On May 24 Paul Himmelstein, former secretary-treasurer for Letter Carriers Branch 1977, was indicted in U.S. District Court on one count of embezzlement, following an investigation by the Labor Department. Himmelstein is accused of stealing roughly $20,000 in union funds. (OLMS, 6/9).
Ex-Business Manager in Philadelphia Area Indicted
On May 24 James Jordon, ex-business manager for Local 161 of the Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, was indicted in federal court on two counts of embezzling $21,652.80 in union funds. He also was charged with making a false entry in union records. A former secretary for the Philadelphia-area local, Barbara Wituschek, had been indicted on May 10 on two counts of embezzlement. (OLMS, 6/9).
St. Louis-Area Business Manager Indicted for Embezzlement
On May 18 Duane Raab, formerly the business manager for Iron Workers Local 518, was indicted in federal court on three counts of embezzlement. Raab last summer had stolen nearly $7,000 from the local. (OLMS, 6/9).
Southern Cal. Former Head Sentenced for Embezzlement
Gerard Lucien Davis helped start Local 1227 of the American Federation of Government Employees years ago. But for the last four years he’s been out of the loop, and it isn’t likely he’ll be returning anytime soon. Davis, 56, was sentenced in San Bernardino County Superior Court on June 8 to a three-month jail term for embezzling union funds. He’ll also be barred from holding a union office for 13 years.
According to court documents, Davis, on or about January 1, 2002, charged unauthorized personal expenses and made cash withdrawals against the union account. While the confirmed take was around $400, the actual total, to be determined at a restitution hearing on July 1, may be higher. Davis had been voted out of Local 1227 in 2001. The local represents employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in San Bernardino, which processes payrolls for the military. About 120 people work at the facility, which was on last month’s list of proposed federal base closures. (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 6/10).
Ex-St. Louis Local President Indicted
On May 18 Cassandra Williams, former president of AFGE Local 905, was indicted in U.S. District Court on one count each of making a false statement and filing false records. (OLMS, 6/9).