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Government Security Officers

criminal 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
October 24th, 2017On October 24, 2017, in the Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Elizabeth Merrill, former Treasurer of Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 251 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was charged in a two-count indictment for forgery and theft of $1,051 in union funds, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.31 and 2913.02, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
September 28th, 2015On September 28, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Christopher Headlee, former Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 50 (located in Colorado Springs, Colo.), was charged in an indictment for one count of falsification of an annual financial report filed by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The indictment was unsealed on October 14, 2015. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
July 17th, 2015On July 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Howard Royal, former President of Government Security Officers Local 304 (located in Harrisburg, Pa.), was charged and pled guilty to one count of wire fraud resulting in misappropriation of union funds in the amount $66,989. The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
April 7th, 2014On April 7, 2014, in the 184th Judicial District Court, Houston County, Texas, Kenneth Smith, former President of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 208 (located in Houston, Tex.), pled guilty and then was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,300 fine. On October 18, 2013, Smith was charged with felony theft in the value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, in violation of Texas State Penal Code Section 31.03. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
December 12th, 2012On December 12, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paulette McClure, former Financial Treasurer of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 36 (located in Pattison, Miss.), was charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling $8,166.13 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office.
June 5th, 2012On June 5, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, a criminal information was filed charging Ava Ramey, former Trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 (located in Bowie, Md.), with one count of embezzling $379,000 from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
October 7th, 2009On October 7, 2009, in Goodhue County (Minnesota) District Court, a felony complaint was filed charging Michelle Adler, former Secretary-Treasurer of Government Security Officers Local 24 (located in Lake City, Minn.), with one count of theft of more than $1,000, but not more than $5,000. The charge follows and investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.