Read more at LaborPains.orgLongshoremens Association
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 3rd, 2010 | On August 3, 2010, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Henry George Green, Sr., former Treasurer of International Longshoremens Association (ILA) Local 440 (located in Port Arthur, Texas), was sentenced to thirty-six months of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,565.72. Green previously made restitution in the amount of repaid $24,000.18. On February 23, 2010, Green pled guilty to one count of filing a false statement or omission on a report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office. |
| May 20th, 2010 | On May 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gary Day, former Field Representative of Laborers Local 1180 (located in Harrisburg, Pa.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount $10,518.00 and a special assessment of $100.00. On January 22, 2010, Day pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,518.00. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| May 5th, 2009 | On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $28,145.76 and a special assessment of $1,400.00.Rhein had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $14,500.00.On February 3, 2009, Rhein pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of false statements. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| May 5th, 2009 | On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $28,145.76 and a special assessment of $1,400.00.Rhein had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $14,500.00.On February 3, 2009, Rhein pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of false statements. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 26th, 2009 | On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Alex Margaritis, former Financial Secretary of International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to four years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $1,320.79 and a special assessment of $100. Margaritis had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $12,000. On September 23, 2008, Margaritis pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 26th, 2009 | On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Alex Margaritis, former Financial Secretary of International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to four years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $1,320.79 and a special assessment of $100. Margaritis had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $12,000. On September 23, 2008, Margaritis pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 26th, 2009 | On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer, former President of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.Gehringer had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $547. On September 23, 2008, Gehringer pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 26th, 2009 | On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer, former President of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.Gehringer had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $547. On September 23, 2008, Gehringer pled guilty to a two-count indictment for aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 3rd, 2009 | On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of making a false statement. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 3rd, 2009 | On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of making a false statement. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| January 30th, 2009 | On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount $11,328.00 and a special assessment of $400.00.On October 24, 2008, Gaines pled guilty to a four count indictment for embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. |
| January 30th, 2009 | On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount $11,328.00 and a special assessment of $400.00.On October 24, 2008, Gaines pled guilty to a four count indictment for embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. |
| October 24th, 2008 | On October 24, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,597.00. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. |
| September 23rd, 2008 | On September 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer and Alex Margaritis, former President and Secretary Treasurer, respectively, of IronWorkers Local 594 (located in Hellertown, Pa.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of union funds. Gehringer embezzled union funds in the amount of $3,050.00 and Margaritis embezzled union funds in the amount of $13,320.79. The pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| September 12th, 2008 | On September 12, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Sheila Wright Rushing, former part-time office secretary of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International (BCTGMI) Local 482 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was sentenced to five years supervised release and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $19,365.09.On May 28, 2008, Rushing pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,133.01. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the Department of Labors Office of the Inspector General |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| January 11th, 2008 | On January 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Local 2013, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make restitution, pay $60 to the United States Postal Service, and a $25 special assessment. On February 23, 2007, Emel pled guilty to one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between her and the local totaling $12,864.10. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| September 11th, 2007 | On September 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Capece, former Business Manger/Financial-Secretary of IBEW Local 163 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $256,000. On September 4, 2007, Capece was charged with knowingly and willfully embezzling union funds in the same amount. The information and plea follow 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 22nd, 2007 | On June 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Anthony C. Price, former Business Manager and Recording Secretary of ILA Local 1316, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $11,804 and pay a special assessment of $100. On March 13, 2007, Price pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. |
| April 23rd, 2007 | On April 23, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas P. Obzut, former Secretary-Treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), Local 735S was sentenced to two years probation, the first six months to be served under house arrest, a $500 fine, a $100 special victim assessment, and psychiatric counseling as directed by the US Probation Department for gambling addiction. Obzut has made full restitution to the union. On November 30, 2006, Obzut pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,099.17. