Teamsters
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.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| October 26th, 2022 | On October 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli, Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), was sentenced to 19 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and a $200 assessment. Coli previously paid $300,000 in restitution. On July 30, 2019, Coli pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS. |
| July 22nd, 2020 | On July 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice-President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (located in Great Neck, N.Y.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $55,000 with restitution to be determined by the court. On December 12, 2019, Ulrich pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labors Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| March 11th, 2020 | On March 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Judith Barker, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 519 (located in Knoxville, Tenn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $5,400 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On November 7, 2019, Barker pleaded guilty to failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office. |
| December 12th, 2019 | On December 12, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Ulrich, former Vice-President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812 (located in Great Neck, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| November 7th, 2019 | On November 7, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Judith Barker, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 519 (located in Knoxville, Tenn.), pleaded guilty to failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville |
| July 30th, 2019 | On July 30, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John T. Coli Sr., former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a prohibited payment as a union officer, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186(b)(1) and 186(d)(2), and one count of making a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS. |
| August 24th, 2018 | On August 24, 2018, in the United States District Court Southern District of Illinois, Scott Alexander and Nancy Alexander, former President and former office administrator, respectively, for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), were each sentenced to six months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be served concurrently, six months of home confinement, and three years of probation. They were also ordered to pay $44,576 in restitution and a $200 court assessment. On May 17, 2018, Scott Alexander and Nancy Alexander pleaded guilty to embezzlement and wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office. |
| June 11th, 2018 | On June 11, 2018, in the 185th District Court, Harris County of Texas, David Carter, former President of Teamsters Local 968 (located in Houston, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of Class A Theft in the amount of $2,443, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(e)(3). On the same date, Carter was sentenced to two years deferred adjudication and ordered to pay $2,443 in restitution. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans Office. |
| May 17th, 2018 | On May 17, 2018, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, Scott Alexander, former president for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of wire fraud, in violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 USC 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office. |
| May 17th, 2018 | On May 17, 2018, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, Nancy Alexander, former office administrator for Teamsters Local 50 (located in Belleville, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of wire fraud, in violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 USC 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office. |
| January 24th, 2017 | On January 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Louis Smith, former President of Teamsters Local 810 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $151,481 in forfeiture. Smith had already paid $213,264 in restitution to the local's health and welfare fund. On August 5, 2016, Smith pled guilty to conspiracy to solicit and receive kickbacks in an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 1954. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the NYPD, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. |
| August 5th, 2016 | On August 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Louis Smith, former President of Teamsters Local 810 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Kickbacks to Influence the Operation of an Employee Benefit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, in the amount of $151,481. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| August 5th, 2016 | On August 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Louis Smith, former President of Teamsters Local 810 (located in New York, N.Y.), pled guilty to Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Kickbacks to Influence the Operation of an Employee Benefit Plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, in the amount of $151,481. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| August 3rd, 2016 | On August 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for Middle District of Florida, Robert J. Tuttle, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 173 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $2,621 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On April 6, 2016, Tuttle pled guilty to making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office. |
| July 18th, 2016 | On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central Region of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation, fined $2,500, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,009. On February 5, 2016, Conner pled guilty to a one-count information for falsifying union records in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General. |
| July 18th, 2016 | On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central Region of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation, fined $2,500, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,009. On February 5, 2016, Conner pled guilty to a one-count information for falsifying union records in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General. |
| April 6th, 2016 | On April 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Robert J. Tuttle, Jr., former President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 173 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), pled guilty to making false entries in records required to be kept by the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c), for concealing his embezzlement of approximately $11,275. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office. |
