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American Federation of Teachers

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.

DateDescription
October 2nd, 2020On October 2, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Byers previously paid $22,000 in restitution. On June 16, 2020, Byers pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General.
June 16th, 2020On June 16, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General.
February 11th, 2020On February 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $5,450 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. As a condition of his probation, Young cannot visit a casino establishment during his two year probationary period. On October 23, 2019, Young pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.
November 20th, 2019On November 20, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Kenneth Morris, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2240 (located in San Francisco, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in the amount of $101,583 , in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344(2). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
October 23rd, 2019On October 23, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
March 1st, 2018On March 1, 2018, in the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County,Mackenzie Dworshak, former Treasurer for American Federation of Teachers Local 6105 (located in Helena, Mont.), pled guilty to one count of Theft of Property by Embezzlement in violation of Montana Code Annotated (2015) 45-6-301(7)(a) and was sentenced to a three year probation (suspended imposition of sentence), restitution in the amount of $7,903.56, administrative fee of $790.35, and a fine of $80. The plea and conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis Office.
October 18th, 2016On October 18, 2016, in the Westchester County District Court, Frank Gluberman, former Secretary Treasurer of the Greenburgh Teachers Federation (located in Hartsdale, N.Y.), was sentenced to between one to three years in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $822,281. On August 13, 2014, Gluberman pled guilty to grand larceny in the second degree. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
February 24th, 2011On February 24, 2011, in the United States District Court, District of Maine, Bernadette Beal, former President of Teachers Local 5073, the Downeast Federation of Healthcare Professionals (located in Millbridge, Maine), was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and two years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $24,131.32. On August 27, 2010, Beal pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $25,536.91, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
August 27th, 2010On August 27, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Bernadette Beal, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Downeast Federation of Healthcare Professionals Local 5073 (located in Milbridge, Maine), pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,536.91. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
March 11th, 2010On March 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Laura A. Brown, former President and Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 5095 (located in Butte, Mont.), was sentenced to five years probation on one count of embezzling union funds. Brown was ordered to make restitution, pay a special assessment of $100 and repay the cost of mental health and substance abuse treatment directed by the probation office. On November 12, 2009, Brown pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,731.54. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
November 12th, 2009On November 12, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Laura A. Brown, former President of Federation of Teachers Local 5095 (located in Butte, Mont.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,731.54. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
May 5th, 2009On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay additional restitution in the amount $28,145.76 and a special assessment of $1,400.00. Rhein had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $14,500.00. On February 3, 2009, Rhein pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of false statements. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
February 3rd, 2009On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of making a false statement. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
January 30th, 2009On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to five years probation including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to pay restitution in the amount $11,328.00 and a special assessment of $400.00.On October 24, 2008, Gaines pled guilty to a four count indictment for embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
October 24th, 2008On October 24, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Gaines, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,597.00. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
November 27th, 2006On November 27, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Catherine Crosier, former assistant to the controller for the Maine Teachers Association, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $30,000 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
October 17th, 2006On October 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Leroy Holmes, chauffeur for former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) President Barbara Bullock, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years probation. Holmes was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay restitution in the amount of $955,000. On February 6, 2003, Holmes pled guilty to conspiracy to launder proceeds of an unlawful activity for cashing more than $1 million in WTU checks and giving most of the proceeds to Bullock and Hemphill. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
October 12th, 2006On October 12, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Michael Martin, son-in-law of former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Executive Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three years probation, one of which must be served in home detention, for his role in an embezzlement scheme which defrauded the union of approximately $4.6 million. Martin was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $650,000. On April 11, 2003, Martin pled guilty to money laundering for conspiring to launder more than $500,000 in WTU funds by creating a sham third-party business, Expressions Unlimited, at the request of the WTU President and the WTU Executive Assistant. WTU funds were paid to Expressions Unlimited, which never in fact provided any services to the union, and were then funneled to the WTU President and Executive Assistant. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office
