James R. Dawson Sr. was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, and fined $1,700, for union embezzlement on Oct. 18 in the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the Sou. Dist. of Miss. Dawson was President of Local 325 of the Natl. Postal Mail Handlers, a division of the Laborers Intl. Union of N. Amer., when he made $9,400 in unauthorized cash advances from the union’s credit card from May 1997 through Nov. 2001. He pled guilty to violations of 29 U.S.C., Sec. 402(i) and 402(j) on Aug. 7. Dawson had previously made full restitution to the local union. [DOL OLMS 10/30/02, U.S.A.O. S.D. Miss.]
Frmr. Teasurer Pleads Guilty in NY Fed. Ct.
On Oct. 24, in the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the W. Dist. of NY, David S. Koch, frmr. treasurer of PACE Local 236, pled guilty to one count of violating 29 U.S.C. 439(a). He admitted that he failed to file the union’s annual financial reports for the fiscal years ending April 30, 2000 and April 30, 2001. He made a $4,000 restitution payment to the union prior to the plea being entered. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Buffalo branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [DOL OLMS 10/30/02]
Ex-Madison, WI, Bus. Agent Charged with Embezzlement
On Oct. 24, in the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the W. Dist. of Wisc., an information was filed charging Michael E. Koehler, frmr. bus. mgr. of the Intl. Bhd. of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 965, with embezzling union funds. According to the Local’s 2000 LM-2 financial disclosure form filed with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Koehler was the highest-paid official in the union, collecting an annual salary of $106,395, along with bus. expense reimbursements of $37,293. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Milwaukee branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [DOL OLMS 10/30/02]
Union Secy. Charged with Theft, Record Tampering
On Oct. 18, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Ct. of Common Pleas, Michelle Back, former office secy. of Local 12 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE), was indicted on one count of theft of $400 in union funds and one count of tampering with bookkeeping records to hide that theft. Back’s offenses are alleged to have taken place between June 22 and July 30. These charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office. [DOL OLMS 10/30/02: Hamilton County (OH) Prosecuting Attny. 10/18/02]