U.S. Dist. Judge Lewis T. Babcock (D. Colo., Reagan) sentenced union embezzler Bobby R. Putnam Apr. 23 to five years probation, including six months in home detention with electronic monitoring, and was ordered to pay $18,026.95 in restitution. Putnam, ex-secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers of Am. Local 14708 (a.k.a., Denver Mailers Union No. 8) in Denver, was charged Oct. 31 in a 40-count indictment with embezzling $7,808.26 and falsifying union
records. He later pled guilty. The reason for the $10,218.69 difference between the indictment and the restitution amounts was unavailable.
According to the indictment, Putnam engaged in a multi-step check scheme to steal $1,913.28 between Dec. 1996 and Sept. 1997. He allegedly 1) wrote nine union checks to nine union members, 2) endorsed these checks without the nine members’ knowledge or permission, 3) deposited these checks back into the local’s checking account, and 4) then took the cash from the local’s funds for his own use and benefit. He was charged with nine counts of union embezzlement. He was also charged with nine counts of union records falsification because for each of these nine checks, Putnam
willfully made false entries in union records relating to these purported disbursements and their purported purpose. The alleged falsifications included: “1 Day lost time,” “Sick Pay from Union 60 Days $4.00,” and “91 Days $4.00 day, Out Feb.-Aug. 97 Auto Accident.”
Additionally, for eleven months, Nov. 1996 to Sept. 1997, Putnam allegedly collected union dues and fees from members but took a portion of these dues and fees for his own use without authorization. Allegedly, this scheme resulted in a $5,894.98 embezzlement, and Putnam was indicted on eleven additional counts of union embezzlement. Again, he was also indicted on eleven additional counts of union records falsification relating to this dues scheme. [DOL 4/23/02; DOJ 12/18/01]