The redemption of Martin Ludlow continues. On June 5, the former member of the Los Angeles City Council and secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor was sentenced in U.S. District Court to five years probation and 2,000 hours of community service for diverting Service Employee International Union Local 99 funds to pay for his 2003 City Council run. He also will have to make $36,400 in restitution to the union. Former Local 99 President Janett Humphries still faces various charges. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
Former Bookkeeper in Philadelphia Sentenced for Theft
On May 30, Darnell Smith, formerly bookkeeper for SEIU Local 36, was sentenced in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas to one to two years in prison, followed by five years probation, for embezzling from the union. He also was ordered to pay more than $70,000 in restitution. The sentence follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 6/13).
Ex-Treasurer of Arizona Local Sentenced for Theft
On May 18, Shirley Weber, former treasurer of Local 3973 of the American Federation of Government Employees, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to five years probation and ordered to pay the remaining $7,000 restitution. Last November, Weber pled guilty to one count of larceny. She already had made $21,000 in restitution payments to the local, which represents employees at the Army’s Raytheon Missile Systems plant in Tucson. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
Utah Secretary-Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement
Blaine D. Barnett can look at life on the bright side; his restitution will be less than what he appeared to take. Barnett, 58, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on May 23 to 21 months in federal prison, plus another 36 months of supervised probation upon release, for embezzling funds from Division 374 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Barnett, who pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement last December, will be required to pay $17,710 in restitution to the Ogden, Utah union. That’s less than the $31,460 federal investigators claimed he stole through forging the signature of the union president. Prior to sentencing, Barnett had paid back some of the money. (Deseret Morning News, 6/8/06).
Ex-Business Agent for Kansas Local Sentenced
On May 8, Richard Lammers, former business agent and financial secretary for Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 99-G, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas to two years probation for embezzling funds. He also was ordered to make nearly $5,000 in restitution to the Wichita union, and assessed a $200 fine. Lammers had pleaded guilty in March. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
Ex-Cincinnati Local President Charged with Embezzlement
On May 30, Dennis Harper, former branch president of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was charged in federal court in Ohio with one count of embezzling $4,851.10 in union funds. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
Tennessee Secretary Sentenced for Embezzlement
On May 22, Georgia McNish, ex-financial secretary for United Auto Workers Local 1853, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee to two years probation for embezzling $10,000 and making a false statement in union records to conceal the theft. She previously had made restitution. The court also assessed a $5,000 fine and ordered her to complete 50 hours of community service. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
St. Louis Local Ex-Secretary Sentenced, Fined
On May 25, Linda Hosleton, former recording secretary for UAW Local 282, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to two years probation, ordered to pay nearly $1,300 in restitution, and assessed a $500 fine. Hosleton pleaded guilty in March to embezzling $1,444.50 in local funds. (OLMS, 6/13/06).
Ex-President of Louisville Local Charged with Theft
On May 30, Collette White Caldwell, former president of Local 118 of the Plant Protection union, was charged in Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jefferson Circuit Court, with one count of theft by unlawful taking. (OLMS, 6/13/06).