On April 24, Richard J. Vincent, former treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3951, was charged in Cambria County (Pa.) Court with two counts of embezzling funds from the Altoona-based union in the amount of $43,694.85. The charges follow a joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and Office of Inspector General. The local represents employees at the federal prison in Loretto, Pa., west of Altoona. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Local Secretary-Treasurer in Ohio Pleads Guilty to Theft
On April 30, Amy J. Cross, former secretary-treasurer of Utility Workers Union of America Local 308, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to embezzling $31,886.64 in funds from the Lima local. She had been charged earlier in the month with one count of embezzlement in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Upstate New York Office Manager Sentenced for Embezzlement
On April 29, Mary Hartsock, former office manager of Local 1358 of the Laborers International Union of North America, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York to five years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $17,958. She had pleaded guilty in October to one count of embezzlement. The union is based in Elmira Heights, N.Y. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Ohio Ex-Local Treasurer Sentenced for False Record-Keeping
On April 30, Sandra Gorman, former treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 11, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to three years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $4,642. She pleaded guilty last October to one count of falsifying records of the Columbus-based union, which represents civil service employees throughout the state. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Former Treasurer in Ohio Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
On May 5, Chad Mowery, former treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 282, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to embezzling $2,537. He had been charged in February. The union is based in Springdale, a suburb of Cincinnati, and represents Indiana and Ohio Railway workers. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Wisconsin Ex-Officials Indicted for Embezzlement
As employers themselves, unions are subject to time-clock thievery. If and when it does happen, the culprits may collect thousands of unearned dollars before being caught. Such recently was the case at United Steelworkers of America Local 20 in Kaukana, Wisconsin, near Appleton. Four current or former union officials were indicted in federal court on charges of embezzling from their union. Court documents reveal that Tim Giles, Randy Sanders, Mary Schaeuble and Eugene Huss billed the union for allegedly performing services related to union business. In fact, they either were at their regular jobs or weren’t scheduled for union activity during the time period(s) claimed. The thefts amounted to a few thousand dollars, noted Assistant U.S. Attorney Mel Johnson. (Associated Press, 5/23/08).
Minnesota Local Financial Secretary Charged with Theft
On April 29, Kathleen Kordish, former financial secretary of Steelworkers Local 9349, was charged in County Court of St. Louis County, Minn. with one count of theft of funds by false representation in excess of $2,500. The union is located in Hibbing. (OLMS, 5/21/08).
Former Ohio Local President Pleads Guilty to Theft
On May 7, Gary Smink, former president of Steelworkers Local 1-962 in Elyria, Ohio, pleaded guilty in Lorain County Court to theft of union funds in the amount of $770. He had been indicted in April. (OLMS, 5/21/08).