DESPITE the fact that much of America was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus, as in prior years, numerous union bosses across the nation were caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar.
The list below does not encompass all of the union corruption stories across the nation.
However, these are the cases* of union corruption in 2020, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor.
NOTE: On May 13, 2021, Bloomberg Law reported that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards, “the federal office in charge of policing unions” will be mounting “a more robust defense of organized labor.”
In the future, it is unknown whether the Department of Labor will continue making combatting union corruption a priority or, if so, whether it will make its efforts public, as it has in the past.
On December 3, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sarah Geddes Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $294,585 from the union, forging the signature of the union president on checks, and altering information in the union’s accounting software. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On December 1, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Jennifer Rogers, former member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), pleaded guilty to count one of an indictment charging her with aiding and abetting an embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2. The total loss to the union was approximately $40,455. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On November 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael McKale, an accountant for an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371) and three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(2)). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On November 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Donald “Gus” Dougherty, owner and operator of Dougherty Electric, Inc., an employer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371), six counts of making and subscribing to false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(1)), one count of a false statement to a bank (18 U.S.C. 1014), one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344), 10 counts of false statements – ERISA (18 U.S.C. 1027), and 18 counts of theft from employee benefit plans (18 U.S.C. 664). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On November 23, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sarah Geddes Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $294,585 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On November 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Ashton, former United Auto Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors (GM) Department and former director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 30 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Ashton was also ordered to forfeit $250,000 in proceeds from his crimes and to pay a $200 special assessment. On December 4, 2019, Ashton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. 1956(h)). Ashton knowingly joined a conspiracy whereby he and others used their positions with the UAW and CHR to enrich themselves by obtaining a $250,000 loan from a vendor, assisting the same vendor in obtaining a contract from CHR valued at over $3,900,000, and then suggesting that the profits would repay the vendor what was owed on the loan. After the vendor was awarded the contract from the CHR, Ashton demanded at least $250,000 in kickbacks. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On November 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), was sentenced to 12 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring and three years of supervised release. Garcia was also ordered to pay $119,021 in restitution and a $100 assessment. On June 23, 2020, Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On November 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Michael Johnson, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1658 (located in Pine Bluff, Ark.), was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first six months on a curfew with location monitoring. He was also ordered to pay $9,317 in restitution. On March 6, 2020, Johnson pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On November 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Arthur Penn, former chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police Defense Protective Service Labor Committee (located in Arlington, Va.), was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud for embezzling $384,001 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the FBI.
On November 5, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation on each of the two counts in the indictment (probation to run concurrently) and 60 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $125 special assessment. The court acknowledged that Dye previously paid restitution of $8,490. On July 15, 2020, Dye pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $8,443 and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 439(c), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On November 5, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, Brenda Wilson, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3841 (located in Columbia, S.C.), was indicted for willfully and knowingly making a false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 (a)(2). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On November 2, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Tyrone Johnson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3374 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft having a value of at least $100 but less than $1,500 and one count of embezzlement, in violation of Sections 7-104 and 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On November 2, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Dorothy Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3374 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was indicted on one count of theft having a value of at least $1,500 but less than $25,000 and one count of embezzlement for embezzling $2,206 from the union, in violation of Sections 7-104 and 7-113 of the Maryland Criminal Code, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On October 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Aja Jasmin, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 350C (located in Ontario, Calif.), was charged in a two-count information with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 1028(a)(1), respectively, in a scheme to defraud and embezzle approximately $190,000 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On October 19, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (FOPS) and the former President of the Alliance of Independent Workers (AIW), both located in Owings Mills, Maryland, was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of home detention, and two years of supervised probation for embezzling from both of these unions. King was also ordered to pay $57,328 in restitution. On July 21, 2020, King pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On October 15, 2020, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, a criminal complaint was filed charging Charles Farris, Jr., former President of the New Castle Federation of Teachers (located in New Castle, Pa.), with one misdemeanor count of theft by unlawful taking – movable property, five felony counts of theft by unlawful taking – movable property, and five felony counts of access device fraud – use is unauthorized for any reason, in violation of 18 Pa. Criminal Code 3921(a) and 4106(A1IV), respectively. Farris embezzled approximately $35,887 in federation funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Detective Bureau.
