Calvin Sanders was more than just careless. And that’s why he faces a potential five-year prison sentence. Sanders, who had served as president of Local 638C of the United Food and Commercial Workers during June 2007-February 2010, was charged on August 8 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana with embezzling $24,028 in funds from the Lafayette, La.-based union. He then pleaded guilty. According to federal prosecutors, Sanders, 52, a resident of Franklin, La., made unauthorized withdrawals from Local 638C general and strike fund checking accounts, and also paid personal utility bills with union funds. Sanders admitted to not properly maintaining union records. Sentencing is set for December. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.
