U.S. Dist. Judge Kimba M. Wood (S.D.N.Y., Reagan) sentenced David Blank, ex-secretary-treasurer of Am. Fed’n of Gov’t Employees Local 2094, Jan. 12, 2001, to three years probation and restitution of $192,000, relating to an embezzlement of union funds. The local is connected to the Veterans’ Affairs Medical Ctr. in N.Y.C.
Blank pled guilty to a three-count criminal information charging that from Jan. 1992 to Dec. 1994, he participated in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. This was accomplished by embezzling Local 2094 funds, and by making false statements to, and concealing from, the Dep’t of Labor, the fact that he and his co-conspirators had embezzled, misappropriated and misdirected union funds. The information also charged Blank with subscribing to a false personal income tax return for the calendar year 1994 and possessing a firearm in a federal facility.
Reportedly, Blank issued union checks to himself and to third parties for their personal benefit. Blank also used the union’s credit card to purchase personal items and services for himself. Blank thereafter made false statements to the Department of Labor in the Annual Reports the union submitted to so as to conceal from DOL the embezzlement, misappropriation and misdirection of union funds, according to charges. Local 2094 was placed under trusteeship in December 1994. [Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector Gen., N.E. Field Office 1/12/01]