On May 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Steve Pfeiffer, former Secretary/Treasurer of IATSE Local 60 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. Sadly, fraud can destroy a companys trust, impact it financially, and in some cases, shut it right down. On November 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Warren Demmin, former Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Local Lodge 449 (located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), was indicted on four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $681.44. A boilermakers union official had a taste for luxury goods, but most of the stealing was small-scale. Bokaiyan, 58, Houston, had also pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and was ordered to pay $156,595 in restitution. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. On October 23, 2008, St. John was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $24,000. A sentence is a judicial determination of the punishment to be imposed on an individual who has plead guilty or has been convicted by a jury or judge of a criminal offense. The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) opened an investigation after an internal audit by Steelworkers Local 145 revealed a loss of union funds. On October 22, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Timmy R. Peltier, former Secretary Treasurer of Independent Loomis Security Employees Union (located in Cudahy, Wis.), with making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the union's 2006 and 2007 annual financial reports. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} On December 7, 2009, in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Kentucky, Mark Owens, former Financial Secretary of Machinists Local Lodge 366W (located in Lebanon, Ky.), was charged with theft by unlawful taking in the amount of $200.00. The sentencing and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. Its typically a very trusted relationship with somebody who has been with the company a long time and has access to be able to get away with the fraud. Per the agreement, White agreed to restitution in the same amount, and to reimburse the local $10,125 for expenses it incurred in its internal investigation. Baker misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members' signatures on the union's check register for 101 checks.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. They were allegedly working together to take a million dollars from the self-insured health plan of the union. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. Walston, Bania and Mosley were ordered to pay restitution totaling $900,936. 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. The board says Dr. Walters will be employed by Union Academy until the end of June when her contract expires. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. Steinruck previously made restitution in the amount of $1,987. They also said that labor unions operate on shoestring budgets and often lack resources needed to provide oversight. All Rights Reserved. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office. ), was sentenced to five years of probation, which included six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,085.56 for the charge of embezzlement of union funds. Union Academy headmaster will not return after contract expires, 8-year-old helps raise money for favorite Waffle House worker in need of car, Authorities safely locate missing 12-year-old Gaston County girl, Huntersville Police chief to retire later this year after nearly four decades of service, North Carolina Supreme Court to revisit school funding, Vigil held Saturday in memory of three men killed in Rock Hill 25 years ago, Re-using the cheater beans from breakfast for dinner with Chef Elizabeth, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and two years of supervised release. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States Northern District of Oklahoma The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. Union FactsUnion Facts Its just access to money., He added, "These people view themselves as overworked and underpaid. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. Texas largest charter school network ousted two of its top leaders and is working with authorities after a forensic review revealed some administrators used school On July 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Terry Hacker, former Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE-HERE Local 12 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio) was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $38,146. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. On April 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donna J. Simpson, former secretary for the Steelworkers District 10 office (located in North Versailles, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $87,823.18. Unions are experiencing a time period where they are not overly popular. On September 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Lance Hinerman, Steven Boyles, Daniel Cassidy, current President, former Vice President and former Clerk Craft Director, respectively, of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Central Arkansas Area Local 189 (located in North Little Rock, Ark. ), pled guilty to one count of theft in a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. On May 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Angelo Wiggins, former President of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) Local 408 (located in Mobile, Ala.), was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,269.85. On January 29, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rebecca Montgomery, former bookkeeper/office secretary for the Machinist Eastern Regional Office (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100. On March 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Glen Gard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2460 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $90,500.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office. / CBS San Francisco. UAW Official Nabbed for Embezzlement In the case of embezzlement in unions, money comes in from union dues. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. Assistant U.S. "She was personable and bubbly. 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. ), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,731.54. Official websites use .gov ), with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007. Her current duties have been reassigned and discussed with her. Annual reports from the Department of Labor from 2008 through 2017 illustrate chronic embezzlement totaling millions. The Board looks forward to continuing to work with the school as we fill this important role with its students, faculty, staff, families, and the community in mind.. