Allegedly, members of the N. Ohio Firefighters Union have accused a member of Local 639 of embezzling money from union coffers. The thefts are alleged to have occurred over more than a decade and total as much as $160,000. The FBI is reportedly investigating. Further details were not available. [Cleveland Scene 3/15/01]
Iowa Boss Guilty of $4,000 Embezzlement
Randy Kamp, ex-president of the Paper, Allied-Indus., Chem. & Energy Workers Int’l Union local in Waterloo, Iowa, pled guilty to a $4,773 union embezzlement. Kamp was accused in Feb. 2001 of stealing union funds between June-Nov. 1999. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 11. He is free until sentencing. [Des Moines Reg. 3/24/01]
Florida Union Accuses Staffer of $66,000 Theft
The Fla. Edu. Ass’n is suing its ex-staffer, claiming Kimberly Richey stole $66,000 from FEA’s Port Charlotte office. After sending three letters demanding payment, FEA and its insurance company filed suit in Mar. FEA accused her of theft in 2000, but FEA’s Rick Willis said the insurance company decided not to go to the authorities. That may change. “The insurance company told us they use their ability to file a criminal complaint as leverage to get restitution,” Willis said. FEA recouped the funds via its union embezzlement insurance.
Allegedly, Richey forged FEA checks and put them into her own account between 1997-99. The money came from teachers’ $415 annual dues. Auditors discovered the missing funds in Sept. 1999. Richey had worked at FEA for 12 years, but officials refused to say whether she resigned or was fired. [Sarasota Her.-Trib. 3/29/01]