| March 23rd, 2016 | On March 23, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James Deamicis, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to one year and one day of confinement and one year of probation. Deamicis was also ordered to pay $42,091 in restitution as well as a $700 special assessment and forfeiture. On November 9, 2015, Deamicis was found guilty of three counts of extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. On November 30, 2015, Deamicis pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of government funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341 and 18 U.S.C. 641, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Department of LaborÕs Office of the Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| March 23rd, 2016 | On March 23, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James Deamicis, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to one year and one day of confinement and one year of probation. Deamicis was also ordered to pay $42,091 in restitution as well as a $700 special assessment and forfeiture. On November 9, 2015, Deamicis was found guilty of three counts of extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. On November 30, 2015, Deamicis pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of government funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341 and 18 U.S.C. 641, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| February 5th, 2016 | On February 5, 2016, in the United Stated District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President and Business Agent of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), pled guilty to making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General. |
| February 5th, 2016 | On February 5, 2016, in the United Stated District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Jerry L. Conner, former President and Business Agent of Teamsters Local 279 (located in Decatur, Ill.), pled guilty to making false entries in financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General. |
| December 10th, 2015 | On December 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Vincent, former President of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement with location monitoring and three years of probation, and he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $22,251 and a $425 special assessment. On August 17, 2105, Vincent pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,272, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 13 counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The $22,251 in restitution consists of the embezzled amount and funds obtained through an unearned vacation advance |
| December 10th, 2015 | On December 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Vincent, former President of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement with location monitoring and three years of probation, and he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $22,251 and a $425 special assessment. On August 17, 2105, Vincent pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,272, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 13 counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The $22,251 in restitution consists of the embezzled amount and funds obtained through an unearned vacation advance/illegal loan from Teamsters Local 783 to which Vincent did not plead guilty. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office. |
| November 30th, 2015 | On November 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James ÒJimmy the BullÓ Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, and one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641, for collection of $41,391 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| November 30th, 2015 | On November 30, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, James ÄúJimmy the BullÄù Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, and one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641, for collection of $41,391 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| November 17th, 2015 | On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after a one week trial, James ÒJimmy the BullÓ Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was found guilty of Hobbs Act extortion, attempted extortion, and extortion conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. Deamicis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2016. The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| November 17th, 2015 | On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after a one week trial, James ÄúJimmy the BullÄù Deamicis, former Steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was found guilty of Hobbs Act extortion, attempted extortion, and extortion conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. Deamicis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2016. The guilty verdict follows a multi-agency investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| September 24th, 2015 | On September 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,011 and a fine of $1,000. On June 29, 2015, Flaherty pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud for defrauding the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Assistance of unemployment insurance benefits. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department. |
| September 24th, 2015 | On September 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,011 and a fine of $1,000. On June 29, 2015, Flaherty pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud for defrauding the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Assistance of unemployment insurance benefits. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department. |
| August 17th, 2015 | On August 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Jerry Vincent, former President of Teamsters Local 783 (located in Louisville, Ky.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,272 and 13 counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office. |
| June 29th, 2015 | On June 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for collection of $21,011 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department. |
| June 29th, 2015 | On June 29, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Thomas Flaherty, former member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 82 (located in South Boston, Mass.), pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, for collection of $21,011 in overpaid state unemployment insurance benefits while working as a member of Local 82. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Boston Police Department. |
