Center for Union Facts logo

Union Facts

Machinists, Lodge 1528

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
January 23rd, 2012On January 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), was sentenced to five years of probation which includes 10 months of home detention with electronic monitoring (with the exception of work). Ford was ordered to pay $174,100 in restitution and a $125 special assessment. On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
September 2nd, 2011On September 2, 2011, in the United States District Court, for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), pled guilty to embezzling $174,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and making a false statement in a financial report required to be filed, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). Ford was indicted on February 10, 2011 and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2012. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
February 10th, 2011On February 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $174,891, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of filing a false financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
August 29th, 2005On August 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1528, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, including 180 days of home detention, for her role in embezzling union funds. Bautista was ordered to pay restitution totaling $115,259.27. She pled guilty to embezzling union funds on June 20, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
June 20th, 2005On June 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former secretary-treasurer of Local Lodge 1528, Machinists, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds of more than $5,000 but less than $10,000. On June 1, 2005, an information was filed against Bautista for embezzlement. On May 6, 2005, Bautista made an initial payment of $50,000 toward the $165,259.27 in restitution due to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.