On August 31, Judy Thurman, former treasurer of Federated Independent Texas Union Local 900, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $164,268.50. Thurman, who had served at her union post for nearly two years, originally had been indicted on 19 counts. FITU Local 900 represents Lockheed Aerospace workers in Ft. Worth. The plea follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department. (OLMS, 9/21/07).
Oklahoma Local President Sentenced for False Record-Keeping
On September 6, Nathaniel Marc Greene, former president of Local 2562 of the American Federation of Government Employees, was sentenced in federal court for the Western District of Oklahoma to 10 months home confinement and three years probation, and ordered to pay $55,955.76 in restitution and a $100 special assessment for making false entries in the financial reporting forms of the Oklahoma City union. He pleaded guilty in April. (OLMS, 9/21/07).
Former Tennessee Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Theft
On August 23, James B. Green, former secretary-treasurer of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Lodge 49, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee to 25 months home confinement and three years probation for embezzlement of union funds. He also was ordered to pay $36,025.80 in restitution, plus a $500 special assessment. Green pleaded guilty in May. (OLMS, 9/15/07).
Secretary-Treasurer in Virginia Indicted for Embezzlement
On September 11, Randy Greear, former secretary-treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on one count of embezzling $22,691.60 in union funds. The Cleveland-based national union is affiliated with the Teamsters. (OLMS, 9/21/07).
Secretary-Treasurer in Michigan Indicted for Embezzlement
On August 31, Denise M. Nichols, former secretary-treasurer of Communications Workers of America Local 4050, was indicted in federal court for the Eastern District of Michigan on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $3,804.20 and two counts of cover-up through false record-keeping. The local is based in Detroit. (OLMS, 9/21/07).
California Treasurer Pleads Guilty to False Record-Keeping
On August 22, Christina Wabinga, former treasurer of Local B-66 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to one count of making false representations of fact and one count of entering false records. She agreed to pay restitution of $3,533.49 plus $2,000 in fines. Local B-66 is based in Sacramento. (OLMS, 9/21/07).
Ex-Local Business Manager in Indiana Pleads Guilty
On August 28, Gary E. Sharp, former business manager for Local 2 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana to one count of embezzling $630 in union funds. Sharp is a resident of Indiana, though Local 2 is based in St. Louis, Mo. (OLMS, 9/21/07).