On October 15, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $59,181 in restitution and a $100 assessment. Drain previously paid $50,281 in restitution. On July 13, 2020, Drain pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On October 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, KaSandra Hall, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 235 (located in Killeen, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. Hall committed wire fraud as part of her scheme to defraud and embezzle $12,765 in union funds from Council 235. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On October 13, 2020, in the United States District Court of Massachusetts, Michael Oldham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1900 (located in Taunton, Mass.), was indicted with 29 counts of wire fraud totaling $38,970, one count of false statements, and three counts of filing false tax returns in the amount of $233,970, which resulted in fraudulent refunds totaling $18,237, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), and 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), respectively. The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 853(p) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On October 10, 2020, in the District Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, Quincy Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police Naval District of Washington Labor Committee (located in Washington, D.C.), was charged with one count of theft more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, in violation of Maryland Code Criminal Law Section 7-104. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On October 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Jamie Zambrano and Jose Jesus Mendez, two union employers from Boston, Mass., were indicted on the following charges: one count of conspiracy to defraud, 17 counts of failure to collect and pay over taxes, one count of tax evasion, one count of structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements, and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 26 U.S.C. 7202, 26 U.S.C. 7201, 31 U.S.C. 5324, and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. Zambrano and Mendez conspired to defraud the government by creating two drywall corporations and paying employees cash in order to avoid legal wage rates, IRS payments, and levies. In furtherance of their conspiracy, Zambrano and Mendez used check cashing businesses to cash more than 600 business receipt checks totaling approximately $19 million dollars. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, IRS, and the Rhode Island State Police.
On October 7, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Yvette Luster, former Treasurer of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged with one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $184,138, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.
On October 2, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Byers previously paid $22,000 in restitution. On June 16, 2020, Byers pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On October 1, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), was sentenced to 15 months of home incarceration, four years of probation, and 250 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $116,353 in restitution and a $1,200 assessment. On June 25, 2020, Gannon pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and nine counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 and 18 U.S.C. 513(a), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Matthew Cuomo, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513. Cuomo forged over 50 checks resulting in a $15,000 loss to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Williams, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich.,pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). During the course of the conspiracy, from at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Williams embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $71,500 in union funds, which included accepting a villa in Palm Springs, California in December 2015, 2016, and 2018 that was paid for with UAW funds and $6,000 in golf gift certificates. Throughout the conspiracy, which included many other top UAW officials, including Williams’ successor, Gary Jones, Williams and his co-conspirators embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the UAW for the personal benefit of themselves and other high-ranking UAW officers. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On September 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was sentenced to 30 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $50,270 and a $100 assessment. Waldoch previously paid $56,436 in restitution. On June 12, 2020, Waldoch pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $107,707, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
On September 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Dana Roush, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 403 (located in Spartanburg, S.C.), was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,089. On October 22, 2019, Roush pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On September 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.
On September 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Marcus Asay, founder of the American Labor Alliance (ALA), located in Fresno, Calif., was charged in a 19-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 1341, 1349, 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.
On September 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Antonio Gastelum, a former officer of the American Labor Alliance (ALA), located in Fresno, Calif., was charged in a 19-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 1341, 1349, 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c), respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.
On September 22, 2020, in the United States District for the Eastern District of Tennessee, James Michael Foote, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-137 (located in Manchester, Tenn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $86,268, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On September 22, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Misty Fain, former office manager for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of union funds with a value of at least $750 and less than $50,000, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a) and I.C. 35-43-4-2(a)(1)(A). Fain was then sentenced to one year in prison (suspended) and one year of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On September 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 16, 2020, in the 337th District Court of Harris County, Texas, Moises Romero, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge 811 (located in Houston, Tex.), pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of misapplication of fiduciary property in the approximate amount of $500 – $1,500, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45. As a condition of Romero’s plea agreement, he previously paid restitution of $21,342. He was then sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication. Romero was also ordered to submit a written letter of apology to the Secretary-Treasurer of Lodge 811. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Travis Cofer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-990 (located in Maryville, Tenn.), was sentenced to two years of probation. Cofer was also ordered to pay $9,608 in restitution and an assessment of $100. Cofer previously paid $2,824 in restitution. On January 23, 2020, Cofer pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On September 14, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On September 10, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers of America (USW) Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation including six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay $33,224 in restitution and a fine of $3,000. On June 9, 2020, Arnold pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Rachel Marie Gleason, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1700 (located in Perris, Calif.), was charged by indictment with one count of embezzlement and theft of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kenneth Wynder Jr, former President of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion, false statements to federal agents, and obstruction of a grand jury investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, 371, 1001, 1343, 1512, and 26 U.S.C. 7201. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On September 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Steven Whittick, former Treasurer of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment for wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion, false statements to federal agents, and obstruction of a grand jury investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2, 371, 1001, 1343, 1512, and 26 U.S.C. 7201. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
On August 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Kathryn A. Connelly, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 707 (located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of embezzlement and theft of union funds in the amount of $10,323, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General.