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| April 4th, 2007 | On April 4, 2007 in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Court, Derek Baldwin, former President of the Workers Independent Union was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $8,200 in restitution. Baldwin pled guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and securing execution of documents by deception. On August 14, 2006, a criminal complaint was filed against Baldwin charging him with theft by deception, tampering with records, forgery, and receipt of stolen property for his theft of $12,700 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 23rd, 2007 | On February 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President for American Postal Workers Local 2013, entered a guilty plea for falsification of union records. Emel was ordered to return any union records in her possession to the local union within 20 days and to make restitution to the union in an amount to be determined at a later date. On December 29, 2006, Emel was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| February 8th, 2007 | On February 8, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office & Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 112, was sentenced to two years probation that will include four months in a community corrections center and a special assessment fee of $100, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,543.60. On October 23, 2006, Hollis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in an amount over $20,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| December 5th, 2006 | On December 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Dowdell and Tom Honold, former President and Secretary-Treasurer , respectively, for Communications Workers, Local 23 each pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records. Dowdell agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $3,200. Honold agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,458.56 . On November 16, 2005, Dowdell was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. On November 29, 2006, Honold was charged with one count of making false entries to conceal his embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 30th, 2006 | On November 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Obzut, former Secretary-Treasurer for Graphic Communications (GCIU) Local 735, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount $21,099. Following his plea, Obzut made full restitution to the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| October 23rd, 2006 | On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $20,000 in union funds. On September 20, 2006, Hollis was indicted on the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| August 1st, 2006 | On August 1, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Brian Druckemiller, former President of Carpenters Local 1936, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $1,151. On May 31, 2006, Druckemiller pled guilty to making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| June 28th, 2006 | On June 28, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President of Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months house arrest with electronic monitoring. Kulp was also ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. On March 29, 2006, Kulp pled guilty to embezzling $21,888 from an employee benefit plan. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office. |
| April 4th, 2006 | On April 4, 2006, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Darnell Smith, former bookkeeper for Service Employees (SEIU) Local 36, plead guilty to theft by deception for embezzling approximately $70,420.00 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| March 29th, 2006 | On March 29, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kulp, former Vice-President and benefits administrator for Iron Workers Local 61 pled guilty to embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $21,888. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Office. |
| March 23rd, 2006 | On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Fernando Sanchez-Bencon and Francisco Consuegra-Lastayo each pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, and Consuegra-Lastayo entered a similar plea on behalf of his company, Consuegra, Inc., for their roles in a scheme to embezzle $10 million from the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1740 (UTM 1740). Consuegra-Lastayo pled guilty to laundering more than $500,000 in union dues checks through his jewelry business funneled to him by Sanchez-Bencon in exchange for a two-percent commission on the total amount of the checks. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Consuegra is expected to serve four months on house arrest, two years probation, and to pay a $10,000 fine. His company is expected to pay a $25,000 fine. Sanchez-Bencon pled guilty to cashing union dues checks totaling $900,000. Under his plea agreement, Sanchez-Bencon is expected to serve 30 to 37 months in prison, depending on his health, and to make restitution of $90,000 to the union. He is also expected to cooperate with federal authorities in cases against other co-defendants stemming from the on-going investigation of UTM 1740 and its Health Benefit Plan, Plan de Bienestar UTM-PRSSA, which has yielded a total of thirteen indictments so far. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office. |
| March 22nd, 2006 | On March 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rosemary Zwetkof-Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, was sentenced to three years probation and six months home confinement with authorization to leave her home only to work. Zwetkof-Ryan was also ordered to pay restitution to the local in the amount of $18,359.77. On December 12, 2005, Zwetkof-Ryan pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| March 8th, 2006 | On March 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Skursky, former Secretary-Treasurer of PACE Local 2-672 was sentenced to two years probation with 6 months electronic monitoring. Skursky was also ordered to pay $1,980 in outstanding restitution to the union and a $25.00 special assessment fee. On November 8, 2005, Skursky pled guilty to making false entries in union records in order to conceal his theft of $6,050.00 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| January 3rd, 2006 | On January 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, former bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined $1,000. On October 5, 2005 Wituschek pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $5,745.41. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| December 12th, 2005 | On December 12, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rosemary Zwetkof-Ryan, former Treasurer for the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization, Local 717, pled guilty to an information charging her with making false entries in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 8th, 2005 | On November 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Skursky, former Treasurer of PACE Local 2-672, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with making false entries in the union's records in order to conceal a theft of $6,050 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 1st, 2005 | On November 1, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Jordan, former Business Manager of Iron Workers Local 161, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months of home detention. Jordan was also fined $5,000. On May 24, 2005, Jordan pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $21,652.80 and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| October 5th, 2005 | On October 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Wituschek, former bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $5,745.41. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| 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 26th, 2005 | On July 26, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Jordan, the former business manager of Riggers, Local 161, pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $21,652.80 and one count of making a false entry in the union's records. On May 24, Jordan was indicted on two counts of embezzlement and one count of making a false entry. Under the terms of the plea agreement, one count of embezzlement will be dismissed at the time of sentencing which is scheduled for November 1, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| June 8th, 2005 | On June 8, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Julie Messick, the former treasurer of Local 2001, Carpenters, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100 for embezzling union funds. Messick had previously made restitution to the union in the amount of $11,793.85. On February 17, 2005, Messick pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| May 5th, 2005 | On May 5, 2005, in Philadelphia County District Court, Cristie Campbell, the former bookkeeper for the Penns Landing Catering Company, a subsidiary of Local 19, Sheet Metal Workers, pled guilty to writing bad checks, a misdemeanor 1. On the same day, Campbell was sentenced to two years probation and fined $150. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| April 22nd, 2005 | On April 22, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Gary Miller, former president of Local 2372, United Auto Workers, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzlement. Miller was ordered to pay a $100.00 fine and restitution totaling $7,947.28. On January 20, 2005, Miller pled guilty to embezzling union funds in excess of $5,000 following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia 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. |
