On April 7, Michael Rutowski, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2913, was sentenced to one day in jail and two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $71,295.75 for making false statements in the Blaine, Wash. union’s annual financial report. He pleaded guilty in January. The sentencing follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Ex-President of Texas Local Indicted for Theft
On March 4, Raul Castorena, former president of AFGE Local 1749, was indicted in the District Court of Val Verde County, Texas on one count of theft and one count of misapplication of fiduciary property in an amount greater than $1,500 but less than $20,000. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Ohio Local Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Theft
On April 1, Michelle Meek, former treasurer of AFGE Local 3435 in Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to one count of theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Georgia Local Office Secretary Indicted for Embezzlement
On April 3, Louella M Zieman, former office secretary of Local 709 of the International Association of Iron Workers, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $51,684 and one count of making false entries in union financial records. The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Ohio Local Secretary-Treasurer Charged with Embezzlement
On April 7, Amy Cross, former secretary-treasurer of Local 308 of the Utility Workers Union of America, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with one count of embezzling $31,887 in union funds. The local represents employees of Dominion East Ohio Gas. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Former Secretary-Treasurer of Cleveland Local Sentenced
On April 11, Kathleen Drake, former secretary-treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local 2339-C, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to one year of probation for falsifying records of the Cleveland-based union. She also will have to make restitution in the amount of $17,035. Drake pleaded guilty in January. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Ohio Ex-Local Secretary Sentenced for False Record-Keeping
On April 9, Linda Leonard, former secretary for Local 216 of the Laborers International Union of North America, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to two years supervised probation for making false entries in union records and ordered to pay $5,213 in restitution. She pleaded guilty in January. Local 216 is based in Springfield, Ohio. (OLMS, 4/24/08).
Local President in Northern Ohio Indicted for Theft
On April 9, Gary Smink, former president of United Steelworkers of America Local 1-962 in Elyria, Ohio, was sentenced in the Lorain County Court on one count of theft totaling $770. (OLMS, 4/24/08).