On Sept. 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Peter McDonegh, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to two years in prison for witness tampering. McDonegh admitted to verbally threatening the son of two primary witnesses during the course of the criminal trial of Charles Novak, the former executive vice-president of Local One and McDonegh’s former father-in-law. The sentence follows a joint investigation by the NY Dist. Office of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards and the FBI. [OLMS, 9/15/04]
Ex-Pres. Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement in Penn. Fed. Court
On Sept. 15, in the U.S. Dist. Court for the Middle Dist. of Penn., Terry Aldrich, ex-president of the Westfield Tanning Employees’ Assn., pled guilty to embezzling approximately $39,000 in union funds. On August 12, an information indicating the defendant’s cooperation was filed charging Aldrich with one count of embezzlement following an investigation by the Phila. Dist. Ofc. of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS, 9/23/04]
Ex-Secy.-Treas. Sentenced in Miss. Fed. Court
On September 7, 2004, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Cynthia Walker, former secretary-treasurer of American Fedtn. of Government Employees Local 1027, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, five months to be served in a half-way house followed by five years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $10,419 in restitution. Walker was charged on December 16, 2003, following an investigation by the New Orleans District Office of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS, 9/15/04]
Former Secy.-Treas. Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement in Ohio Fed. Court
On September 1, 2004, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Michael G. Kmit, former secretary-treasurer of Auto Workers Local 2562, entered a plea change to guilty to the charge of embezzlement. Kmit was indicted on June 23, 2004, on one count of embezzling $10,953.10 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the Cleveland District Office of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS, 9/15/04]
Former Secy.-Treas. Sentenced in Okla. Fed. Court
On September 10, 2004, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Donnie Chew, former secretary-treasurer for Bakery, Tobacco and Grain Workers Local 173 was sentenced to four months imprisonment and two years of supervised release during which he must complete 120 hours of community service. Chew must also participate in a substance abuse program. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution of $9,330 and pay a special assessment of $100. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Dallas District Office of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards. [OLMS, 9/23/04]