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,048. Gambling addiction is an issue at times. On August 5, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Audrea Ann Jimenez, former secretary/bookkeeper of Carpenters Local 262 (located in San Jose, Calif.), was sentenced to two years probation and 75 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. On August 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1923 (located in Baltimore, Md. In just the past two years, more than 300 union locations have discovered theft, often resulting in more than one person charged in each instance, the records show. On May 11, 2009, Thomas pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $28,500 in union funds. On September 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Joseph Moon Jr., former President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1626, pled guilty to a criminal information for one count of improper loans from a labor organization. An OLMS investigation concluded that Elsezy created and cashed checks, drawn from the unions bank account, for personal use, affixed the signature stamps of the President and Treasurer, altered the name of the payees in the union's accounting system, and removed checks from the union's records to conceal the true beneficiary of the funds. The incident created distrust that remains years later. .paragraph--type--html-table .ts-cell-content {max-width: 100%;} @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} On February 17, 2009, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Larry Ramsey, former secretary-treasurer of the Representatives and Organizers Union (located in St. Louisville, Ohio), with embezzling $163,222. Will you do the same? Trust is a very large factor. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. Lisa McCormick, chief assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County, noted the current case of St. Martha Parishin Okemos. Gina Balaya, public information officer with the U.S. Attorneys Office in theEastern District of Michigan, said, The U.S. Attorneys Office works closely with the Department of Labor, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes committed in this district, including fraud and embezzlement. As a result, strict regulations regarding financials and audits can help discover this type of crime early on in the process before it becomes such a large issue to handle. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. ), pled guilty to one count of theft over $500 for stealing $5,686 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office. Officer at TXDOT Credit Union in Wichita Falls, Texas Sentenced to On October 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Christopher Scott Tidwell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Union Ind, Local 1261 (located in Lineville, Ala.), was sentenced to 60 months probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,264.08 and a $100 special assessment. Richard Garza, 61, Houston, pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2019. What you find in these embezzlement cases is very trusted employees that have worked for organizations for a number of years. On September 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Alejandro Stephens, former President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660 (now Local 721) (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pled guilty to two counts of mail fraud in connection with income fraudulently received from the Voter Improvement Program of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and one count of filing a false tax return related to his failure to report $35,000 fraudulently received from this fund. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office. On April 7, 2009,in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Constantine Vafias, a contractor, was sentenced to three years probation, 300 hours of community service, forfeiture of $100,000, and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. All orders for restitution payments are to be paid jointly and severally. On October 6, 2008, Roles pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $76,420. Their conviction was for defrauding the union out of three million dollars. An information raises no inference of guilt. Subsequently, Scott was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. ), was indicted on one count of embezzling $18,100 between February 2004 and September 2008. and West Roxbury, Mass. The sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS Dallas District Office, EBSA Dallas District Office, and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. Full restitution was ordered following release from incarceration. On June 26, 2009, in the City Court of Geneva, New York, Bradley Steinruck, former President of Steelworkers Local 828 (located in Geneva, N.Y.), was sentenced to seven days imprisonment, five years of probation, and 200 hours of community service. On July 8, 2009, Horton was charged with mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $19,924. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. On January 5, 2009, Johnson had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $102,519. In lieu of community service hours, Williams was also ordered to make a $175 monetary donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. West previously made full restitution in the amount of $650.Subsequently, West was sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended) and a fine of $20 plus court costs. The trial hasnt been set yet, but they both could see up to 10 years in prison and restitution if found guilty. Usually, its the treasurer, bookkeeper or president actions that come to light. Posted on: November 13, 2021, 11:30h. (Lead Investigator Andrea Welhouse). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office. Dennis Williams, president of the UAW, said the 415,000-member union takes seriously issues of fraud and wrongdoing. Her trial is scheduled for March 19. As part of his plea, Garza admitted he awarded a $280,000 no-bid contract to Ahmed Bokaiyan. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office. 2023 Washington Policy Center All Rights Reserved Terms of Use, Mark Harmsworth talking affordable housing on the Lars Larson Show, Opinion: HB 1011 dies Keep readying for a long-term-care payroll tax starting this summer, HB 1011 dies: Keep readying for a long-term-care payroll tax starting this summer, Survivor: Legislation allowing Washington to join multistate Nurse Licensure Compact is still alive, Seattles social housing authority measure near approval with latest vote count, Elizabeth Hovde on the Lars Larson Show discussing nurse-shortage issues and policy ideas. My office will continue to work with the Office of Labor-Management Standards to ensure corrupt union leaders like Burkhart are held accountable for their crimes.. DETROIT (AP) Members of the United Auto Workers union appeared on Friday to favor replacing many of their current leaders in an election that stemmed from a federal bribery and embezzlement scandal involving former union officials. On August 24, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven Thomas, former Business Manager for Laborers Local 500 (located in Toledo, Ohio) was sentenced to five years probation with three months of location monitoring and 250 hours of community service. Also, Snyder was sentenced to an additional five months home confinement with electronic monitoring as part of three years supervised release.The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the FBI. On February 3, 2009, Rhein pled guilty to a fourteen count indictment that included six counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $43,600 and eight counts of false statements. On August 26, 2008, Simpson was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount.