The Ingham County DA made headlines for prosecuting 53 embezzlement cases in 2014, up from 35 cases the year prior, according to the Lansing State Journal. Hope, W.Va.), was sentenced to one month of incarceration, three years supervised release, ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70,000 (of which $1,775 has already been repaid) and pay a $100 special assessment. On April 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Belinda K. Woods, former President of Communications Workers Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,988.86 and one count of falsifying union records. 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. Russia was also charged with receiving stolen property. .manual-search-block #edit-actions--2 {order:2;} On September 16, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanne R. Brophy, former office manager for Ironworkers Local 379 (located in Lafayette, Ind. On July 31, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Dianne Drawdy, former Financial Secretary of Security Police Fire Professionals Local 576 (located in Baxley, Ga.) pled guilty to embezzling union funds. They were allegedly working together to take a million dollars from the self-insured health plan of the union. The union represents more than 700,000 workers - including nearly 60,000 Northern California workers through its Local 1021, and is politically influential, regularly donating millions to Democratic candidates. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office. Copyright 2019 WBTV. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. On December 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Dianne Drawdy, former Financial Secretary of Security Police Fire Professionals Local 576 (located in Baxley, Ga.), was sentenced to six months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $ 18, 818.74. On December 1, 2008, an information was filed charging Holman with the same offense. .usa-footer .container {max-width:1440px!important;} 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. ), admitted to sufficient facts to the charge of larceny over $250 by a single scheme. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. Any negative publicity is a tremendous blow to a union. On September 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Karen Snelling, former Treasurer of Communication Workers Local 34014 (located in Gary, Ind. Additionally, Roles was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation. He said the team has implemented as many safeguards as possible, with multiple signatures required on all financial paperwork with real-time bank account reviews. On August 8, 2008, Della Porta was indicted on one count of embezzling approximately $108,000 in union funds. Have a question about Government Services? Usually, the crimes are committed by the union local's bookkeeper, president or treasurer. On February 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Scott Gehringer, former President of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 594 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including two months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.Gehringer had previously made a restitution payment in the amount $547. On July 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Secretary-Treasurer for the United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Crestline, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $97,970.71. Under terms of a plea deal with federal prosecutors, Edmunds could be sentenced to up to 57 months in prison on charges of money laundering and embezzlement. On July 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Hernandez, former Secretary Treasurer and former Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 60 (located in San Antonio, Texas), was charged in a one count indictment with embezzling funds from an employee benefit plan. As part of its effort to protect and safeguard union funds and assets, OLMS investigates possible embezzlement from unions and other violations of criminal laws. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. 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. On March 19, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James A. Decker, former Treasurer of Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Brownlee falsified travel vouchers, per diem, lodging, and lost time claims. Casesinvolved unions representing nurses, aerospace engineers, firefighters, teachers, film and TV artists, air traffic controllers, musicians, bus inspectors, bakery workers, roofers, postal workers, machinists, ironworkers,steelworkers, dairy workers, plasterers, train operators, plumbers, stagehands, engineers, electricians, heat insulators, missile range workers andbricklayers. The charge follows and investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office. On July 1, 2009, Wheeler had pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. Of course, the shocking data from the Department of Labor only includes the cases where the theft, racketeering and other criminal activity were caught. SACRAMENTO (AP) The top staff member at California's largest labor union has resigned after she and her husband were charged with felonies including tax fraud. Gambling addiction is an issue at times. OLMS has investigated and prosecuted union leaders for embezzling more than $100 million in union dues since 2001. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. As the UAW,Fiat Chrysler and federal investigators unravel a scandal over the misappropriation of millions ofdollars meant for worker training, federal records show that embezzling from union offices is endemic around the country. 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. 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. 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. It should be a daily concern for business owners, said Amy Buben, a certified fraud examiner with Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants, which works with the Michigan Small Business Association. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS On February 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Milton Smith, a New York City Department of Education School Bus Inspector, was found guilty of extorting and accepting bribes in a program receiving federal funds. ADVERTISEMENT Priest charged with stealing $830,000 from retired priests December 1, 2022 ), were indicted on a combined total of 199 counts of wire fraud. On October 9, 2009, Spell had been charged with embezzling funds in the same amount. The admission follows and investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office. On March 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Don C. Padgett, former secretary treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1304 (located in Greenville, Ill.), was indicted for one count of mail fraud relating to an embezzlement of $186,997. Hernandez also faces two charges of grand theft and one of perjury for her work as treasurer on a 2014 political committee supporting a state Senate candidate. On May 15, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Norman Joseph Stefanik, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1450 (located in Watertown, N.Y.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds. Also, Dallas was prohibited from incurring any additional credit card debts, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, submit to random drug testing and obtain mental health treatment. A lock ( Theplea and charge follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. Brown, former President of Federation of Teachers Local 5095 (located in Butte, Mont. WebThe racketeering charges contained in the indictment are the result of Operation Wax House, an ongoing investigation into securities and mortgage fraud targeting communities in the The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington Distrct Office. Thats a significant amount. ), with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007. On June 9, 2009, in the Brockton, Massachusetts District Court, a criminal complaint was filed charging Joseph Morena, former President of AFGE Locals 25 and 86 (located in Brockton, Mass. In addition, analysts said,lean times have led to cutbacks that limit oversight controls, and employee turnover during hard economic times may help expose wrongdoing. Bania was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and two years supervised release. Alphons Iacobelli, formervice president at FCA, was charged in July 2017 with conspiracy and delivering more than $1.2 million in prohibited payments and things of value to the late General Holiefield, former vice president of the UAW, Holiefield's wife and other UAW officials. On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. On August 6, 2008, ORourke had been charged in a two-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $23,057 and falsifying union records. The pleas follow a joint investigation of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents drivers for school bus companies in New York City) as well as the New York City school bus industry by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.