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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 |
|---|---|
| February 4th, 2011 | On February 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Kevin T. Hunt, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 198 (located in Peoria, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a $25 special assessment. On October 26, 2010, Hunt pled guilty to a one-count information for filing a false LM report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| October 26th, 2010 | On October 26, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Kevin Hunt, former Secretary Treasurer of the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 198 (located in Peoria, IL), pled guilty to a one count information charging him with filing a false Form LM-3 annual financial report for fiscal year 2007. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| July 20th, 2010 | On July 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman, United Transportation Union General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), was sentenced to three months incarceration followed by two years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the UTU GCA 325 in the amount of $16,200, restitution to the Railroad Retirement Board in the amount of $32,778.39, a fine of $30,000, and a $100 special assessment. On November 30, 2009, Kobe pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Railroad Retirement Boards Office of the Inspector General. |
| June 23rd, 2010 | On June 23, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Richard D. Schwab, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 298 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.), was sentenced to two years probation and six months electronic monitoring, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,719.57 and a special assessment off $100. Schwab previously made restitution in the amount of $42,009. On February 25, 2010, Schwab pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $46,728. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| November 30th, 2009 | On November 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200. On November 12, 2009, Kobe was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between 2005 through 2006. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the office of the Inspector General, Railroad retirement Board. |
| November 30th, 2009 | On November 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200. On November 12, 2009, Kobe was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between 2005 through 2006. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the office of the Inspector General, Railroad retirement Board. |
| October 15th, 2009 | On October 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Christopher Scott Tidwell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Union Ind, Local 1261 (located in Lineville, Ala.), was sentenced to 60 months probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,264.08 and a $100 special assessment. On June 30, 2009, Tidwell had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount and one count of forfeiture. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office. |
| October 15th, 2009 | On October 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Christopher Scott Tidwell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Union Ind, Local 1261 (located in Lineville, Ala.), was sentenced to 60 months probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,264.08 and a $100 special assessment. On June 30, 2009, Tidwell had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount and one count of forfeiture. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office. |
| October 13th, 2009 | On October 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Treasurer of Untied Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Lexington, Ohio), was sentenced to one year and a day confinement, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution. On July 30, 2009, Kelly pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. |
| October 13th, 2009 | On October 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Treasurer of Untied Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Lexington, Ohio), was sentenced to one year and a day confinement, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution. On July 30, 2009, Kelly pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. |
| July 30th, 2009 | On July 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Secretary-Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Crestline, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. |
| July 30th, 2009 | On July 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Secretary-Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Crestline, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. |
| February 4th, 2009 | On February 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Keith H. Cook, former Secretary Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 620 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment for embezzlement of union funds, ten months imprisonment for making a false entry in union records, three years supervised release for embezzlement of union funds, and one year supervised release for making a false entry in union records (to run concurrently). He also was ordered to make restitution of $47,079.21 and pay a $125 assessment. On September 15, 2008, a jury found Cook guilty of one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. |
| February 4th, 2009 | On February 4, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Keith H. Cook, former Secretary Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 620 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment for embezzlement of union funds, ten months imprisonment for making a false entry in union records, three years supervised release for embezzlement of union funds, and one year supervised release for making a false entry in union records (to run concurrently). He also was ordered to make restitution of $47,079.21 and pay a $125 assessment. On September 15, 2008, a jury found Cook guilty of one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. |
| October 23rd, 2007 | On October 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Thomas Saltzman, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 418, was sentenced to five months imprisonment for embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,528.06. Upon his release from prison, Saltzman will be on supervised release for three years and must make restitution. On August 9, 2007, Saltzman pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing 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 District of Nebraska, Thomas Saltzman, former Secretary-Treasurer of UTU Local 418, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,010. On February 21, 2007, Saltzman was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.[Related documents: HTML | PDF] |
| November 2nd, 2005 | On November 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Michael C. Crogan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1382, United Transportation Union, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $31,700. Crogan previously made full restitution to UTU Local 1382. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. |
| March 10th, 2004 | On March 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, John Rookard, a special assistant and project coordinator to Byron Boyd, president of the United Transportation Union, pled guilty to one count of labor racketeering conspiracy. Rookard and Boyd admitted to soliciting and collecting thousands of dollars in cash from attorneys nationwide. The scheme involved attorneys seeking designation by UTU to receive lucrative business associated with the personal injury claims of rail workers. Rookard will forfeit $45,000 to the Federal government from the proceeds of the racketeering activity. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General and the FBI. |