The .gov means its official. 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 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. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23. Annual reports from the Department of Labor from 2008 through 2017 illustrate chronic embezzlement totaling millions. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office. On March 6, 2009, Acevedo pled guilty to attempted theft. On September 15, 2008, a jury found Cook guilty of one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. On June 8, 2009, in the Oneida (N.Y.) City Court, Gail Shingler, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 53 (located in Oneida, N.Y.), was charged with two counts of grand larceny, in the fourth degree. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, LaRose Elsezy, former administrative assistant and bookkeeper of AFGE Local 1923, was indicted on one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of aiding and abetting. On October 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Belinda K. Woods, former President of Communications Workers (CWA) Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of supervised release, ordered to pay the remaining amount of restitution owed ($9,991.86) within 30 days of the judgment and pay a $125 special assessment. Sergio Acosta oversawthe benefit plan for UAW Local 2326 and, authorities say,conspired with Lawrence Ackerman, who is accused of creating two shell companies to market health insurance to about 700 ineligible participants from across the country, New Jersey Advance Media reported. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Officials say the headmaster at Union Academy charter school will not return after her contract expires at the end of June. 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. The case follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Investigator Office. Free Press staff writer Eric D. Lawrence contributed to this report. On October 7, 2008, Ethington plead guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. On October 2, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Ray Horton, former employee of United Steelworkers Local 9443 (located in Robards, Ky.), pled guilty to mail fraud and embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office. Like Jimmy the Bull, the crimes dont stop with Each defendantfaces up to 10 years in prison, if convicted. On October 9, 2009, Spell had been charged with embezzling funds in the same amount. Burkhart pleaded guilty on April 8, 2021, admitting to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets. On May 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.), was sentenced to ten months of home confinement, three years of probation and ordered to make total restitution in the amount of $40,451.03 for embezzling union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office. Garza then used some of the funds to purchase a New Nissan Armada SUV and a condominium located on Gentryside Drive in Houston. On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement, two years probation, and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $25 special assessment. One of these issues is embezzlement. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. U.S. The final of four charged in connection with the theft of $200,000 from a bank in Houston and allegedly transferred to New York has turned herself in to authorities, A 38-year-old resident of Richmond has been charged for operating as a money mule as part of her involvement in a nationwide romance fraud scheme, A 61-year-old man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of money laundering as well as conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud, Southern District of Texas The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Drawdy agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,900. On March 4, 2009, Welch was indicted on one count of embezzlement from a non-profit/charitable organization between $1,000 and $20,000. An agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution AveNW Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A former officer of the UAW was implicated in allegedly defrauding the FCA National Training Center for personal gain, along with other company officials and a few international reps. We will never tolerate this type of misconduct,. WebEmbezzlement was created by the English legislature, which designated specific persons who might be liable for the offense. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office. On February 24, 2009, Vincent pled guilty to two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of 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. On May 18, 2009, in the 61st District Court of Kent County, Michigan, Kevin Welch, former Financial Secretary of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84-415 (located in Grand Rapids, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of incarceration (suspended), placed on probation for a period of one year, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,759.55 and fined $25. On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Postal Services Office of Inspector General. Fonti was then sentenced to two years supervised probation and fined $1,000. On November 18, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Sonia McGuire, former-treasurer of America Postal Workers Union, Local 3434, (Decatur, Ga.), plead guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,023.12. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office and the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General. On February 11, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Christina Geathers, former Financial Secretary/Treasurer ofSteelworkers Local 357 (located in Georgetown, S.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling approximately $36,865 and two counts of filing false LM-3 reports. Federal prosecutors say UAW leader Vance Pearson conspired with other union officials to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars in union money. The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) opened an investigation after an internal audit by Steelworkers Local 145 revealed a loss of union funds. Thomas Burkhart Jr. was trusted by local union members as their president but instead abused his position to steal nearly $20,000 for his own personal use, said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. In February 2017, the business manager of Washington, D.C.s Laborers Local 657 was sentenced to four years in prison. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. On September 2, 2009, Witham pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. On October 13, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael Kelly, former Treasurer of Untied Transportation Union (UTU) Local 586 (located in Lexington, Ohio), was sentenced to one year and a day confinement, three years supervised release, and ordered to make full restitution. 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 February 3, 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.), pled guilty to a one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,269.85. Ann Walters, headmaster at Union Academy Charter School for the past six years, spoke at the school's Class of 2019 graduation ceremony on Thursday night, but the next day she 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. 