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Union Facts

Painters, Local 8

Guilty Pleas

Office of Labor-Management Enforcement

The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) conducts both civil and criminal investigations of alleged violations of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and related laws.

These investigations by OLMS District Offices involve issues such as embezzlements of union funds, union officer elections, the filing of required reports by unions and others with OLMS, and the imposition of trusteeships over subordinate unions by a parent body. These investigations may result in legal enforcement actions.

DateDescription
November 21st, 2013On November 21, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hector Lopez, President of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to pay $800,371 in restitution and forfeiture of $371,000 for a total financial obligation of $1,171,371. On April 9, 2013, Lopez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, and one count of filing false tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7201. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Internal Revenue Service.
February 27th, 2012On February 27, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Francis Mazzella, employer for members of Painters Local 8A-28A (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), waived indictment and pled guilty to a two-count information charging Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349 and 18 U.S.C. 371. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
January 24th, 2003On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, William Brooks, former recording secretary of Painters Local 8 of Lake Station, Indiana, pled guilty to embezzling $13,755.15 in union funds. Brooks was indicted on November 15, 2001 following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.