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Union Facts

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, System Council 16

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
April 23rd, 2004On April 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling $26,804 in union funds. On the same day, he was sentenced to ten months imprisonment on each count to be served concurrently and two years supervised release for each count, also to be served concurrently. In addition, Collins was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $26,804 and assessed $200. He had been indicted on May 22, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
September 10th, 2003On September 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16 in Evansville, Indiana, filed a petition to enter a plea of guilty and plea agreement. Under the agreement, Collins agreed to plead guilty to two counts of embezzling $26,804 in union funds; Collins must also make full restitution to the union. The remaining two counts of the indictment charging Collins with falsification of union records will be dismissed. Collins was indicted on May 22, 2002, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office and the FBI.
May 22nd, 2002On May 22, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Darvin Collins, former business manager of IBEW Local 16, was indicted on one count of embezzling $25,370 from the Local's Target Fund, one count of embezzling $1,434.50 in local dues money, and two counts of falsifying union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.