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United Food & Commercial Workers

embezzlement 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
February 11th, 2021On February 11, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Aja Jasmin, former President of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 350C (located in Ontario, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, as part of a scheme to defraud and embezzle approximately $190,000 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General.
December 17th, 2013On December 17, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division, Calvin Sanders, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 638C (located in Franklin, La.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,028 and a $100 special assessment. On August 8, 2013, Sanders pled guilty to a one-count bill of information for embezzling $24,028 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
August 8th, 2013On August 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division, Calvin Sanders, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 638C (located in Franklin, La.), was charged and pled guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for embezzling $24,028 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
May 1st, 2012On May 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Ernest Milewski, former President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Northeast District Council (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $257,590.26 restitution and a $200 special assessment. Milewski is required to surrender to prison officials on May 21, 2012. On August 9, 2011, Milewski pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of embezzling assets of a health care benefit program, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
August 9th, 2011On August 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Ernest Milewski, former President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Northeast District Council (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of embezzling assets of a health care benefit program. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
July 7th, 2011On July 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Ernest Milewski, former President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Northeast District Council (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzling union funds by way of unauthorized checks, unauthorized expense reimbursements, and double billing from on or about January 1, 2005 through May 15, 2008, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Milewski was also charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 669 by knowingly and willfully embezzling, stealing, or otherwise without authority converting to the use of any person, other than the rightful owner, or did intentionally misapply any of the moneys, funds, securities, premiums, credits, property, and other assets of a health care benefit program, exceeding the sum of $100, of the Northeast District Council Health and Welfare Fund, a health care benefit program. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
April 8th, 2011On April 8, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 790C (located in Lena, Miss.), was sentenced to one year of probation. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee and a $1,000 fine. Fontenot previously made restitution in the amount of $6,943.15. On January 20, 2011, Fontenot pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
January 20th, 2011On January 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 790C (located in Lena, Miss.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds between November 2002 and March 2006 in the amount of $6,943.15. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
August 18th, 2010On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patsy Fontenot, former International Representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), was indicted on one count of embezzling $6,943.15 from UFCW Local 790C (located in Pearl, Miss.) between November 2002 and March 2006. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
February 11th, 2010On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Dale Holifield, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers(UFCW) Workers Local 982C (located in Pearl, Miss.) was sentenced to two years supervised probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. Prior to sentencing, Holifield paid restitution to Local 982C. On December 2, 2009, Holifield pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,468.19. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office
December 2nd, 2009On December 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Dale Holifield, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 982C (located in Pearl, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,468.19. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office
March 24th, 2006On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 717, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three months in a community treatment center and three years probation. Bandt was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On January 13, 2006, Bandt pled guilty to embezzling more than $14,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
January 13th, 2006On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 717, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,065. Bandt had previously been indicted on September 14, 2005, in a 14-count indictment consisting of five counts of embezzling union funds, five counts of falsifying union records, and four counts of making a false statement on a required report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
November 29th, 2005On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Rice, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 538, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, six months home confinement, three years probation, and ordered to make full restitution, for embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. Rice entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
October 6th, 2005On October 6, 2005, in the United States District for the District of Colorado, Steve Bush, former Recording Secretary and Business Agent for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 990, pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds totaling $2,850. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
September 19th, 2005On September 19, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Rice, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 538, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. An information was filed on September 1, 2005, charging Rice with embezzling union funds by submitting false claims for expenses incurred for fictitious meetings. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
September 1st, 2005On September 1, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, an information was filed against Michael Rice, former President of Local 538 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, charging him with one count of embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. The information states that Rice embezzled funds by submitting false claims for expenses incurred in attending meetings with the UFCW and AFL-CIO which never took place. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
June 29th, 2005On June 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald A. Bush, former president of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, pled guilty to four counts of embezzling $1,967 in union funds. Bush's guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
April 5th, 2005On April 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Retail Wholesale (UFCW) District Council, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised probation. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $77,441.00 to UFCW Local 1050 and $13,685.00 to UFCW Local 1052. On May 3, 2004, Lineback pled guilty to embezzling union funds and falsifying union records for the two locals he was representing following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
January 14th, 2005On January 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Grace Maldonado, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to five years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. She was ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $9,806.80. Maldonado pled guilty on September 3, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
December 14th, 2004On December 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Barbara Ann Hayes, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to six months home detention enforced by electronic monitoring and five years probation. Hayes was also ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $27,248.82. On May 17, 2004, Hayes pled guilty to embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
June 8th, 2004On June 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former president of Chemical Workers Local 294 (United Food and Commercial Workers), was sentenced for making a willful false entry in union records. Brabazon pled guilty to the charge on March 5, 2004. He was initially indicted in September 2003, on one count of embezzling union funds; he later pled guilty to the lesser charge. Brabazon was sentenced to one year of probation, restitution in the amount of $3,672.84, and a $100 fine (which was waived). The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
May 17th, 2004On May 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Barbara Ann Hayes, former bookkeeper and office secretary for United Food & Commercial Workers Local 990, was indicted on 35 counts of embezzling $27,248.82 in union funds The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
May 3rd, 2004On May 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, a two-count information was filed against Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for Retail, Wholesale District Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1050. The information charged him with one count of embezzling $182,443 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. On the same date, Lineback entered a plea agreement and pled guilty. The charge and subsequent plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
April 16th, 2004On April 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Julie Palmi, former bookkeeper of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1116, was sentenced to six months home confinement with work release privileges and three years probation. In addition, she was ordered to make full restitution. Palmi pled guilty on January 21, 2004, to one count of embezzling approximately $53,570 in union funds. An information charging Palmi with embezzlement was filed on October 16, 2003. This case was transferred from the District of Minnesota to the Southern District of California pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties. The charge, guilty plea, and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 5th, 2004On March 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former president of Local 294 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (Chemical Workers Union Council) pled guilty to making a willful false entry in a union record. Brabazon had been indicted in September 2003 on one count of embezzling $3672.84 in union funds. In a plea agreement, a superseding information was filed and Brabazon pled guilty to the misdemeanor false records charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
January 21st, 2004On January 21, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Julie Palmi, former bookkeeper for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1116, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $53,570 in union funds. An information charging Palmi with embezzlement had been filed on October 16, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. This case was transferred from the District of Minnesota to the Southern District of California pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties.
September 24th, 2003On September 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 294-C, was indicted on one count of embezzlement. The indictment stated that in May 2001, Brabazon wrote an unauthorized check to himself in the amount of $3672.84 for expenses at a union conference he never attended. The indictment followed an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.