| July 11th, 2013 | On July 11, 2013, in the Circuit Court’s First Municipal District of Cook County, Illinois, Anna Ippolito, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 734 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of theft and one count of forgery. On May 9, 2013, Ippolito was indicted on three counts of forgery and one count of theft totaling more than $10,000 and less than $100,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Chicago Police Department. |
| November 8th, 2012 | On November 8, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Forbes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 1129 (located in Cartersville, Ga.), was sentenced to eight months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,952.57. On August 28, 2012, Forbes pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office. |
| August 28th, 2012 | On August 28, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Forbes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 1129 (located in Cartersville, Ga.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On the same day, Forbes pled guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and the Tampa Resident Investigator Office. |
| May 7th, 2012 | On May 7, 2012, in the St. Louis County District Court of Minnesota, James Michael Hill, former Treasurer of Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC-IBT) Local 76-C (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of felony theft by swindle of over $5,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. |
| March 21st, 2012 | On March 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District, John Gianonne, former Vice President of Teamsters Local 706 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to three months of home confinement, one year of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Gianonne previously paid restitution. On December 7, 2011, Gianonne pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzlement of union funds totaling $11,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| July 7th, 2011 | On July 7, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit of DuPage County, Illinois, Larry F. Shelton, former Steward of Teamsters Local 754 (located in Elmhurst, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 25 months probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $600. A criminal complaint filed on June 7, 2010 charged Shelton with one count of deception (bad check) over $150. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| June 21st, 2011 | On June 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Mark Winfield Tracy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and restitution of $87,119. On December 6, 2010, Tracy pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On March 3, 2010, Tracy was indicted on one count of embezzling $125,000 in union funds, one count of filing false Form LM-2 reports, one count of falsifying union records, and one count of willfully concealing and/or destroying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. |
| December 13th, 2010 | On December 13, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Jo Ann Duffy, former Project Organizer for the Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to 36 months probation, 50 hours of community service, and counseling for gambling. Duffy was also ordered to pay restitution of $13,738 to the bonding company at $50 per month. On September 1, 2010, Duffy pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $13,738 from the union in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing followed an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| December 6th, 2010 | On December 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Mark Winfield Tracy, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. On March 3, 2010, Tracy was indicted on one count of embezzling $125,000 in union funds, one count of filing false Form LM-2 reports, one count of falsifying union records, and one count of willfully concealing and/or destroying union records. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. |
| September 3rd, 2010 | On September 3, 2010, in the Clinton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Daniel Graves, former President of Teamsters Local 1224 (located in Wilmington, Ohio), pled guilty to persistent disorderly conduct. Graves was then sentenced to 30 days incarceration, to be suspended pending good behavior. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |
| September 1st, 2010 | On September 1, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Joe Ann Duffy, former Project Organizer for the Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,738. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| July 15th, 2010 | On July 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Stacey Spalding, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 215 (located in Evansville, Ind.), was sentenced to one year at a work release facility and two years probation, and was ordered to pay $29,499 in restitution to Zurich Insurance of North America and $100 in court fees. Additionally, Spalding was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,597 for money diverted from various 401(k) accounts. On May 19, 2010, Spalding pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,516. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |
| May 19th, 2010 | On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Stacey Spalding, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 215 (located in Evansville, Ind.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $29,516. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |
| February 11th, 2010 | On February 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Rumore, former President of Teamsters Local 812 and Teamsters Joint Council 16 (located in Scarsdale, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation including three months of home confinement and a fine in the amount of $10,000. On February 11, 2010, Runmore pled guilty to making a false statement when he failed to disclose income he received in the form of personal services by multiple employees of Local 812. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.) |
| February 11th, 2010 | On February 11, 2010 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Rumore, former President of Teamsters Local 812 and Teamsters Joint Council 16 (located in Scarsdale, N.Y.), plead guilty to making a false statement when he failed to disclose income he received in the form of personal services by multiple employees of Local 812. |
| January 8th, 2010 | On January 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Monica Peaslee, former office manager of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), was sentenced to 48 months probation and ordered to pay $12,479.99 in restitution and a $100 assessment. On October 2, 2009, Peaslee pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,156 and falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. |
