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.

Date	Description
September 16th, 2022	On September 16, 2022, in the Southern District of Mississippi, Benton Ryals, former Financial Secretary of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1437 (located in Laurel, Miss.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
August 24th, 2022	On August 24, 2022, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Kyle Adcock, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 220 (located in Helena, Mont.), was charged with forgery of a security, the falsification of annual financial disclosure reports, and the embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,725, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513, 29 U.S.C. 439(b), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco Seattle District Office.
June 16th, 2022	On June 16, 2022, in the Trial Court of Massachusetts, Wareham District Court, Brian Simmons, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 18 (located in Middleboro, Mass.), was charged with one count of larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c.266, §30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
November 18th, 2021	On November 18, 2021, in the Oakland County, Michigan Circuit Court, Robyn Williams, President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 320 (located in Waterford, Mich.), was charged with one count of false pretenses of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, one count of false pretenses of $200 or more but less than $1,000, and one count of larceny by conversion of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, in violation of Michigan Complied Laws 750.218(4)(a), 750.218(3)(a), and 750.362(3)(a), respectively. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Services Office of Inspector General.
November 16th, 2021	On November 16, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kenneth Baumgarner, President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1147 (located in Grand Haven, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $6,600, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal Services Office of the Inspector General.
August 31st, 2020	On August 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of embezzlement and theft of union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Services Office of the 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.
April 19th, 2018	On April 19, 2018, in the Williams County (North Dakota) NW Judicial District Court, Kenneth Keith Kirk Evans, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1494 (located in Williston, N.D.), was charged in a one-count complaint with theft of property, a Class C felony, in violation of North Dakota Century Code Sections 12.1-23-02(1) and 12.1-23-05(3). The complaint alleges that Evans exercised unauthorized control of between $3,500 and $3,600 in funds belonging to NALC Branch 1494 with the intent of depriving Branch 1494 of said property, knowing that he was not privileged to do so. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 13th, 2017	On March 13, 2017, in the United States District Court Northern District of Indiana, Fenna F. Saylors, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 378 (located in Marion, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,647, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
August 10th, 2016	On August 10, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Brian Cisek, former Sergeant-at-Arms of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 56 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee 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.
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 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.
September 6th, 2011	On September 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,081.51. Wyda was then sentenced to two years probation, a substance abuse evaluation, and was ordered to pay a $250 fine, a $100 special assessment, and restitution in the amount $316.51 for remaining funds owed. Additionally, the court ordered that Wyda is prohibited from incurring any credit card charges until all payments are received by the court. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia 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.
May 19th, 2011	On May 19, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Max Messamore, former President of Letter Carriers Branch 2309 (located in Somerset, Ky.), pled guilty to an information charging him with failure to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
March 25th, 2011	On March 25, 2011, in the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno, Oklahoma, an information was filed against Robert A. Ramirez, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 973 (located in El Reno, Okla.), charging him with 17 counts of uttering a forged instrument, in violation of Oklahoma State Statue 21 O.S. 1577. Ramirez pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
March 21st, 2011	On March 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $14,081.51, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
March 3rd, 2011	On March 3, 2011, in the Green Lake County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, a complaint was filed against Nancy Kumbier, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1144 (located in Berlin, Wis.), charging her with Theft in a Business Setting (between $2,500 and $5,000), in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf). The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
February 22nd, 2011	On February 22, 2011, in the Magistrate Court for the State of New Mexico, a criminal complaint was filed against Kasey L. McCalmon, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1509 (located in Silver City, N.M.), for the crime of embezzlement in the amount of $5,330.24. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
January 27th, 2011	On January 27, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Southern Division, Max Messamore, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 2039 (located in Somerset, Ky.), was charged with embezzling union funds totaling $2,293.77. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
April 28th, 2010	On April 28, 2010, in the 60th District Court of Muskegon County, Michigan, a misdemeanor complaint was filed charging Jamie Nielsen, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 13 (located in Muskegon, Mich.), with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more but less than $1,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
March 24th, 2010	On March 24, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Steven J McDeid, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 388 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $51,639.61. On March 5, 2010, McDeid was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 5th, 2010	On March 5, 2010 in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, an information was filed charging Steven J McDeid, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 388 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), with one count of embezzling $51,639.61. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Office.
April 3rd, 2009	On April 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Richard M. Clark, former Secretary Treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 468 (located in Bowling Green, Ky.), was charged with embezzling $18,680 in union funds and concealing and destroying union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
July 27th, 2007	On July 27, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed against William J. Pagano, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 78, charging him with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $66,759.18. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
July 2nd, 2007	On July 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, an information was filed against Jose Ocasio, former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 404, charging him with making false entries in union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
October 30th, 2006	On October 30, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, an information was filed against Allison Cole, former office secretary for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 30, charging her with one count of making false entries in union records. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
December 3rd, 2003	On December 3, 2003, Willie Dell Clark, former treasurer of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 36, the nation's largest Letter Carrier affiliate representing over 6,300 members, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service at her home in Denmark, South Carolina, after allegedly fleeing the jurisdiction of New York. On November 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, an arrest warrant was issued against Clark charging her with using her position to embezzle approximately $69,000 in union funds between January 1999 and July 2001. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
October 17th, 2003	On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, an information was filed against Sandra Briggs, former Treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 378, charging her with one count of false recordkeeping. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago 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.
June 20th, 2002	On June 20, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Lenette Kendrick, former secretary-treasurer of the Rural Letter Carriers in Clallam and Jefferson Counties, pled guilty to a one-count information that had been filed on May 30, 2002, charging her with false reporting. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
May 14th, 2001	On May 14, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Glenn Reys, former secretary-treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 4644, entered a guilty plea to one count of embezzling $2,000 in union funds and one count of filing a false labor organization annual report, Form LM-4. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
March 20th, 2001	On March 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Comerford, former treasurer of Letter Carriers Branch 31, pled guilty to one count of embezzling in excess of $10,000 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.