On Oct. 22, in the U.S. Dist. Ct .for South Dakota, Jo Ann Vaughn, frmr. treasurer
of the Intl. Alliance Theatrical, Stage & Picture Operators Local 220, was indicted on one count of causing a false report in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, and one count of embezzling approximately $33,000 in union funds. Vaughn pled not guilty. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Minneapolis Resident Investigator branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [DOL OLMS 10/30/02]
3rd Va. Official Sentenced for Embezzling from Union Relief Fund
Chief U.S. Dist. Ct. Judge Samuel Wilson (U.S.D.Ct. W.Dist. Va, G.H.W. Bush) sentenced William Fricker on Oct. 25 to 4 yrs. probation, 6 mos. of home detention, and restitution of $6,300 he stole from the union he headed and its disaster relief fund.
Fricker pled guilty on July 12 to embezzling funds from United Steel Workers Local 9336, as well as a disaster relief fund to benefit workers and their families after a fatal 2000 explosion at the Intermet New River Foundry in Radford, Va. At his sentencing hearing, Fricker tried to deflect his responsibility, saying that he wasn’t used to leading the union, and that he had merely made some “bad decisions.” But U.S. Asst. Attny. Joseph Mott pressed him: “That was just you wanting to get more than you were entitled to, right?” Mott asked, to which Fricker replied, “Yes.”
Also testifying at the hearing was current local official Joseph Patrick Roddy, who said that the more than $17,000 stolen from the relief fund by Fricker and four other officials could have helped families who lost their homes and were forced to declare bankruptcy after the explosion left many workers jobless. “I think the saddest thing is the officers who are charged to take care of the men and women of this plant took care of themselves first,” Roddy told the court. [Roanoke Times & World News 10/26/02]