On August 27, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation. On May 29, 2020, Iveson pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.
On August 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dennis Williams, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Michigan, was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). From at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Williams embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $71,500 in union funds, which included accepting a villa in Palm Springs, California in December 2015, 2016, and 2018 that was paid for with UAW funds and accepting $6,000 in golf gift certificates. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On August 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On August 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Roger Harris, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3048 (located in Lompoc, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $36,150, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General – Tax Administration.
On August 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), was sentenced to 30 days in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $45,934 in restitution and a $100 assessment. Pilcher previously paid $20,595 in restitution. On May 12, 2020, Pilcher pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On August 5, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Misty Fain, former office manager for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), was charged in a three-count information for theft of union funds with a value of at least $750 and less than $50,000, in violation of I.C. 35-43-4-2(a) and I.C. 35-43-4-2(a)(1)(A). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On July 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), and Jennifer Rogers, former AFSCME Local 2254 member, were charged in a two-count indictment for embezzlement of union funds and conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2 and 371, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On July 31, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Linda Rogers, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2254 (located in Jersey City, N.J.), and Jennifer Rogers, former AFSCME Local 2254 member, were charged in a two-count indictment for embezzlement of union funds and conspiracy to embezzle union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 2 and 371, respectively. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 assessment. Ziegler previously paid $5,942 in restitution. On March 20, 2020, Ziegler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 assessment. Ziegler previously paid $5,942 in restitution. On March 20, 2020, Ziegler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 30, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Matthew Cuomo, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1047 (located in Kenner, La.), was charged in a bill of information with one count of forgery in the amount of $500, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On July 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Tony Westly, former Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 148 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of probation, which includes six months of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $103,698 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 19, 2019, Westly pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement union funds, in violation of 29 U. S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Karen Pierce, former employee of Plumbers Local 142 (located in San Antonio, Tex.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
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 Labor’s Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Beverly Davis, a former employee of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6222 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $85,536. On December 13, 2019, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Evelyn Smith, former Secretary Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6222 (located in Houston, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $50,967. On December 13, 2019, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On July 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (FOPS), located in Owings Mills, Md., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling from FOPS, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). As part of the guilty plea, King also admitted to embezzling from the Alliance of Independent Workers (AIW), also located in Owings Mills, Md., where King was also president. The total loss from both of these unions was $57,328. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On July 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $4,740 restitution. On February 27, 2020, Roland pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
On July 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former Comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one day of imprisonment (suspended) and three years of supervised release, which includes one year of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $85,962 in restitution and a $200 assessment. On February 27, 2020, Kurtycz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that the wire fraud charge pertained to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On July 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman for United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union assets in the amount of $8,443, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $50,281, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Kenneth Wynder Jr, President of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $529,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Steven Whittick, Treasurer of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA), located in New York, N.Y., was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2) and 18 U.S.C. 1001, respectively. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Keith Ludlum, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release. Ludlum was ordered to pay $213,201 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. On January 28, 2020, Ludlum pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling $213,201 in union funds and one count of conspiracy, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigator Office.