| February 17th, 2005 | On February 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Julie Messick, the former treasurer of Local 2001, Carpenters, entered a guilty plea by plea agreement to one count of a five-count indictment. She pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Messick had previously made restitution in the amount of $9,164. She further stipulated in the plea agreement that she will make additional restitution in the amount of $2,629.85. On December 7, 2004, Messick was charged following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| January 20th, 2005 | On January 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Gary Miller, former president of Local 2372, United Auto Workers, pled guilty to the embezzlement of union funds in excess of $5,000. Miller was indicted on October 12, 2004, 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. |
| 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 20th, 2004 | On April 20, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ray Burns, the former secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 326, was sentenced to three years probation for embezzlement. He was ordered to pay a $100 assessment and restitution totaling $29,587. On November 13, 2003, Burns pled guilty to one count of embezzling $29,587 in union funds. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| 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. |
| December 4th, 2003 | On December 4, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Percella Roper, former bookkeeper for Transport Workers (TWU) Local 234, was sentenced to six months home confinement and five years probation for embezzlement and aiding and abetting. She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $98,132 which will come from her union pension, including a $20,000 payment to be received by the court within five days of the sentencing. On June 10, 2003, Roper was indicted on one count of embezzlement and one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement. She pled guilty on September 4, 2003. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 19th, 2003 | On November 19, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Ray Lynn Burns, former financial secretary-treasurer of Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 326, plead guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $29,587 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office (the case was transferred from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to the Northern District of Alabama pursuant to Rule 20 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties). |
| November 14th, 2003 | On November 14, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Howard Roundtree, former recording secretary of Longshoremen's Association (ILA), Local 1759, was sentenced to five months imprisonment followed by five months of home detention and three years probation. Roundtree was ordered to make restitution of $26,979.46 to Federal Marine Terminals, Inc. in $400.00 monthly increments and to pay a court assessment of $100.00. On July 23, 2003, Roundtree pled guilty to one count of knowingly causing false statements and representation of facts in an ERISA document. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.[Related documents: HTML | PDF] |
| 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 25th, 2003 | On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Hubler, the former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 14375, was sentenced to three months and three days imprisonment for embezzling $27,226 in union funds. The sentence will run concurrently with Hubler's present sentence from an unrelated conviction. Following the prison term, Hubler will be on a two year supervised release. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $24,186.79 in monthly installments of at least $5.00. Hubler pled guilty to the charge on January 23, 2003. The sentence and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF] |
| September 4th, 2003 | On September 4, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Percella Roper, former bookkeeper of Transport Workers Local 234 pled guilty to an information charging her with one count of embezzlement and aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of $98,132.00 in union funds. The information stated that Roper (1) deposited $50,058 in union funds into a savings account that she kept at the TWU Credit Union, (2) converted $2,458 in union funds to pay union dues for herself and other union clerical employees, (3) assisted a TWU Local 234 officer in the embezzlement of $26,935 from Local 234 picnics, and (4) assisted the same officer in the embezzlement of $18,681 in cash receipts for sales of union clothing. Charges were filed on June 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania following a joint investigation by the FBI and the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| 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. |
| July 23rd, 2003 | On July 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, an information was filed charging Howard Roundtree, former Recording Secretary of Longshoremen's Association AFL-CIO (ILA) Local 1759, with one count of knowingly causing false statements and representations of fact in a document required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Roundtree waived indictment and pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. [Related documents: HTML | PDF] |
| January 23rd, 2003 | On January 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Hubler, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 14375, pled guilty to embezzling $27,226 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 26th, 2002 | On November 26, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a plea agreement was filed in which Laura L. McClurg, former secretary-treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1195, agreed to plead guilty to one count of concealing union records after a $2,295 shortage of union funds was uncovered. An information was filed on September 3, 2002, following 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. |
| 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. |
| January 17th, 2002 | On January 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Bryant, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2061, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution of $1,980, and fined $500. (He had previously made restitution of $1,500.) He had pled guilty on September 12, 2001, to two counts of theft by unlawful taking within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| November 15th, 2001 | On November 15, 2001, in the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Court of Common Pleas, Kathleen L. Frost, former bookkeeper of Iron Workers Local 420, pled guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received. She was sentenced to two years probation. The charges had been brought on August 14, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| September 12th, 2001 | On September 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Bryant, former secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2061, entered into a plea agreement in which he agreed to plead guilty to two counts of theft by unlawful taking within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. He agreed to make restitution to the union in the amount of $3,480. He had been indicted following an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. |
| 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. |