Indictments

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.

Date	Description
January 18th, 2023	On January 18, 2023, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, Donald Fox, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1836 (located in Scottsbluff, Neb.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $24,620 and four counts of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(b), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
April 13th, 2021	On April 13, 2021, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Joseph Whitbeck, former Vice President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 274 (located in Allentown, Pa.), was indicted on 10 counts of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1346, and 10 counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the U.S. Postal Services Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General.
February 28th, 2020	On February 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $65,033, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
June 19th, 2019	On June 19, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kelly Carter, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 560 (located in Benton Harbor, Mich.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $7,130 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal ServiceÄôs Office of Inspector General.
January 27th, 2016	On January 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, John McCain, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1016 (located in Poplar Bluff, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of $30,948 in labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
December 3rd, 2015	On December 3, 2015, in the Smith County Court in the State of Texas, Stanley Buchanan, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 493 (located in Tyler, Tex.), was charged in an indictment for credit card abuse in the amount of $7,776, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.31(b)(3). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
June 16th, 2015	On June 16, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy Casperson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 249 (located in Menominee, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $9,650 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of false reporting, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and one count of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
March 25th, 2015	On March 25, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Henry Mayer, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 852 (located in Yakima, Wash.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement from a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
March 20th, 2014	On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Harold Ray, former secretary for National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 469 and the Alabama State Association, located in Mobile, Ala. and Birmingham, Ala., respectively, pled guilty to count one of the indictment to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On January 31, 2014, Ray was indicted in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling $38,565 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
January 31st, 2014	On January 31, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Harold Ray, former secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 469 (located in Mobile, Ala.), and former secretary of the NALC Alabama State Association (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $38,565 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans Office.
March 28th, 2013	On March 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), was sentenced to three years of probation and five months home confinement, and was ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $4,914. On November 16, 2012, Rysz pled guilty to a one count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
November 16th, 2012	On November 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
November 15th, 2012	On November 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Joseph Allen, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 588 (located in Athens, Ga.), was indicted on one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344; one count of providing a false statement to a credit union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1014; one count of filing a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b); and six counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,107.73, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
March 15th, 2012	On March 15, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was found guilty by a jury of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,246.95. On July 13, 2011, Jackson was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
March 13th, 2012	On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Frank Rysz, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1124 (located in New Stanton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $12,514.91 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
December 13th, 2011	On December 13, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Amy Pullen, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1106 (located in Mayfield, Ky.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $4,876, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
July 13th, 2011	On July 13, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $41,246.95, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
June 21st, 2011	On June 21, 2011, in the United Stated District Court, District of Kansas, Lanny Pauley, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1412 (located in Garden City, Kans.), was indicted on 23 counts of embezzlement for embezzling $6,515, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
August 18th, 2010	On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Sharron Dixon Haynes, aka Sharron A. Haynes, former election candidate of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 217 (located in Jackson, Miss.), was indicted on three counts of making and causing to be made, and using and causing to be used, a false writing or document in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States Government.. Haynes is alleged to have submitted a false certification of her eligibility for election to Branch 217, which she knew falsely certified that she had not served as a supervisor within two years prior to October 2008, when in fact she had served as a supervisor in May 2008. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
January 9th, 2008	On January 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham Paul Vane, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1280, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $170,000 in union funds, and four counts of making false statements to a government agency. The final embezzlement amount will be determined at Vane’s sentencing hearing. On May 24, 2007, Vane was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same approximate amount, and four counts of false statements to a government agency. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
May 24th, 2007	On May 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham Paul Vane, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1280, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of labor union funds totaling over $170,000 and four counts of making false statements to a Government Agency. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
March 15th, 2006	On March 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Edward Johnson, former Treasurer for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 704, was indicted on seven counts of embezzling union funds totaling $4,790 between May 2001 and May 2002. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
August 31st, 2005	On August 31, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Paul Himmelstein, former Secretary-Treasurer of Branch 1977, Letter Carriers, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,683.20. Himmelstein was indicted on May 24, 2005. Sentencing is scheduled for November 29, 2005. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
May 24th, 2005	On May 24, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Paul Himmelstein, the former secretary-treasurer of Branch 1977, Letter Carriers, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $20,000 or more. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
March 2nd, 2005	On March 2, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Steven R. Fairfax, former secretary-treasurer of Branch 3939, Letter Carriers, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $53,990.54. Fairfax was also indicted on two counts of making false statements in reports. Fairfax's indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
February 17th, 2004	On February 17, 2004, in the United State District Court for the Southern District of New York, Willie Dell Clark, former treasurer of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 36, the nation's largest Letter Carrier affiliate representing over 6,300 members, was indicted for using her position to embezzle approximately $69,000 in union funds between January 1999 and July 2001. This indictment followed her arrest by the United States Marshals Service at her home in Denmark, South Carolina, and resulted from an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
November 17th, 2003	On November 17, 2003, in the United State District Court for the District of Oregon, Ty Mariner, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 3083, was sentenced to three years probation for filing a false Form LM-4 report. On April 22, 2003, Mariner was indicted on five counts of embezzlement totaling $953 and one count of filing a false Form LM-4 report. He pled guilty to one count of fabrication of an annual financial report filed by a labor union. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
July 31st, 2003	On July 31, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judy Nowak, former treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 1107, was indicted on one count of embezzling "in excess of $10,000" in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
April 22nd, 2003	On April 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Ty Mariner, former treasurer for Branch 3083 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, was indicted on five counts of embezzlement totaling $953 (of the $2,346 specified elsewhere in the indictment) and one count of filing a false Form LM-4 report. He pled not guilty on May 9 at arraignment. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.