On July 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 124 (located in Channahon, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation. Blake was also ordered to pay $34,159 in restitution ($15,000 due by September 11, 2020) and a $5,000 fine. On December 4, 2019, Blake pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On July 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, Evelyn Romero, former President of United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, two years of probation, and she was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a hearing on September 8, 2020. On June 4, 2018, Romero pleaded guilty to conspiracy, embezzlement from a labor organization, and permitting persons convicted of certain crimes to hold office or employment in a labor organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and 29 U.S.C. 504(a) and (b), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On June 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, Danae Romero, former Trustee of United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to six months of electronic monitoring, two years of probation, and she was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a hearing on September 8, 2020. On March 9, 2017, Romero pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 669 2(a). The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On June 25, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Rocky Gannon, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2302 (located in Fort Knox, Ky.), pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and nine counts of forged securities involving $116,353 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On June 24, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sandra King, former President of the Federation of Police and Security (located in Owings Mills, Md.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On June 23, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Angel Luis Garcia, former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1614 (located in Dover, N.J.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $117,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On June 22, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Frank Giovinco, was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $135,000 in restitution and $5,000 in forfeiture. On December 3, 2019, following a jury trial, Giovinco was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and extortion conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1962(d) and 18 U.S.C. 1951(a), respectively, including multiple acts impacting United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 1D and 2D (both located in Brooklyn, N.Y.), in connection with the Genovese Organized Crime Family’s control of these locals. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDNY, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden), Robert Peter, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 526 (located in Blackwood, N.J.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years of probation. Peter was also ordered to pay $34,500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 8, 2019, Peter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On June 16, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $107,706, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.
On June 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District Court of California, John J. Romero Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of the United Industrial Service Workers of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., was sentenced to one year of home confinement with electronic monitoring, followed by two years of supervised release. Romero was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. On January 17, 2017, Romero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On June 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Brian Arnold, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 104M (located in Elmira, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $33,224, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On June 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Tony J. Liesenfeld, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 148 (located in Lewisburg, Pa.), was sentenced to one year and one day of incarceration and two years of supervised release. Liesenfeld was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On October 4, 2019, Liesenfeld pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of at least $77,716, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On June 3, 2020, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Cathy Byers, former Treasurer of American Federation of Teachers Local 6540 (located in Ronceverte, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count information with wire fraud in the approximate amount of $22,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 3, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gary Jones, former President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and use a facility of interstate commerce to aid racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371. During the course of the conspiracy, from at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Jones embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,000,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On June 2, 2020, in the United States Court for the District of New Mexico, Jessica Pangburn, former office secretary of Operating Engineers Local 953 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to one day of jail (time served), two years of supervised release, and 25 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $69,469. On November 26, 2019, Pangburn pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On June 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Eric Childress, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 2276 (located in Bluefield, W.Va.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $30,611 and a $25 special assessment. On December 18, 2019, Childress pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On May 29, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Michigan, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.
On May 22, 2020, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor theft, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b). She was then sentenced to five days in jail, one year of probation, and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay $453 in court costs; Woodford previously paid full restitution of $4,065. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
On May 14, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, Rhondalyn Cornett, former President of the Indianapolis Education Association (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for embezzling $154,118 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. She was then sentenced to 16 months of incarceration and two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $154,118 and a $100 special assessment. The plea and sentencing follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.
On May 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $65,033, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On May 4, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer for Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $958 and a $100 assessment. Pemberton previously paid $5,444 in restitution. On January 23, 2020, Pemberton pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,403, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On March 24, 2020, in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Tammy McBride, former administrative assistant for Roofers Local 143 (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $13,868, in violation of Oklahoma Statute 21 O.S. 1451. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office and Oklahoma City Police Department.
On March 20, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $5,276, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
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.
On March 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Rudy Ziegler, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 446 (located in Asheville, N.C.), was charged with one count of wire fraud, in the amount of $5,276, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On March 9, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Joshua Greer, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 9-212 (located in Jackson, Tenn.), was charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and intentionally making false statements and representation of material facts in a financial report filed with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b) and (d). Greer was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $116 in remaining restitution and a special assessment of $25. Greer previously paid $2,501 in restitution. The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Birmingham Resident Investigator Office.
