Kyle Batts tried to make ends meet on his union credit card. He wasn’t thinking ahead. On February 27, Batts, 38, former secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 738, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to embezzling $40,580.83 in union assets. Roughly during the period April 2003-August 2006, he used a union credit card to pay for personal expenses. The union is based in Longview, about an hour and a half east of Dallas. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (States News Service, 2/27/08; OLMS, 3/6/08).
Tennessee Local President Sentenced for Embezzlement
On February 22, Ronald Schweitzer, former president of Local 1967 of the United Steelworkers of America, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee to three days in prison, three years of supervised release, and 10 months home detention. He also was ordered to pay full restitution for embezzlement. Schweitzer pleaded guilty last October to stealing $58,305 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Secretary-Treasurer in Arkansas Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
On February 19, Martin Hayes, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 1671, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $9,033.25. He had been charged last June. The union represents employees at National Wire Fabric in Star City, Ark. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Secretary of Denver Local Sentenced for Embezzlement
On February 22, Paula Adair-Butts, formerly office secretary for Local 577 of the Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons International Association, was sentenced in federal court to five years probation, ordered to make restitution, and pay a $100 special assessment for embezzling $27,842 in union funds. She had pleaded guilty in December. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Former President of Ohio Local Pleads Guilty to Theft
On February 29, Francis Pagan, former president of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local Lodge 3M, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $17,415. He had been charged three days earlier. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Virginia Ex-Secretary-Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement
On February 14, Randy Greear, former secretary-treasurer of Local 37 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia to two years probation, including six months of home detention, and fined $2,000 for embezzling $22,691.60 in union funds. He previously had made full restitution. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Local President in Oklahoma Sentenced for Embezzlement
On February 25, Curtis Smith, former president of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union Local 325, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma to five years probation and up to six months electronic monitoring for embezzling union funds. He previously had made full restitution in the amount of $904.48. He pleaded guilty in November. Steve Dobyns, former secretary-treasurer for the local, also has been charged in the case. (OLMS, 3/6/08).
Wisconsin Local Secretary-Treasurer Convicted of Theft
On February 13, Carson Combs, former secretary-treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 1771, was found guilty of theft in Monroe County, Wisconsin Circuit Court. He was sentenced to one year of probation, and ordered to pay $410.30 in restitution plus a 10 percent surcharge, and perform 40 hours of community service. The local is based in Sparta, Wisc. (OLMS, 3/6/08).