William Kendrick wasn’t treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 238 for very long. But he made the most of his opportunity – until he was caught. Kendrick, a resident of Grandview, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court on August 17 to five years’ probation and six months home detention for embezzling $26,235.94 from the Kansas City, Kan.-based union. Kendrick, who had served in his position from April 2003 to August 2004, pleaded guilty this May to one count of embezzlement. He admitted that he and Local 238 President Dwayne Giles, also of Grandview, co-signed checks from a union account payable to Kendrick. They also made child support payments on behalf of Giles, who already has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing on October 1. (Kansas City Star, 8/17/07).
Ohio Local Secretary-Treasurer Charged with Embezzlement
On July 27, William J. Pagano, former secretary-treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 78, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for embezzling funds from the Columbus-based union in the amount of $66,759.18 during 2000-06. The one-count information follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 8/19/07).
Former Union Official in Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud
On August 1, Lorraine Payton, former president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Veterans Administration Council, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to one count of mail fraud. She had been charged back in March in a superseding indictment with mail fraud and making false statements to a government agency. (OLMS, 8/19/07).
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (AFGE)
Oklahoma City Local Ex-President Pleads Guilty
On July 30, Brenda Sue Myers, also known as Brenda Sue Barnett, former president of Local 2282 of the American Federation of Government Employees, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma to one count of making a false statement. She was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to make $21,500 in restitution. She had been charged earlier in the month with falsely reporting that the local had disbursed funds for business purposes in that amount, knowing she had diverted the money for her own personal use. The local is based in Oklahoma City. (OLMS, 8/19/07).
Treasurer in Michigan Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements
On August 9, Brad Harper, former treasurer of AFGE Local 1629, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan to one count of making materially false statements on the union’s annual financial reporting form. He had been indicted in June on three counts of filing false reports. The union represents employees at the VA hospital in Battle Creek. (OLMS, 8/19/07).