At least Barbara Patton’s misuse of funds was modest by the standards of many union officials. On March 16, federal prosecutors announced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania that Patton, formerly vice president and then president of Local 4469 of the American Postal Workers Union, has been indicted by a federal grand jury that she used her union credit card to cover unauthorized personal expenses. Patton, 57, a resident of Somerset, Pa., during June 1, 2007-November 30, 2008 allegedly embezzled $2,015.78. The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.
