On September 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Graciela Jimenez, Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2263 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution $7,919 in restitution and a $25 assessment. On June 26, 2012, Jimenez pled guilty to one count of embezzlement within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
On September 26, 2012, in the District Court for Webb County, Texas, 111th Judicial District, Manuel Luebbert, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) Local 1563 (located in Laredo, Tex.), was charged with one count of breach of fiduciary property totaling $5,670, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On September 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, an information was filed charging Robert Hill, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1271 (located in Billerica, Mass.), with 27 counts of embezzlement of labor union funds totaling $8,650, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation including six months of home detention with electronic monitoring. Dompier was also ordered to pay $11,793.89 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On May 10, 2012, Dompier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative for Machinists Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Agee had previously paid full restitution of $26,139.13. On May 10, 2012, Agee pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On September 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, four former members of Teamsters Local 82 (a merged union previously located in South Boston, Mass.), former Secretary-Treasurer John Perry, and members James “Jimmy the Bull” Deamicis, Joseph “Jo Jo” Burhoe, and Thomas Flaherty, were charged in a 30-count indictment including charges of RICO, Hobbs Act Extortion, Prohibition Against Persons from Holding Office, Mail Fraud, Aiding and Abetting, and other federal forfeiture charges. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Boston Police Department.
On September 19, 2012, in the District Court for Hunt County, Texas, 196th Judicial District, Rosalin Dukes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3607 (located in Greenville, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of credit/debit card abuse and was then sentenced to five years of deferred adjudication probation, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $18,598.34 in restitution, $285 in court costs, and a $50 Crime Stoppers fee. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the Greenville Police Department.
On September 19, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Aundrea Valerio, former dispatcher for Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 872 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and two counts of falsifying union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea stems from a $320,000 embezzlement scheme involving Valerio and two other former union employees who were also charged and convicted separately. On April 28, 2010, Valerio was charged with embezzling approximately $13,500. Valerio is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2013. The plea follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
On September 18, 2012, in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona (Navajo County), Christina Carr, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7008 (located in Show Low, Ariz.), was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and was ordered to pay $5,853.19 in restitution. On July 10, 2012, Carr pled guilty to one count of theft, a class 6 open-ended felony, in violation of Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 13-1802(A)(2), 13-1801, 13-701, 13-702, and 13-801. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Phoenix Resident Investigator Office.
On September 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Curtis Reed, former staff representative for the Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling $3,694.32 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On September 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hector Lopez, former President of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.) and the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Local 8A-28A Welfare Fund, was arrested and arraigned on a 15-count indictment with charges of conspiracy to embezzle $750,000 from the local’s employee benefit plan, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, structuring financial transactions, and tax evasion. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.
On September 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Rickey Harper, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 769 (located in El Dorado, Ark.), was sentenced to five years of probation with the first six months including home confinement with electronic monitoring and was ordered to pay $20,853.72 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Harper must pay at least 10% of his net income every month or $25. Full restitution must be made prior to his probation ending. On February 3, 2012, Harper pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
On September 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, David Ing, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 860 (located in Honolulu, Hawaii), was sentenced to four months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $200 special assessment. Ing previously paid restitution of $79,291.24. Ing was further ordered to undergo treatment for his gambling addiction and was restricted from engaging in any gambling activities, legal or illegal, while serving his sentence. On May 31, 2012, Ing pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of structuring cash transactions to evade reporting requirement, in violation of 31 U.S.C. 5324(a)(3). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Honolulu Resident Office and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.
On September 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Gloria Dickinson, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The OLMS investigation revealed that the defendant overstated the amount of assets on the union’s 2008 LM report. The loss amount related to this offense was $21,713.32. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On September 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Libby M. Stegner, former administrative assistant for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1319 (located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment. Stegner paid full restitution in the amount of $41,321.25 on the day of sentencing. On May 30, 2012, Stegner pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of labor union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On September 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Kevin Threat, former President of National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-84 (located in Alexandria, Va.), was sentenced to 60 days of home detention, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $15,505. On March 12, 2012, Threat pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On September 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, an information was filed charging Lawrence E. Minas, former General Chairman of United Transportation Union (UTU) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 449 (located in Palos Heights, Ill.), with one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $71,160, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On September 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Rocha, former Political Director of the United Steelworkers International Union (located in Pittsburgh, Pa.), was indicted on 18 counts of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $6,971.19, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
On September 10, 2012, in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Illinois, William Adrian, former Business Manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 (located in Belleville, Ill.), was sentenced to 366 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $102,572.78 and a $200 special assessment. On March 30, 2012, Adrian pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and theft from an employee pension or welfare plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 664. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On September 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Laura Dixon, former office secretary for the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, Dixon was ordered to undergo mental health and alcohol counseling and was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $170,216 and a $100 special assessment. On March 13, 2012, Dixon pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On September 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Vance Valentine, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $1,287 in restitution and a $25 assessment. On January 26, 2012, Valentine pled guilty to one count of filing false union reports with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On September 7, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Sheila Valentine, spouse of Vance Valentine, former Secretary-Treasurer of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 524 (located in Willis, Tex.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $1,287 in restitution and a $100 assessment. On January 23, 2012, Valentine pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
On September 6, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a criminal information was filed charging Gloria Dickinson, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 421 (located in Washington, D.C.), with one count of false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, for overstating the amount of assets on the union’s 2008 LM report. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On September 5, 2012, in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Victor Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3283 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to six months of incarceration (suspended), one year of probation, and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,358. On August 21, 2012, Davis pled guilty to one count of theft. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On September 4, 2012, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Missouri, Michael Palmer, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 1379 (located in Fulton, Mo.), was sentenced to 120 days of confinement, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,931 and a $200 fine. On April 4, 2012, Palmer pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
On September 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Claude Huff, former Business Manager/President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 (located in Dayton, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The amount will not exceed $110,348.49. On February 14, 2012, Huff was indicted for the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
On September 4, 2012, in the First Judicial Parish Court of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Lori Fowler, former office manager for Carpenters Local 764 (formerly located in Shreveport, La.), pled guilty to one count of forgery and one count of high grade felony theft in the amount of $25,117.74. Fowler was then sentenced to five years at hard labor, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
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Criminal Enforcement Actions 2012
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.
Source: Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)
