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.
Date
Description
January 1st, 2013
On January 1, 2013, Ava Ramey, former trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 in Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $379,000. In June 2012, Ramey pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization. The investigation revealed that between December 2005 and October 2009, Ramey wrote more than $80,000 in checks from the union’s account to either herself or to cash for personal expenses and withdrew more than $60,000 from the union’s account in unapproved ATM withdrawals. In addition, Ramey withdrew in person or transferred to her personal account more than $100,000 in union funds and wrote more than $60,000 in checks from the union’s account to her family members.
June 25th, 2012
On June 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Ava Ramey, former Trustee of United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA) Local 21 (located in Bowie, Md.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), for embezzling at least $379,000 from the union. Ramey wrote more than $80,000 in union checks to herself and cash, purchased more than $70,000 in merchandise on the union’s debit card, withdrew more than $60,000 from union accounts at ATM machines, withdrew in person or transferred to her personal account more than $100,000 of union funds, and wrote more than $60,000 in union checks to her family members. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
