For almost a decade, Ivar Carlson used his union bank account as it were a personal one, and without anyone noticing. People now have noticed. On December 6, Carlson, former business agent and treasurer for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local B-935, was arrested and then charged in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts with one count of embezzling $37,014 in funds from the union, which represents workers at the DCU Center in Worcester. The charge follows an investigation by the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.
According to federal prosecutors, Carlson, now 58, a resident of Auburn, Mass., during March 2007-September 2016 used his positions at IATSE Local B-935 to write checks from the union bank account, cash the checks, and use the funds for unauthorized purchases. After appearing in court, he was released on conditions. Carlson faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. As for the local union, it was placed under trusteeship by IATSE in November 2016 and is now defunct.