Betty Illig had gone bankrupt. Her bigger mistake was trying to climb her way out at the expense of her union. Late in November, a federal grand jury in Cleveland indicted Illig, former secretary treasurer of Graphic Communications International Union Local 638-S and the Tri-State District Joint Council, for embezzling $145,675 and falsifying union financial reporting forms. Her alleged thefts occurred from January 4, 2000 until May 8, 2004. Illig, 64, a resident of East Liverpool, Ohio, about a half-hour drive south of the Youngstown area, had filed for bankruptcy in November 2000. The local also is based in East Liverpool. The international union has been affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters since early 2005. (Vindy.com, 11/24/07).
Ex-Treasurer of SW Ohio Local Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
On November 14, Brad Dubray, former treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 113, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to embezzling $14,548.11 in union funds. He had been charged in October. The local is based in Middletown, located midway between Cincinnati and Dayton. (OLMS, 11/26/07).
Pittsburgh-Area Financial Secretary Charged with Embezzlement
On November 7, Deborah Anthony, former financial secretary of United Steelworkers of America Local 1196, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania with eight counts of embezzling $6,955.18 in union funds and one count of making false statements in union records. The local is based is Brackenridge, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. (OLMS, 11/26/07).
Ohio Ex-Local Treasurer Charged with Theft, False Statements
On November 8, Michelle Meek, ex-treasurer of Local 3435 of the American Federation of Government Employees, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with one count of theft totaling $7,278.28 and two counts of making false entries on financial reporting forms. The union represents employees of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Columbus. The complaint followed a joint investigation by HUD and the Department of Labor. (OLMS, 11/26/07).
Former President of Oregon Local Charged with Theft
On November 15, Robert Steele, ex-president of AFGE Local 1417, was charged in the Circuit Court in the State of Oregon for Umatilla County with first-degree theft and misappropriation of entrusted property. The union represents employees at the U.S. Army’s Umatilla Chemical Depot near Hermiston, Ore. (OLMS, 11/26/07).