The UCU has obtained new information from the U.S. Attorneys’ Office in Milwaukee on previously reported union embezzlement. On Oct. 26, U.S. Dist. Judge Charles N. Clevert, Jr., (E.D. Wis., Clinton) sentenced Shawn D. Drake to 21 months in prison, 3 years probation, and ordered to pay $21,376 in restitution. Drake was secretary-treasurer of the Paper, Allied-Indus. Chemical & Energy Workers Int’l Union Local 736 in Green Bay from Oct. 1999 to Apr. 2000. Drake embezzled about $10,891 in union funds by issuing unauthorized checks to himself and embezzled another $6,425 by converting to his own use 3 union dues checks that Drake’s employer had issued to the local. Further, Drake obtained $3,956 from his bank by cashing yet another unauthorized union check which later bounced. Drake was indicted on Feb. 14 and later pled guilty. Clevert enhanced Drake’s sentence because he had abused a position of trust in committing these crimes.
U.S. Atty. James L. Santelle commented, “Shawn Drake was convicted of embezzling funds that belonged to his union and, in essence, to his fellow union members. He committed this offense by taking advantage of the position of trust that he occupied as the union treasure. He concealed his embezzlement by making false statements in union books and by issuing false financial reports to his fellow union members. Federal law specifically prohibits the embezzlement of union funds, and such crimes are zealously prosecuted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.” [USAO E.D. Wis. 11/15/01; DOL 10/26/01]