Tony Evans, ex-Fin. Secy.-Treasurer of IATSE Local 197 in Knoxville, Tenn., pled guilty on Aug. 14 to embezzling $16,319 for himself and his friend. According to the plea agreement, Evans has fully repaid those funds.
Evans’ began his misuse of union funds in Sept. 1998, as Administrator of the Pension Plan of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Operators, Local 197. On Sept. 18, 1998, Evans wrote a check for $2,500 for “office furniture” that was never bought. Evans repaid that amount on Oct. 14, with a check written on the account of a friend, Sally Hutcheson.
In Jan. 1999, Evans became Fin. Secy.-Treasurer of the Local. Starting on Jan. 27 and ending on Jan. 4, 2000, Evans wrote 11 checks from the union’s acct. to Hutcheson for a total of $6,333. Continuing his theft until Aug. 2000, Evans paid $3,614 to cover his credit card bills, $1,029 for a Dell computer for Hutcheson, $3,950 to a separate acct. he opened with the union members’ knowledge, and $1,392 to buy personal property for Hutcheson.
Evans began repaying the funds after an investigation by the Nashville ofc. of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [U.S.A.O. E.D. Tenn. 8/14/02, DOL OLMS 8/28/02]