 2008, Johnson was indicted on one count of wire fraud in the amount of $11,251.44 and seven counts of theft of union funds at a place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Johnson is alleged to have used union funds to pay for unauthorized personal charges made on the unions credit card. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Las Vegas Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
October 16th, 2008	On October 16, 2008, in the County Court of Westchester County, NY, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,243. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw funds in the same amount from the unions checking account. On July 7, 2008, Richards pled guilty to grand larceny in the third degree. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
October 6th, 2008	On October 6, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Karimah Bailey, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3197 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day in jail, three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $98,802.17. On April 4, 2008, Bailey pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,412, and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the locals annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
July 7th, 2008	On July 7, 2008, in the City Court of Peekskill, New York, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440 (located in Montrose, NY), pled guilty to grand larceny in the third degree. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw a total of $11,243 from the unions checking account. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Richards is required to make restitution in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
June 26th, 2008	On June 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Meek, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3435 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to five years probation, 50 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,278.On April 1, 2008, Meek pled guilty to embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Office of the Inspector General.
April 7th, 2008	On April 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Michael Rutowski, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2913 (located in Blaine, Was.) was sentenced to one day in jail, two years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for embezzling union funds in the amount of $71,295.75 and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the locals annual financial report. On January 18, 2008, Rutowski pled guilty to one count of making a false and fraudulent representation to a federal agency. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
April 4th, 2008	On April 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Karimah Bailey, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 3197, (located in Seattle, Was.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $85,412, and making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the locals annual financial report. On March 19, 2008, Bailey was charged with making a false statement and representation of a material fact, knowing it to be false, on the locals annual financial report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
April 1st, 2008	On April 1, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle A. Meek, former Treasurer for AFGE Local 3435 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development Offices of Inspector General.
January 29th, 2008	On January 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brad Harper, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,069.49. On August 9, 2007, Harper pled guilty to one count of making materially false statements on the locals annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
January 18th, 2008	On January 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Michael Rutowski, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 2913, pled guilty to one count of making a false and fraudulent representation to a federal agency. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
September 6th, 2007	On September 6, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nathaniel Marc Greene, former President of AFGE Local 2562, was sentenced to 10 months confinement, three years probation, ordered to pay a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $55,955.76. Greene knowingly and willfully made or used a false writing or document and knew the local's Form LM-3 contained a materially false statement or entry at the time he made or used the report. On April 4, 2007, Greene pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.
August 9th, 2007	On August 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Scarrow, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 3749, pled guilty to one felony count of knowingly and willfully making a false entry on a Form LM-3 Report to conceal her misappropriation of union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]
August 9th, 2007	On August 9, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brad Harper, former Treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, pled guilty to one count of making materially false statements on the annual financial report filed by Local 1629. On June 5, 2007, Harper was indicted on three counts of making false reports. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
July 30th, 2007	On July 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Brenda Sue Myers, also known as Brenda Sue Barnett, former President of AFGE Local 2282, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. Subsequently, Myers was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,500 and sentenced to three years supervised release. On July 2, 2007, Myers was charged with falsely reporting that Local 2282 disbursed loans in the amount of $21,500, when she knew that statement was materially false and that she had taken the money for her own personal use. The plea and sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
April 17th, 2007	On April 17, 2007, in the Iowa District Court of Woodbury County, Marcia Dewey, former Secretary- Treasurer of AFGE Local 769, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Theft and was subsequently sentenced to a five year suspended sentence and placed on two years probation. On January 11, 2007, Dewey was charged with stealing union funds in the amount of $1,525. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
April 4th, 2007	On April 4, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nathaniel Marc Greene, former President of AFGE Local 2562, pled guilty to one count of making a false statement. Greene admitted that he knowingly and willfully made or used a false writing or document and knew the locals Form LM-3 contained a materially false statement or entry at the time he made or used the report. Restitution will be determined at sentencing which has not yet been scheduled. The plea agreement follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
March 6th, 2007	On March 6, 2007, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Court, Christine Smith, former President of AFGE Local 2028, pled guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of forgery. Smith was sentenced to seven years probation for each count to run consecutively and required to make restitution in the amount of $64,299. Smith was also barred from holding union office for 13 years. Prior to sentencing, Smith made an initial restitution payment of $3,000. Additionally, the court ordered Smith to sell or re-finance any properties she owned to pay the restitution, and set July 31, 2007 as the expected date for Smith to make "a significant and substantial payment" toward restitution or she will be incarcerated. On April 17, 2006, Smith was charged with 53 counts of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
January 12th, 2007	On January 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Danna France, former Secretary/Treasurer for AFGE Local 96, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make $26,950.90 in restitution to the local. On October 27, 2006, France pled guilty to one count of willfully submitting to the Department of Labor an annual financial report containing false information. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
December 14th, 2006	On December 14, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez Gonzales, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1662, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $27,405. On June 8, 2005, Gonzales pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
November 15th, 2006	On November 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mary Love, former President of AFGE Local 96, was convicted on two counts of filing false reports and three counts of felony theft for filing false Form LM-3 reports and embezzling from the union. In a related case, Danna France, former Financial Secretary for AFGE Local 96, pled guilty to filing a false report. The trial, conviction, and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
September 26th, 2006	On September 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, was sentenced to five years probation, six months of which must be served in home detention, and 360 hours of community service. Garner was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $11,959.35. On June 26, 2006, Garner pled guilty to embezzling $12,194 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 26th, 2006	On June 26, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Mary Garner, former President of AFGE Local 3653, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the union of $12,194.78. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 8th, 2006	On June 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Josefina Suarez, former President of AFGE Local 1662 pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On October 27, 2004, Suarez was indicted on 67 counts of embezzlement. As part of the plea agreement, Suarez must make restitution of up to $27,400. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
May 18th, 2006	On May 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Shirley Weber, former Treasurer for AFGE Local 3973, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay approximately $7,000 in remaining restitution to the local. Weber previously made partial restitution of approximately $21,000. On November 30, 2005, Weber pled guilty to one count of larceny within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
March 9th, 2006	On March 9, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry LeBlanc, former President of AFGE Local 2250, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $46,151.51 in union funds. LeBlanc was indicted on November 8, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Veteran Affairs' Office of the Inspector General.
