Carolyn Sue Alderman-Connon was hired to manage funds for a union job training program. For her, managing and stealing apparently meant the same thing. In early October, Alderman-Connon, former financial secretary for Southeast Area Joint Apprenticeship Program of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, agreed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to plead guilty to two counts of embezzlement totaling more than $1.2 million from the Ruskin, Fla.-based (Hillsborough County) regional union fund. Each count carries up to five years in prison.
Federal prosecutors had charged that Alderman-Connon, 45, a resident of Palm Coast, Florida, “routinely, and without permission or authorization” used online banking to transfer funds from a union general account to various local funds. She then would write checks payable either to herself or a fictitious payee. Additionally, stated the plea agreement, she created checks for a fellow clerical employee. Court records did not make clear how long the scheme lasted. The Boilermakers program provides training for about 1,600 apprentices each year and is funded by contributions of 40 cents per hour of member pay. Around 35 part-time instructors provide training. Thanks to the misguided efforts of Mrs. Alderman-Connon, the training may be a little less than thorough for a while.