It’s a familiar story: A union official with a gambling problem steals from the till to cover personal losses. On March 31, John Earvin, former president of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (UFLEO), was arrested by federal agents for embezzling nearly $50,000 over more than three years from the Bellerose (Nassau County, Long Island), N.Y.-based union, which represents Special Inspectors at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He had been indicted on one count of wire fraud the previous day in Manhattan federal court following a probe by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Earvin, now 67, a resident of New Rochelle (Westchester County), N.Y., served as UFLEO president during February 2007-April 2010. Unfortunately, say prosecutors, he used his position during that time to embezzle from union coffers. According to the indictment, Earvin used his union ATM card to make hundreds of cash withdrawals totaling $48,012 for his own personal use, much of it for off-track betting. He also allegedly claimed, falsely, during an independent audit, that he could not account for missing funds. The fraud charge carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Prosecutors also are seeking restitution.