On December 14, Josefina Suarez Gonzalez, ex-president of AFGE Local 1662, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to five years probation and ordered to pay $27,405 to her union. Gonzalez had pleaded guilty back in June to one count of embezzling union funds following an indictment back in October 2004. The union represents employees at the Brown & Root Logistics facility at Fort Huachuca Army Base, not far from Tucson. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
New Jersey Financial Secretary Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
On December 5, Marie-Elena Clayton, former financial secretary-treasurer for Glass Molders & Plastics Local 236A, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $41,126. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the Labor Department. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Michigan Local Secretary Pleads Guilty to False Record-Keeping
On December 14, Tammara Schultz, former secretary-treasurer of Local 4101 of the Communications Workers of America, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of falsifying union records. She knowingly had made inaccurate entries in the records in order to conceal her embezzlement of approximately $22,500. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the Department of Labor. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Former Treasurer in Pennsylvania Pleads Guilty to Theft
On November 30, Thomas Obzut, former secretary-treasurer for Graphic Communications International Union Local 735, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to embezzling more than $21,000 in union funds. Following his plea, he made full restitution to the local. The GCIU has been affiliated with the Teamsters for two years. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Ohio Ex-Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement
On December 7, Nanette Peterson, former treasurer for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 11, Chapter 2597, was sentenced in federal court for the Southern District of Ohio to three years probation and 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $5,409.29 within 30 days. She had pleaded guilty in August to embezzling more than $6,300 in funds from the union, which represents corrections facility employees in the central part of the state. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Pittsburgh Campus Treasurer Charged with Embezzlement
On November 28, Carroll L. Phillips, former treasurer for the University of Pittsburgh Police Association, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania with four counts of embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,300 and one count of falsifying union records. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Former Wisconsin Local President Sentenced for Embezzlement
On December 14, Felix A. Robinson, formerly president of International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers Local 84101, based in the Milwaukee area, was sentenced in federal court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to his union in the amount of $5,684.23 and pay a special assessment of $100. He had pleaded guilty in September to one count of embezzling union funds. The IUE is the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America. (OLMS, 12/23/06).
Cleveland Ex-Local Secretary Sentenced for Embezzlement
On December 18, Boni Segura, formerly secretary for Local 18 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to five years probation and ordered to make $5,548.98 in immediate restitution to the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. She pleaded in August to one count of embezzling more than $5,700 in funds from the Cleveland-based union. (OLMS, 12/23/06).