Center for Union Facts logo

Union Facts

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98

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
December 21st, 2022On December 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael Neill, former Apprentice Training Director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzlement of union funds, one count of theft from an employee benefit plan, and one count of filing false federal income tax returns, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 664, and 26 U.S.C 7206(1), respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office.
December 21st, 2022On December 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Brian Fiocca, former employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to five counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office.
December 19th, 2022On December 19, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Niko Rodriguez, former employee of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to six counts of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.