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.

Date	Description
September 19th, 2013	On September 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, William Mochrie, former Secretary-Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-28 (located in Castleton, N.Y.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was required to pay a court assessment of $25. Mochrie is also forbidden to obtain any new lines of credit, and, if directed by the U.S. Probation Department, to participate in credit counseling. He was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution totaling of $14,569. On May 22, 2013, Mochrie pled guilty to making false entries in labor union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
December 17th, 2012	On December 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Manuel Nogueira, former Recording Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000 and a $200 special assessment. On April 27, 2011, Nogueira pled guilty to one count of conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371), one count of embezzlement (29 U.S.C. 501(c)), and one count of aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. 2). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
October 2nd, 2012	On October 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Andy Alerte, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $5,100 and a $25 assessment. On March 14, 2012, Alerte pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain records and one count of making false entries. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
October 2nd, 2012	On October 2, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Roody Lespinasse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $20,818 and a $25 assessment. On February 21, 2012, Lespinasse pled guilty to one count of failure to maintain records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
August 14th, 2012	On August 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stennett Bernard, former President of Steelworkers Local 4-421 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and electronic monitoring and five years of probation. Bernard was also ordered to pay restitution of $175,312 and a special assessment of $200. The restitution amount was increased to include the amount of money Bernard conspired to pay his co-conspirators. On May 31, 2012, Bernard pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
February 21st, 2012	On February 21, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Roody Lespinasse, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 04-421 (located in Brockton, Mass.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a). On February 21, 2012, an information was filed charging Lespinasse with the same crime. Lespinasse agreed to make restitution in the amount of $20,818. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
May 29th, 2002	On May 29, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Anthony Brock, former secretary-treasurer of Steelworkers Local 4-6989, pled guilty to embezzling $12,573 in union funds. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.