June 5th, 2006On June 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, James Baxter, former Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation and 900 hours of community service. Baxter was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 120 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Baxter was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, making false statements on annual labor organization reports, and maintaining false union records. Baxter is the latest individual to be convicted and sentenced for involvement with the embezzlement of approximately $4.6 million from the WTU. Along with Baxter, former WTU President Barbara Bullock and former WTU Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of over 362 months in prison for their roles in the scheme. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
May 22nd, 2006On May 22, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gwendolyn Hemphill, former Executive Assistant to the President of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6, also known as the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation. Hemphill was also sentenced to additional prison terms that will be served concurrently with the 132 months and was ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $4,249,187. On August 31, 2005, following a jury trial, Hemphill was found guilty on 23 different counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, false statements on LM reports and false union records. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
August 31st, 2005On August 31, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, former Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) Treasurer James Baxter and former WTU Assistant to the President Gwendolyn Hemphill were found guilty of all 23 counts after a jury trial lasting approximately three months. The convictions included conspiracy, embezzlement, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, false statements on LM reports and false union records. These are the seventh and eighth convictions of individuals involved in the embezzlement of approximately $4.6 million from the WTU. Sentencing for Baxter and Hemphill is set for December 9, 2005. The case was the result of a joint investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
June 2nd, 2005On June 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Robin Klein, an outside accountant hired by the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), charging her with two counts of failing to disclose material facts in a trial balance that she prepared for the WTU. The information alleges that the trial balance was then used by a union officer to file a false Form LM-2 report. Klein pled guilty to both counts on this date. The information supersedes an indictment against Klein filed on November 20, 2003. Moreover, the information and plea are part of an ongoing investigation of the WTU conducted by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
February 10th, 2004On February 10, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, an information was filed against Cheryl Martin, the daughter of a former executive assistant of Washington Teacher's Union (WTU), charging her with conspiracy to launder more than $480,000 in union funds. The charges allege that Martin's husband, Michael Martin, and Errol Alderman set up a fictitious company that they and Cheryl Martin used to launder money back to an officer and an employee of the union. Michael and Cheryl Martin also used a portion of the laundered money for personal purchases. On the same date as the indictment, Cheryl Martin pled guilty to the charge following an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers' Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office.
October 15th, 2003On October 15, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Errol Alderman, a District of Columbia government employee, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money from the Washington Teachers' Union. Alderman and Michael Martin (who pled guilty to money laundering on April 11, 2003) laundered more than $480,000 through a shell corporation called Expressions Unlimited. Alderman admitted to receiving more than $47,000 in union checks, which he returned to Martin to be given to former union president, Barbara Bullock (who pled guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud on October 7, 2003), and a union employee. The guilty plea is part of an ongoing investigation of the Washington Teachers Union by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office.
October 7th, 2003On October 7, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Barbara Bullock, former president of the Washington Teachers Union, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting, and one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds. On October 3, 2003, an information was filed alleging that Bullock and others embezzled over $2.5 million. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 2004; Bullock faces up to 10 years imprisonment as well as significant fines. The charges and guilty plea are part of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and the United States Attorney's Office.
April 11th, 2003On April 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Michael Martin pled guilty to money laundering for conspiring to launder more than $500,000 in Washington Teachers Union (WTU) funds. Martin and a "business" associate opened a bank account under a fictitious company called Expressions Unlimited at the request of the WTU President and the WTU Executive Assistant. WTU funds were paid to Expressions Unlimited and then most of those funds were returned to the WTU President and Executive Assistant. Expressions Unlimited never provided any services to the union. Martin used some of the WTU money in the Expressions Unlimited bank account for personal purposes including his mortgage payment, private school tuition for his children, credit card bills, car payments, and vehicle repairs. Martin also received WTU funds for providing personal services to the WTU President, including styling her hair, shopping, and giving fashion advice. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, the IRS, and other law enforcement agencies.
February 6th, 2003On February 6, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Leroy Holmes, former chauffeur for the Washington Teachers Union, pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering in an amount in excess of $1 million. This guilty plea was as a result of an ongoing investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.