On March 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Michael Johnson, former President and Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1658 (located in Pine Bluff, Ark.), was charged and pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $9,317, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On March 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Edward “Nick” Robinson, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Midwest CAP Council (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds in excess of $1.5 million, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On March 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rick E. Drain, former business manager for Laborers Local 1085 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzling $50,281 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
On February 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Janet Pilcher, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 536 (located in Rome, Ga.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $65,033, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On February 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, John Sammons, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1872 (located in Shaw AFB, S.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft, in excess of $1,000, within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Robert Kurtycz, former comptroller of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board (located in Chicago, Ill.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/29A, and thereafter, did perform and attempt to perform an act of promotion, management, and carry on, and facilitation of the promotion, management, and carrying on, of the unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. Kurtycz also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The factual basis of the plea agreement noted that the wire fraud charge pertained to the electronic transfer of union funds for unauthorized expense reimbursements totaling $85,962. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gary Jones, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union (located in Detroit, Mich.), was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to use a facility of interstate commerce to aid racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C 371 and 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). From at least 2010 and continuing through in or about September 2019, Jones embezzled and conspired to embezzle approximately $1,000,000 in union funds by submitting fraudulent vouchers to the UAW that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses and by using unauthorized checks to divert funds from the UAW Midwest CAP. Jones was also charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, for failing to report over $1,000,000 in income on IRS Form 990 returns filed by the UAW and UAW Midwest CAP and for failing to report the income on his Form 1040 tax returns filed with the IRS. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 836 (located in Kittery, Maine), pleaded guilty to one count of stealing from within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the amount of $57,610, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Asenath Roland, former President of the Kansas Postal Workers Union (located in Wichita, Kans.), pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
On February 26, 2020, in the Springfield District Court of Massachusetts, Christian Leeds, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1370 (located in Springfield, Mass.), was charged in a one-count criminal complaint for Larceny Over $1,200 by Single Scheme, in the amount of $13,444, in violation of Massachusetts G.L. c. 266, §30(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On February 26, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Terry Slaughter, former Secretary Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $62,315 in restitution and a $100 fine. The court also ordered his surrender date of April 1, 2020. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigator Office.
On February 25, 2020, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, Moises Romero, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 811 (located in Houston, Texas), was charged in a one-count indictment of misapplication of fiduciary property in the approximate amount of over $20,000 and under $100,000 of union funds, in violation of Texas Statute § 32.45. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On February 20, 2020, in the United States Central District of California District Court, Tommy Nou, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6602 (located in San Pedro, Calif.), was sentenced to three years of probation, including one month of home detention, and was ordered to pay $1,997 in remaining restitution and a special assessment of $100. Nou previously paid $4,989 in restitution. On October 24, 2019, Nou pleaded guilty to failing to disclose material facts in a financial report filed with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On February 19, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michael Grimes, a former senior official in the General Motors Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 28 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Grimes was also ordered to forfeit $1,509,500 in proceeds from his crimes and pay a $200 special assessment. On September 4, 2019, Grimes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 1956(h), respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.
On February 18, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison with credit for time served. On June 5, 2018, Love pleaded guilty to one count of theft for stealing $15,548 from the union, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On February 13, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Coleman-Gordon, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1477 and the Texas Postal Workers Union (both located in Tyler, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years of supervised probation, and she was ordered to pay $30,599 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. She previously paid $42,967 in restitution. On November 12, 2019, Coleman-Gordon pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $71,064, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On February 12, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, after a six-day trial, a jury found John S. Romero, former President of United Industrial Services Worker of America (UISWA), located in Colton, Calif., guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement in connection with health care (18 U.S.C. 371), 12 counts of theft or embezzlement of approximately $800,000 in connection with health care (18 U.S.C. 669), and one count of filing a false financial report with the Department of Labor, in which he failed to properly report the existence of more than $100,000 in receipts and disbursements (18 U.S.C. 1001). Romero’s family members, who were co-defendants (son John J. Romero, former UISWA Secretary-Treasurer; daughter Danae Romero, former UISWA Trustee; and ex-wife Evelyn Romero, former UISWA President), each previously pleaded guilty to counts under the indictment and testified at trial on behalf of the government. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On February 11, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Young, former President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4973 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $5,450 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. As a condition of his probation, Young cannot visit a casino establishment during his two year probationary period. On October 23, 2019, Young pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $7,050, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Office.