March 6th, 2006	On March 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cindy Wright, former President of AFGE Local 1298, was sentenced to twenty-four months in prison and was ordered to pay approximately $32,000 in restitution. On October 5, 2005, Wright pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with making false statements of material fact. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.
February 8th, 2006	On February 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laura Booth, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3129, was sentenced to two years probation and assessed $100. On March 15, 2005, Booth pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $18,749.41 from the union. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
January 13th, 2006	On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Anthony Ward, former President of AFGE Local 1055, was sentenced to three years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $11,428. On October 11, 2005, Ward pled guilty to one count of uttering a forged security. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
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.
October 5th, 2005	On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cynthia Wright, former President of AFGE Local 1298, pled guilty to making a false statement of material fact. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General.
August 22nd, 2005	On August 22, 2005, in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Diane L. Hollins, former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3283 and former AFGE National Representative, pled guilty to one count of theft in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02. Following her plea, Hollins was sentenced to five (5) years probation, with stipulations requiring that she make restitution of $7,303.03 to Local 3283 and that she neither seek nor hold any position in any labor organization, other than as a member. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF]
April 11th, 2005	On April 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Doris J. Blue, former president of Local 2207, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), was sentenced to six months home confinement, 36 months supervised probation, and fined $2,000. Blue had previously pled guilty to forging the signature of a United States District Judge and obstruction of justice on November 18, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the FBI.
March 15th, 2005	On March 15, 2005, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laura Booth, former secretary-treasurer of Local 3129, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with swindling $18,749.41 in union funds in violation of Federal and state laws. Booth pled guilty in Federal Court for committing a state crime in a federal building. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
September 7th, 2004	On September 7, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Michael Volek, former president and treasurer of AFGE Local 2441, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. On July 8, 2004, Volek was indicted on one count of bank fraud for embezzling $14,491.56 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
August 19th, 2004	On August 19, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Verlia Jones, former president of AFGE Local 1012 and former treasurer for AFGE NY/NJ VA Council, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $100 special assessment for theft of funds. In addition, Jones was ordered to pay restitution of $59,513.49 to Local 1012 and the AFGE NY/NJ/ VA Council ($44,988.84 to Local 1012 and $14,524.75 to the Council). On September 10, 2003, Jones had pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
January 31st, 2003	On January 31, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Blanche Williams, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421, was sentenced to five years supervised probation and ordered to pay both full restitution in the amount of $7,193 and a mandatory fine of $100. Williams pled guilty to both fraud and theft on November 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
December 20th, 2002	On December 20, 2002, in Martin County (Indiana) Circuit Court, Joetta A. Axe, secretary-treasurer of AFGE Local 1415, pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds. Axe was sentenced to serve 365 days in county security with 363 days suspended, pay fines and court costs of $137, probation fees of $160, and restitution of $10,232.62. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
June 15th, 2001	On June 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Gary Monsson, former secretary-treasurer of AFGE Local 3000, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $51,464.49 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
December 31st, 1969	On November 1, 1007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Connie Scarrow, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE Local 3749, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to serve six months of home confinement. On August 9, 2007, Scarrow pled guilty to knowingly and willfully making a false entry on the local's Form LM-3 to conceal her misappropriation of union funds. Scarrow had previously made restitution in the amount of $11,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF]
	On June 11 and 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Lawrence Marable and Deborah Powell, former President and Treasurer, respectively, of AFGE Local1793, representing employees at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, both pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, five counts of theft of property in a special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of making a false statement. Marable and Powell conspired to convert dues checkoff checks and issue Local 1793 checks for their personal use totaling $184,129.85. The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

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