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Locomotive Engineers

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
February 14th, 2023On February 14, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Byers, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 287 (located in Ashville, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $45,373 in union funds and one count of falsification of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
September 8th, 2022On September 8, 2022, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, VA), was sentenced to six months of home detention and 24 months of probation, and was fined $4,000. Jordan had previously paid full restitution of $30,519. On May 11, 2022, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
May 11th, 2022On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling $30,519, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
April 26th, 2022On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $30,519 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
February 28th, 2022On February 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was sentenced to six months in a home detention program and three years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,078 in restitution and a $400 special assessment. Rooze previously paid $127,943 in restitution. On August 30, 2021, Rooze pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
August 30th, 2021On August 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen A. Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and admitted to embezzling a total of $140,064 over an eight-year period. The guilty plea follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
March 12th, 2021On March 12, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was charged in a four-count indictment for embezzling $140,064 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
January 29th, 2021On January 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of confinement and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $61,386 in restitution. On September 16, 2020, Davis pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
September 16th, 2020On September 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
September 14th, 2020On September 14, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
October 23rd, 2018On October 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman (BLET)/IBT Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to four years of probation. Taylor was also ordered to perform 200 hours community service and to pay $59,150 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On March 20, 2018, Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
March 20th, 2018On March 20, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $24,868 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
March 6th, 2018On March 6, 2018, in the Summers County West Virginia Court, Steven Brumit, former secretary treasurer of the Locomotive Engineers, IBT, West Virginia State Legislative Board (formerly located in Hinton, W. Va.), was indicted on one count of embezzling in excess of $6,433.76 in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20 and felonious fraudulent scheme for writing 13 unauthorized checks to himself. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
October 10th, 2017On October 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation the first three months of which will be served in home confinement. Miller was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,070, a fine of $2,000, and a special assessment of $100. On May 19, 2017, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,686, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
May 19th, 2017On May 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), pled guilty to a one-count criminal information for embezzling $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
May 2nd, 2017On May 2, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with embezzling approximately $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
August 10th, 2015On August 10, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.Va.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409. On June 12, 2015, McCallister pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
June 12th, 2015On June 12, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.V.), pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The sentencing is scheduled for August 10, 2015. The plea follows an investigation by the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
March 3rd, 2015On March 3, 2015, in the Summers County Court of West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers, IBT, Division 101 (located in Talcott, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment with felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, which shall have come into possession, or been placed under his care or management, by virtue of his office, place or employment in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
January 5th, 2015On January 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dale T. Hull, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 261 (located in Herington, Kans.), was sentenced to time served, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,189 and a fine of $2,500. On September 29, 2014, Hull pled guilty to a single count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
March 20th, 2014On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 644 (located in Galesburg, Ill.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On July 23, 2013, Davis was charged in an indictment with embezzling $27,712 in union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
July 23rd, 2013On July 23, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois at Peoria, Robert Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 644 (located in Galesburg, Ill.), was indicted for embezzling $27,712 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
January 24th, 2013On January 24, 2013, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to four years and 60 days in jail with four years of the jail term suspended and seven years of probation. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,326.62. On October 30, 2012, Shell pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code 18.2-111. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
October 30th, 2012On October 30, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Tim Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more for embezzling money from a union, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
May 21st, 2012On May 21, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was charged in an indictment with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
April 7th, 2011On April 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division, Robert K. Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds over $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
July 29th, 2010On July 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cory A. Carroll, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,362.41. On April 5, 2010, Carroll was indicted for the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
April 5th, 2010On April 5, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Corry Carroll, Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), General Committee of Adjustment (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), was indicted for embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $35,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Office.
March 10th, 2009On March 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,074.23 and a $100 special assessment.On November 20, 2008, Bohanon pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
February 17th, 2009On February 17, 2009, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Todd Novak, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 3 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, two years probation, and was fined $2,000. On October 31, 2008, Novak pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,780.89 which he repaid prior to sentencing. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
November 20th, 2008On November 20, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. On September 16, 2008, Bohanon had been charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
October 14th, 2008On October 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad Mowery, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution. On May 5, 2008, Mowery pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
September 16th, 2008On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 16th, 2008On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
May 5th, 2008On May 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad M. Mowery, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,537.00. On February 6, 2008, Mowery was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
February 14th, 2008On February 14, 2008, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local 37, was sentenced to two years probation, which includes six months of home detention, and a fine of $2,000. Greear had previously made full restitution to the union. On November 21, 2007, Greear pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
November 21st, 2007On November 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. On September 11, 2007, Greear was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
September 11th, 2007On September 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37 Secretary-Treasurer Randy Greear was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
May 23rd, 2006On May 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, was convicted on two counts of embezzling union funds and sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised probation. Barnett was also ordered to make restitution to the union in the amount of $17,710. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
December 13th, 2005On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $1,100. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
November 9th, 2005On November 9, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Kimberly Solheim, former bookkeeper for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 402, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,635, and one count of making false entries in union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
August 10th, 2005On August 10, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine Dee Barnett, former secretary-treasurer of Division 374, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was indicted on two counts of embezzlement of $1,100 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
December 20th, 2003On December 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles D. Davis, former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was charged with embezzling $11,799.20 in union funds, filing a false report, and making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
December 15th, 2003On December 15, 2003, in the United States District Court of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, AFL-CIO, Division 245, was sentenced to three (3) years probation, six (6) months home confinement, and was ordered to pay a penalty of $150 and a fine of $1,500. On October 10, Rodda plead guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $26,150, and making false entries and false statements in union records. Rodda previously made full restitution to BLE, Division 245. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
October 23rd, 2003On October 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,900. Haskins pled guilty on July 28, 2003, to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
August 25th, 2003On August 25, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former secretary and treasurer of the Locomotive Engineers, Division 245, pled guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling $26,150 in union funds, willfully making false entries in union records, and making false statements in a report required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor. Rodda wrote checks payable to himself and his wife for fraudulent expenses and concealed the checks from other union officials. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
July 28th, 2003On July 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records, and agreed to pay restitution of $41,900. Haskins had been indicted on April 8, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
April 8th, 2003On April 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $1,025 in union funds and two counts of falsifying union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of approximately $41,600 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
June 12th, 2001On June 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former secretary-treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 6th, 2001On March 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, was indicted on one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds and one count of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 by filing false LM-3 Labor Organization Annual Reports with OLMS. Also indicted was Kroh’s spouse, Dinah, on one count of aiding and abetting him in embezzling $6,105 of the total amount he was charged with embezzling. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.