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. The plea and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Individual cases compiled by the Office of Labor-Management Standards last year cite theft and fraud ranging from $1,051 to nearly $6.5 million. On May 6, 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.), pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in or willful concealment of books and records. On May 13, 2009, Pfeiffer pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,051. On March 12, 2009, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Larry Ramsey, former secretary-treasurer of the Representatives and Organizers Union (located in St. Louisville, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling $163,222 in union funds. @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} Regardless, it is clear that union corruption is alive and well across the country. Every penny we have comes from the 5,000 hardworking men and women, he said. On September 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Fawne Lei-Petersen, former office manager of Painters Local 300 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 7 months of home confinement, and 36 months of supervised release. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office. ), admitted to sufficient facts to a charge of larceny over $250. On February 3, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Donna Roles, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 14310 (located in Mt. On December 11, 2009, in the Criminal District Court Number 6, Dallas County, Texas, Bobby Earl Williams, former President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1635 (formerly located in Dallas, Texas), pled guilty to check forgery. On October 22, 2008, Huss pled guilty to two counts of falsification of union records. On June 30, 2009, Tidwell had pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount and one count of forfeiture. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Gallant and David D. Whipple prosecuted the case. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. The UAW says this illustrates that its constitutionprovides the intended checks and balancesthat essentially requiretwo keys and conspiracyto steal. Ironically, the jobs he strong-armed were for friends and family members, some of whom werent even union members. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office. I mean, the teacher at my sons high school just embezzled from the homecoming fund.. What Are Some High Profile Cases of Embezzlement in Unions? On April 3, 2007, Brown was indicted on eight counts of embezzling union and apprenticeship funds totaling over $86,500. ), admitted to sufficient facts to the charge of larceny over $250 by a single scheme. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. The admission follows an investigation bythe OLMS Boston District Office and the Massachusetts State Police. 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. 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 August 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Linda Tickle, former employee of Machinist Local 56 and Machinists Local 1458 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was indicted on two counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $30,173.27. Indeed, prosecutors saytheft is common from nonprofits and small businesses,and often goes undetected for years. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office. The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Buffalo District Office. 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. On May 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeffrey C. Harris, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders and Plastics Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind. Subsequently, Holmes was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,350. Tulsa, OK 74119, Phone:(918) 382-2700 Laborers Local 657 in Washington, D.C., saw its business manager sentenced to four years in prison in February 2017 for embezzlement and was ordered to pay $1,632,000 in restitution. On June 8, 2009,Brownlee pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,221.30. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office. On June 8, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Brian Brownlee, former Vice-President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) 2nd District (located in Hot Springs, Ark. On September 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Nicholas Maddalone and Paul Maddalone, former Executive Board Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 (the primary union that represents school bus drivers in New York City), pled guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion for participation in a scheme, along with other union officials, to use their union positions and the fear of economic harm to obtain cash bribes from employers. At the time, we were giving out food boxes and Meijer gift cards. Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday his office filed charges against Hernandez and her husband, Jose Moscoso, on Oct. 4. On June 17, 2009, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Rhonda Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers Local 481 (located in Baltimore, Md. Williams was sentenced to twelve months deferred probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75, a fine of $1,000, and court costs of $194.00. More unions are seeking to take decisive action when theres the possibility of embezzlement occurring. Embezzlement can be a tricky situation with all of the money that flows into unions. Its everywhere. Jones was sentenced to one year probation. Lopez was found guilty on two substantive counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of union property. HOUSTON The former superintendent of Houston Gateway Academy has been ordered to federal prison after taking more than a million dollars, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. On December 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Roger Wuest, former Secretary-Treasurer of Security Police and Fire Professionals (SPFPA) (located in San Bernardino, Calif.), was sentenced to one year of probation. 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. It oversees more than a dozen local unions representing state workers, education workers, healthcare workers and others. Postal Inspection Service. On March 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,074.23 and a $100 special assessment.On November 20, 2008, Bohanon pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } Its counterproductive. On November 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Edward Kobe, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment 325 (located in Duluth, Minn.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,200. On January 30, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eugene Huss, former Area Vice President of Steelworkers Local 20 (located in Kaukauna, Wis.), was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,000 and pay a $100 fine.