Center for Union Facts logo

Union Facts

American Federation of State County & Municipal Employe

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
July 26th, 2022On July 26, 2022, in the Niagara Falls City Court for the State of New York, Jerome Newton, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1263, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Security Union (located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to attempted petit larceny, in violation of NYS Penal Code 110-155.25. He was then sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. Newton previously paid $2,421 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
May 22nd, 2020On May 22, 2020, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Linda Woodford, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor theft, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b). She was then sentenced to five days in jail, one year of probation, and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay $453 in court costs; Woodford previously paid full restitution of $4,065. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
February 18th, 2020On February 18, 2020, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison with credit for time served. On June 5, 2018, Love pleaded guilty to one count of theft for stealing $15,548 from the union, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
January 14th, 2020On January 14, 2020, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Eleanor Harvey, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2.  She was sentenced to 365 days confinement (suspended) and 365 days of probation, and she was ordered to pay restitution of $18,800.  She was also ordered to attend an anti-conversion class.  The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office and the Marion County Prosecutors Office. 
September 10th, 2019On September 10, 2019, in the Dunn County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Jennifer Conway, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 727D (located in Menomonie, Wisc.), pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, in violation of Wisconsin State Statutes 947.01(01). She was then ordered to pay court costs of $458. Conway previously paid full restitution of $250. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
August 20th, 2019On August 20, 2019, in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to five years in prison (all suspended) and five years of probation. She was also ordered to pay the remaining restitution of $26,400. Robinson previously paid $3,700 in restitution. On December 14, 2016, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, in violation of Section 7-104 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 5th, 2019On June 5, 2019, in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court, Charlotte F. McDaniel, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3826 (located in Indianapolis, Ind.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of union funds with a value between $750 and $50,000, in violation of Indiana Code 35-43-4-2. She was then sentenced to 365 days of confinement (363 days suspended with one day of credit) and 363 days of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $4,082. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
June 5th, 2018On June 5, 2018, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Sophia Love, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, in violation of Maryland Criminal Law Section 7-104(g)(1)(ii), for stealing $15,548 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
December 14th, 2016On December 14, 2016, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, Betty Robinson, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2751 (located in Baltimore, Md.), pled guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000 for stealing $30,150 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 26th, 2015On June 26, 2015, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Juanita Phillips, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Home Care Employees Local 389 (located in New York, N.Y.), was sentenced to one year of imprisonment. On September 16, 2014, Phillips pled guilty to one count of grand larceny in the third degree. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
March 27th, 2014On March 27, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Lewis, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3585 (located in Canton, Ill.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of approximately $77,469, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On April 14, 2014, Lewis signed a waiver of indictment and pled guilty to the information. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
April 9th, 2013On April 9, 2013, in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), was sentenced to 90 days in jail, five years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,065 and various fees and costs totaling $1,198. On October 10, 2012, Ikerd pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
April 4th, 2013On April 4, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to eight months home confinement, five years probation, participation in a financial education program, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution totaling $27,098.62. On November 29, 2012, Walker pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
March 1st, 2013On March 1, 2013, in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas (Ohio), Jill Ragland, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Chapter 782 (located in Chillicothe, Ohio), was sentenced to one day in the Ross County Jail, one year of probation, 40 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,385 and a $250 fine. On December 18, 2012, Ragland pled guilty to one count of theft, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
January 28th, 2013On January 28, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Dorris Taylor, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $27,098.62 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On November 1, 2012, Taylor pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
November 29th, 2012On November 29, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Annie Walker, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in the amount of $19,774.13, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
November 1st, 2012On November 1, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Doris Taylor, former Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2730 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
October 10th, 2012On October 10, 2012, in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Richard Ikerd, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2568 (located in Melvindale, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. On July 9, 2012, a complaint was filed charging Ikerd with the same crime. The sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2013. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 4th, 2012On September 4, 2012, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Missouri, Michael Palmer, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 1379 (located in Fulton, Mo.), was sentenced to 120 days of confinement, three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,931 and a $200 fine. On April 4, 2012, Palmer pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
July 31st, 2012On July 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Loretta Brown, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3491 (located in Gary, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of concealing and withholding financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). Brown was then sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to make restitution of $3,929.51. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
November 14th, 2011On November 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Perry Taylor, former Vice President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,897.60 and a special assessment of $25. On July 26, 2011, Taylor pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate union records of lost time claims made by him and others. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 28th, 2011On September 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to two years probation with the first 12 months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,293.14 and a $100 special assessment. On June 21, 2011, Peoples pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $39,019.67. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 23rd, 2011On September 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Grace Isley, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2051 (located in Des Moines, Iowa), was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment and restitution in the amount of $11,943.82. On June 20, 2011, Isley pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