| October 2nd, 2009 | On October 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Monica Peaslee, former office manager of Teamsters Local 533 (located in Reno, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,156. On July 22, 2009, Peaslee was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount and one count of falsifying union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. |
| August 20th, 2009 | On August 20, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Daniel Fortier, former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 970 and former President of Teamsters Joint Council 32 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,556.65, a $2,000 fine and 150 hours of community service. On April 17, 2009, Fortier pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. |
| May 1st, 2009 | On May 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thaddeus Bania, Richard Lopez and David Rodriguez, former comptroller, Secretary Treasurer and Recording Secretary, and organizer, respectively, of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), were convicted on numerous counts arising from multiple schemes involving the local’s voided October 2004 regular election of officers and a rerun election that was held in December 2004. Bania was found guilty on four counts of mail fraud and six counts of theft of union property. Lopez was found guilty on two substantive counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of union property. Rodriguez was convicted on two counts of mail fraud and three counts of theft of union property. The convictions follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service. |
| April 17th, 2009 | On April 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Daniel Fortier, former Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 970 and former President of Teamsters Joint Council 32 (located in Minneapolis, Minn.), pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with making false entries in union records related to an embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,202.61. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office. |
| March 23rd, 2009 | On March 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert Walston, former President of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft from a labor organization and one count of embezzlement of property and other assets of a labor organization in connection with his role in rigging the 2004 elections of union officers. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service. |
| March 5th, 2009 | On March 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Cassandra Mosley, former Business Agent of Teamsters Local 743 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and theft from a labor organization and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service. |
| July 7th, 2008 | On July 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Heather Lott, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 19 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,952. On April 7, 2008, Lott pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $140,000. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General. |
| May 9th, 2008 | On May 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kathy Thompson, former employee of Teamsters Local 325 (located in Rockford, Ill.), was sentenced to five years probation, including seven months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to liquidate her retirement savings account and pay approximately $29,000 in restitution. On December 17, 2007, Thompson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $33,770. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General. |
| April 7th, 2008 | On April 7, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Heather Lott, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 19, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $140,000. Lott was also ordered to make full restitution. On October 18, 2007, Lott was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. |
| December 17th, 2007 | On December 17, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed against Kathleen Thompson, former employee of Teamsters Local 325, charging her with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $33,770. On December 21, 2007, Thompson pled guilty to the offense. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General. PDF |
| June 21st, 2007 | On June 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Kenneth E. Hilbish, former President of Teamsters Local 528, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,000 and pay a special assessment fee of $100. Hilbish was also barred from holding union office for 13 years. From 2001-2002, Hilbish unlawfully obtained assets of Local 528 totaling $21,305. On October 20, 2006, Hilbish pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office and Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General. |
| December 8th, 2006 | On December 8, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Charles Crawley, former President of Teamsters Local 988, was found guilty of mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the local union members' right to honest services by using the mail during an October 2002 union officer election. Crawley was also convicted of embezzling union property in the form of a ballot and address labels in connection with the election. In addition, he was convicted of arranging and accepting a $20,000 kickback from the installer of a telephone system into the union's hall and of falsifying the voucher for the telephone installation. On June 8, 2006, Crawley was charged with one count each of mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $20,000. The conviction follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office, the FBI, and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General. |
| March 23rd, 2006 | On March 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard Lyter, former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $1,002.74 in unpaid restitution to the union and to notify his current employer of his conviction within 30 days. On December 13, 2005, Lyter pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records as part of his scheme to embezzle more than $14,100 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| February 16th, 2006 | On February 16, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Marcia Huizenga, former bookkeeper and office manager for Teamsters Local 822, was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by five months of home detention and three years of supervised probation. Huizenga was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 4, 2005, Huizenga pled guilty to one count of embezzling $47,131 in union funds. