Closure at last could be at hand in the Washington, D.C. teachers’ union scandal. The parent organization of the Washington Teachers Union, the American Federation of Teachers, recently announced that local officials had fixed certain problems cited by the Department of Labor in the WTU’s 2005 financial report. A spokesperson for the AFT called the few remaining problems “routine technical shortcomings.” The action is unrelated to a complaint the DOL filed in February over allegations of irregularities in the local election of more than a year ago. (Washington Times, 3/13/06).
Former Chicago-Area Local Treasurer Sentenced for Thefts
On February 23, William C. Miller, ex-treasurer for International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 498, was sentenced in federal court for the Northern District of Illinois to two years in prison and three years probation for embezzling union funds. Last November Miller had pleaded guilty to one count each of embezzlement and making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Ex-Business Manager for Southern California Local Sentenced
On February 27, Joseph Rocha, former business manager and secretary-treasurer for Local 1082 of the Laborers International Union of North America, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months home confinement, for embezzling $29,656 from his local. The probation report noted that the union agreed not to pursue restitution for stolen funds in return for a promise not to sue the local for retroactive vacation, sick or severance pay or forfeiture of retirement pension. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and Office of Inspector General. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
North Dakota Secretary-Treasurer Sentenced for Theft
On February 27, Robb Dutchuk, formerly secretary-treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 349, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to three years probation plus six months of home confinement for his theft from the local. He also was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $18,812.18. The sentence follows a Labor Department investigation. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Ex-Local Secretary-Treasurer in Wyoming Sentenced
On February 21, Richard Carlson, formerly secretary-treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 769, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to three months in jail and three years probation. He also was ordered to make nearly $3,900 in restitution in addition to the $6,500 he already has paid, plus a $100 special assessment. Carlson pleaded guilty in December to one count of embezzlement. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Financial Secretary of Ohio Local Indicted for Embezzlement
On February 28, Peggy Carnes, ex-financial secretary for Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy International Workers Local 5-621, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on one count of embezzling more than $8,000 in union funds and one count of falsifying records. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Former Secretary-Treasurer in Cleveland Charged with Theft
Theft seems to be in the air at northern Ohio PACE affiliates. On March 1, Mark A. Carroll, former secretary-treasurer for that union’s Local 5-962, was charged in U.S. District Court with embezzling $7,380.45 in union funds. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Downstate Illinois Local Secretary Indicted for Embezzlement
On February 22, Dennis Foster, former secretary-treasurer for Lodge S-60 of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, was indicted in federal court on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $5,680.20. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Indiana Ex-Local President Pleads Guilty
On February 24, William F. Campbell, former president of Local 10 of the Security, Police & Fire Professionals of America, pled guilty in Indiana State Court (Lawrence County) to the theft of nearly $3,900 from the local. He received a suspended sentence of 18 months of home confinement and another 18 months of probation. Campbell also was ordered to make full restitution. (OLMS, 3/13/06).
Ex-Bookkeeper for Tennessee Local Indicted for Embezzlement
On February 21, Janice Patterson, former bookkeeper-secretary for International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 984, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee on one count of embezzling $3,234 worth of union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. (OLMS, 3/13/06).