Ex-Wisc. Secy.-Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement

On Jan. 9, in the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the East. Dist. of Wisconsin, Kim M. Conner, former financial secy.-treasurer of United Auto Workers Local 469, was sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Conner was ordered to make full restitution of $54,317.39, pay a special assessment of $125, and perform five days of community service. Conner pled guilty on October 10, 2002 to one count of embezzlement of union funds and one count of filing a false LM-2 report following an investigation by the  Milwaukee branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/21/03]

Ex-Montana Treasurer Indicted for Embezzlement
On Jan. 8, in the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the Dist. of Montana, Frank Darvis, former treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 891, was indicted on one count of embezzling $29,865 in union funds following an investigation by the Denver branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/21/03]

Ex-Virginia Financial Secy. Indicted for Embezzlement
Paul J. McNulty, U.S. Attny. for the East. Dist. of Virginia, and Michael B. Cahir, Dist. Dir., Washington Dist. Ofc., Dept. of Labor, announced the federal indictment yesterday of Barbara Ann Fields, age 42, of Alberta, Virginia.  Fields is charged with one count of embezzlement of union funds.  She faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The indictment alleges that Fields was the Financial Secretary for the Petersburg-based Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local 255-T.  The indictment alleges that during the period from June 1997 until July 2001, Fields embezzled $10,557.79 by cashing union checks and making cash withdrawals from the Local 255-T checking account. To conceal her embezzlement, Fields forged the signature of the former Local 255-T president on some of the unauthorized checks.

The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Labor.  The case is being prosecuted by Asst. U.S. Attny. Roderick C. Young. [U.S.A.O. E.D. Va. 1/24/03]

W. Va. Computer Specialist Indicted for Embezzlement
A fed. grand jury in Charleston indicted Julia Mynes on Jan. 9 for embezzling some $4,000 from a local steelworkers union. According to the indictment, Mynes worked for United Steel Workers Local 14614 as a computer specialist, which included installing a computerized check-writing system. From  Dec. 2000 through Jan. 2001, Mynes reportedly stole about $4,001 from the South Charleston local, in violation of 29 U.S.C., Sec. 501(c). Mynes was scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Stanley on Jan. 30. [U.S.A.O. S. Dist. W. Va.. 1/15/03]

Ex-Arkansas Office Mgr. Charged with Embezzlement
On Jan. 6, in Bradley County (Arkansas) Circuit Court, Tasha R. Word, former ofc. secy. for Machinist Local Lodge 484, was charged in a one-count information with credit card fraud and in a seven-count information with forgery and theft of property totaling $1,191. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Dallas branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/21/03]

Frmr. Ohio Office Secy. Pleads Guilty to Theft
On Jan. 8, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Municipal Court, Michelle Back, former ofc. secy. for Local 12 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, pled guilty to theft of union funds and was sentenced to one year probation, a $100 fine, and court costs. Back was charged following an investigation by the Cincinnati branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/23/03]

Ex-Minn. Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement
On Jan. 6, in Blue Earth (Minnesota) District Court, Adam Wobbrock, former treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union Local 379-C, was sentenced to ten days in jail with work release and fined $537. On Dec. 11, 2002, Wobbrock pled guilty to one count of theft related to an embezzlement of $3,675.36 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Milwaukee branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/21/03]

Ex-Office Secy. Charged with Theft, Forgery in Arkansas Court
On Jan. 6, in Bradley County (Arkansas) Circ. Ct., Tasha R. Word, former office secretary for Machinist Local Lodge 484, was charged in a one-count information with credit card fraud and in a seven-count information with forgery and theft of property totaling $1,191. The charges were brought following an investigation by the Dallas branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS 1/23/03]