On October 5, Tina Buracker, formerly president of Local 82174 of the Communications Workers of America, was indicted in U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia, on one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $54,679. The indictment follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 10/28).
Massachusetts Local Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement
On October 3, George Beck, Jr. ex-secretary-treasurer for Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Local 01-366, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to six months home confinement, followed by two years of probation, for embezzling union funds. He also will have to make $26,918 in restitution. Beck pled guilty on September 7. The action follows an investigation by the Labor Department. (OLMS, 10/28).
Ex-Business Manager for Missouri Local Sentenced for Theft
On October 7, Duane Raab, former business manager for Iron Workers Local 518, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, to three months in prison to be followed by 36 months of supervised release, including three months of home confinement. He also was ordered to make restitution for the $25,479.38 he embezzled from the union. Raab pleaded guilty on July 15. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Department of Labor. (OLMS, 10/28).
Former Bookkeeper for Philadelphia-Area Local Pleads Guilty
On October 5, Barbara Wituschek, ex-bookkeeper for Iron Workers Local 161, pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement totaling $5,745.41 in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. (OLMS, 10/28).
Former D.C. Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
On October 11, Tarria Burwell, ex-treasurer of Local 75 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, pled guilty in District of Columbia Superior Court to one count of first-degree fraud in connection with embezzling $15,921.11 in union funds. (OLMS, 10/28).
Michigan Secretary Pleads Guilty to False Record-Keeping
On October 11, Christopher Henry, former financial secretary of United Steelworkers of America Local 02-9264, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, to three years of probation and five months of community service after pleading guilty in April to making false entries in union records. He also will have to make restitution to the local in the amount of more than $5,200. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards, Detroit District Office. (OLMS, 10/28/05).
Business Agent for Meatpackers Local in Colorado Pleads Guilty
On October 6, Stephen Bush, formerly recording secretary and business agent for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 990, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to four counts of embezzlement of union funds totaling $2,850. (OLMS, 10/28/05).
Dallas-Ft. Worth Area Local President Pleads Guilty
On October 5, Cynthia Wright, formerly president of Local 1298 of the American Federation of Government Employees, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, to making a false statement of material fact. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the Labor Department’s OLMS Dallas District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. (OLMS, 10/28).