Michael Kennedy no longer will have his union to pay for personal expenses. On February 1, the former secretary-treasurer for Local 720 of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to five years probation for embezzling $15,612.81. Kennedy, 46, had written 84 unauthorized union checks to himself, cash and third parties during October 22, 2003-March 22, 2005. Court records state he also forged the names of other officials of the Butte, Montana local, and made false entries in its books to conceal the thefts. The thefts were discovered when nine of the checks bounced. Kennedy pleaded guilty last fall. (Associated Press, 2/2/07).
Ex-Local Business Manager in Ohio Sentenced for Bank Fraud
On January 24, Russell Liming, former business manager and financial secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 183, was sentenced in federal court for the Southern District of Ohio to one week of imprisonment followed by three years of probation for bank fraud. He had claimed on a loan application to be acting on behalf of the local, and subsequently used the proceeds for personal purposes. He also will have to make $2,421 in restitution to Franklin Savings & Loan, and pay a $250 fine and a $100 special assessment. Liming pleaded guilty in October. (OLMS, 2/1/07).
Alaska Local Ex-Secretary Charged with Making False Entries
On January 23, Kathy Schurosky, former office employee for Alaska Piledrivers, Bridge Dock Builders and Divers Local 2520, was charged in federal court with one count of making false entries in union records in the amount of $2,360. The charge follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. The statewide union is affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. (OLMS, 2/1/07).
Financial Secretary in Tennessee Charged with Embezzlement
On January 23, Larry Haislip, former financial secretary for United Steelworkers of America Local 7509, pleaded guilty after being charged in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee with embezzling $1,702.97 in union funds. The union is located in Shelbyville, in the central part of the state. (OLMS, 2/1/07).
Secretary-Treasurer of Iowa Local Sought for Theft, Forgery
On January 19, the Iowa District Court of Woodbury County (Sioux City) issued arrest warrants for Marcia Dewey, former secretary-treasurer for American Federation of Government Employees Local 769, on one count of theft and two counts of forgery for drawing $1,525 in unauthorized checks from the union account. (OLMS, 2/1/07).
Regional Administrator in Washington, D.C. Charged with Theft
On January 26, Kermit Dorsey, former regional administrator for District 7 of the Communications Workers of America, was charged in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with one count of embezzlement from his union. CWA District 7 represents about 55,000 workers in the Midwest and Far West regions of the U.S. and Canada. (OLMS, 2/1/07).
Indiana Local President Charged with Property Violation
On January 10, Glenn Collins, president of Local 2249 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was charged in Monroe County, Indiana (Bloomington) Circuit Court with knowingly exerting unauthorized control of the union’s property with the intent to deprive it of its value or use. (OLMS, 2/1/07).