On February 10, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Gregg Pedersen, former President of Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) Local 75 (located in Sioux City, Iowa), was sentenced to probation for two years and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,638 and a $100 fine. On September 27, 2019, Pedersen pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $6,320, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On February 7, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Vance Pearson, former Regional Director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 5 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds and to use a facility of interstate commerce to aid a racketeering enterprise, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, 1952(a)(3), and 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the IRS – Criminal Investigations.
On February 5, 2020, in the Lucas County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court, Aphrodite L. Ueberroth, former office manager for Ironworkers Local 55 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted for aggravated theft of more than $150,000 and less than $750,000, tampering with records (two counts), forgery (six counts), and receiving stolen property of more than $1,000 and less than $7,500, in violation of in violation of Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 2913.02(A)(3) and (B)(2); 2913.42(A)(1), (B)(1) and (B)(4); 2913.31(A)(2) and (C)(1)(a) and (b); and 2913.51(A) and (C), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland Office.
On February 3, 2020, the New Orleans Police Department issued a warrant for Chandra Miller, former Secretary Treasurer of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 478 (located in New Orleans, La.). Miller was charged with one count of theft over $5,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On January 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, Nathan Lum, former Longshore Division Director of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay $314,178 in restitution and a $125 special assessment. On March 28, 2019, Lum pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated identity theft and failure to file income tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028A(a)(1) and 26 U.S.C. 7203, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI.
On January 28, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Keith Ludlum, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208 (located in Tar Heel, N.C.), pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $250,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c), and conspiracy to defraud UFCW Local 1208 by unauthorized payments to friends and families, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office, Tampa Resident Investigators Office.
On January 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, James Moylan, Executive Director of Neighborhoods for Fair Taxes, a non-profit that received donations from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration and ordered to serve two years of probation upon his release. Moylan was also ordered to pay $130,783 in restitution, a $10,000 fine, and a $400 special assessment fee. On October 16, 2019, Moylan pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with 17 counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343) and four counts of filing false federal income tax returns (26 U.S.C. 7206(01)). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
On January 23, 2020, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shannon Pemberton, former Treasurer of Painters Local 238 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On January 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chad Michael Waldoch, former Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 980 (located in Fargo, N.D.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $107,706, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Office.
On January 15, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Trenton), Lawrence Ackerman, former health insurance broker for the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (located in South River, N.J.), was sentenced to six months incarceration, six months home confinement, and two and half years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessment fee. On March 13, 2020, a hearing is scheduled to determine Ackerman’s restitution amount to the UAW Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund (Trust Fund). On March 20, 2020, Ackerman is scheduled to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons to begin his sentence. On November 12, 2018, Ackerman pleaded guilty to a superseding information of one count of theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 1347 and 2. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
On January 14, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2. She was sentenced to 365 days confinement (suspended) and 365 days of probation, and she was ordered to pay restitution of $18,800. She was also ordered to attend an anti-conversion class. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
On January 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Douglas B. Dye, former unit chairman of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 12 (located in Toledo, Ohio), was indicted with one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On January 6, 2020, in the 12th Judicial District of Jackson County, Larissa Iveson, daughter of a former Treasurer of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 373 (located in Litchfield, Mich.), was charged with one felony count of possession of a financial device, in violation of Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 750.157P, and one felony count of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent, in violation of MCL 750.157N. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee Office.
On January 6, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Vance Pearson, former Regional Director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 5 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to embezzle union funds (18 U.S.C. 371 and 29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and using a facility of interstate commerce to aid a racketeering enterprise (18 U.S.C. 1952(a)(3)). In June and November 2016, Pearson submitted fraudulent vouchers to the UAW totaling over $32,000 that misrepresented the destination and purpose of the expenses. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
* An indictment is a formal accusation or charge based on a finding by a Grand Jury that it is likely that the person charged committed the criminal offense described in the indictment and is the means by which an accused person (defendant) is brought to trial. An indictment raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
An information is a formal accusation of a crime by a government attorney rather than a Grand Jury. An information raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A charge is an accusation of criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Each count is a separate and distinct offense charged in an indictment or information.
A guilty plea is a defendant’s admission to the court that he or she committed the offense charged and an agreement to waive the right to a trial.
A conviction is a judgment based on a jury’s verdict, judge’s finding, or the defendant’s admission that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.
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.
Last Updated: 3-23-21
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