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| February 6th, 2006 | On February 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE), Local 5, and former President of Unity House, a non-profit labor organization that provides benefits to about 20,000 members and retirees of HERE Local 5 and Teamsters Local 996, entered into a plea agreement in which Rutledge pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying a tax return and was sentenced to three years probation. Under terms of the plea agreement, Rutledge must permanently disassociate himself from Unity House, which his father, Art Rutledge, founded in 1951. Rutledge's son, Aaron, pled guilty to one count of witness harassment and was sentenced to one year probation. Under terms of his plea agreement, Aaron Rutledge must resign immediately as Executive Vice President of Unity House and must disassociate himself from the organization and its assets while on probation. In August 2003, both Anthony and Aaron Rutledge were indicted for skimming $350,000 in earnings from the family's Waikiki Beach concession stand from 1992 to 1997 and using the money as a slush fund. A superseding indictment in December 2003 alleged that Anthony Rutledge had tried to divert a portion of Unity House's $42.2 million in assets to overseas investments in an apparent attempt to circumvent the ongoing criminal investigation. Twelve other fraud charges against him were dismissed as part of the agreement. The guilty pleas follow an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of the Inspector General. |
| December 13th, 2005 | On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Richard Lyter, former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of making false entries in union records. Lyter charged meals with his wife on his union credit card and then wrote false names and business purposes in the union records to make it appear that these meals were for legitimate union purposes. Lyter wrote false information on union records for more than 300 meals totaling over $14,100. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| November 7th, 2005 | On November 7, 2005 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Marcia Huizenga, former bookkeeper and office manager for Teamsters Local 822, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds totaling $47,131. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. |
| August 25th, 2005 | On August 25, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Anthony Rutledge, former financial secretary-treasurer of Local 5, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, and former president of Unity House, an umbrella organization that provides benefits to members of Local 5 and Teamsters Local 996, pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying a tax return. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office, DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, among others. |
| June 18th, 2004 | On June 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Lynn Dianne Kittelson, former secretary for Teamsters Local 142, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. She was subsequently sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to undergo monthly drug testing. On January 30, 2004, an information was filed against Kittelson following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. |
| January 9th, 2003 | On January 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kenneth D. Stacey, former president of Teamsters Local 651, was sentenced to one year of probation with four months of home confinement and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a $100 assessment. Full restitution was made when Stacey pled guilty to embezzling $10,359.93 in union funds on September 26, 2002. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |
| December 12th, 2002 | On December 12, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Cathy R. Josselyn, former bookkeeper for Teamsters Local 853, was sentenced to one year of probation, fined $25, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Josselyn pled guilty on September 9, 2002, to making false entries in union financial records following a joint investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. |
| October 31st, 2002 | On October 31, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Roberta Cabral, a former Unity House consultant, was sentenced to ten months imprisonment and three years of probation. She was also ordered to make restitution of $25,000 to Unity House and to perform 2,500 hours of community service. Unity House is a non-profit organization established to benefit members of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 5 and Hawaii Teamsters locals. She had plead guilty on June 17, 2002, to tax evasion for 1992 and 1993, failing to file a federal income tax return for 1994, and wire fraud. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office and other federal law enforcement agencies. |
| September 26th, 2002 | On September 26, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kenneth D. Stacey, former president of Teamsters Local 651, pled guilty after being charged in a one-count information with embezzling $10,359.93 in union funds. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |
| September 9th, 2002 | On September 9, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Cathy R. Josselyn, former bookkeeper of Teamsters Local 853, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union financial records, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. |
| June 17th, 2002 | On June 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Roberta Cabral, a former Unity House consultant, pled guilty to three felony charges of evading personal income taxes in 1992 and 1993 and wire fraud for attempting to defraud Unity House. She also pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to file an individual federal income tax return for 1994. Unity House is a non-profit organization established to benefit members of Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 5 and Hawaii Teamsters locals. The fraud involved a kickback scheme to defraud Unity House by inflating the costs of producing a television movie. Cabral had been indicted on May 4, 2000 on charges of wire fraud in the amount of $150,000 following a joint investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office and other federal law enforcement agencies. |
| March 28th, 2002 | On March 28, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jessie A. McGee, former business agent of Teamsters Local 891, pled guilty to making false entries in union records and was sentenced to two years probation. He had previously made restitution of $2,782 to the union. He had been indicted earlier on one count of embezzlement and one count of falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office. |
| August 30th, 2001 | On August 30, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Stanley Bennett, former secrretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 1137, was sentenced to three years probation; fined $200; ordered to serve four months of home detention, including two months with electric monitoring; and ordered to make restitution of $6,477.56. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. |