September 7th, 2011On September 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, William Edwards, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation, substance abuse counseling, and was ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. Edwards previously made restitution in the amount of $4,929.49. On May 2, 2011, Edwards pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
July 26th, 2011On July 26, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Perry Taylor, former Vice President of American, Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting others in failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
June 21st, 2011On June 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Patricia Peoples, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $39,019.67. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
June 20th, 2011On June 20, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Grace Isley, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2051 (located in Newton, Iowa), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement with a loss amount of $11,943, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
June 1st, 2011On June 1, 2011, in the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit of Will County, Illinois, Tamika Dukes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3492 (located in Addison, Ill.), pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of supervision and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,600. A criminal complaint filed on December 1, 2010 charged Dukes with one count of theft of no more than $300. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
May 11th, 2011On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin, Shari Birch, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1760-A (located in Superior, Wis.), was sentenced to two years of probation (with six months to be served in home detention) and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,737.54. On February 25, 2011, Birch pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior Wisconsin Police Department.
May 2nd, 2011On May 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, William Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(a). On March 1, 2011, an information was filed charging Edwards with the same crime. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
February 25th, 2011On February 25, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin, Shari Birch, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1760-A (located in Superior, Wis.), pled guilty to count one of a 21-count indictment and admitted to embezzling $16,734.54 from AFSCME Local 1760-A. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior, Wisconsin Police Department.
February 25th, 2011On February 25, 2011, in the Guernsey County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Kandy Dunfee, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 3020 (located in Cambridge, Ohio), was sentenced to 11 months incarceration with each count running concurrently (suspended), placed on supervised release for three years, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $1,074.60. On January 14, 2011, Dunfee pled guilty to one count of theft and one count of forgery. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 15th, 2011On February 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Deidra Lucas, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to time already served (one day) and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and pay restitution of $39,403 and a $100 special assessment. On October 14, 2010, Lucas pled guilty to one count of embezzling $5,283.20 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
December 15th, 2010On December 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Paula Dorsey, former President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.), was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $180,000. On August 11, 2010, Dorsey pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
October 14th, 2010On October 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Deidra Lucas, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, MI), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,283.20. Lucas is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 15th, 2010On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Brian Wilson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 2804 (located in Warren, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and 90 days home confinement. On July 13, 2010, Wilson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
August 31st, 2010On August 31, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Kelly J. Fahrenkopf, former Vice President of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 316 (located in West Coxsackie, N.Y.),was sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,500. On April 20, 2010, Fahrenkopf pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $11,500 in union funds between August 2006 and March 2007. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
August 20th, 2010On August 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to twenty-four months of probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,920.16 and pay a $25 special assessment. On March 2, 2010, Bywater pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
August 11th, 2010On August 11, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Paula S. Dorsey, former President of AFSCME District Council 48 (located in Milwaukee, Wis.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $532.50. On June 22, 2010, Dorsey was charged in an information with the same offense. The plea follows and investigation by OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
July 13th, 2010On July 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Brian Wilson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 2804 (located in Warren, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,500. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
May 11th, 2010On May 11, 2010, in Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Donald Woods, former President of AFSCME Local 217 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft of union funds in the amount of $500.00 or more. Woods was then sentenced to six months probation. Woods previously made restitution in the amount of $1,376. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
May 3rd, 2010On May 3, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Michele Pedersen, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 2746 (located in Astoria, Ore.), was sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered to pay a $25 special assessment penalty. Pedersen previously made restitution in the amount of $8,509. On May 3, 2010, Pedersen pled guilty to falsification of an annual financial report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
April 20th, 2010On April 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Kelly J. Fahrenkopf, former Vice President of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Local 316 (located in West Coxsackie, N.Y.) pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $11,500 in union funds between August 2006 and March 2007. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
March 2nd, 2010On March 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Brenda Bywater, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. On December 16, 2009, an information was filed charging Bywater with the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 23rd, 2009On September 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation, including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, ordered to make full restitution, and fined $2,000. On May 1, 2009, Hooks pled guilty to embezzling $15,192 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
August 6th, 2009On August 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Donna Caltabiano, former President of AFSCME Local 888 (located in Catskill, N.Y.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation and ordered to make restitution of $23,644.76. On March 25, 2009, Caltabiano had pled guilty to embezzling $23,644.76 in union funds between 2002 and 2006. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
May 27th, 2009On May 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Wendy Bentzen, former information/financial manager for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 72 (located in Jefferson City, Mo.), was sentenced to six months home detention and five years of supervision for the charge of bank fraud. Bentzen was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,256.60 and a $100 special assessment. On September 29, 2008, Bentzen pled guilty to one count of bank fraud.The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
May 14th, 2009On May 14, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.), was sentenced to ten months of home confinement, three years of probation and ordered to make total restitution in the amount of $40,451.03 for embezzling union funds. Bruno was also ordered to enter into substance abuse counseling and attend credit counseling. On January 7, 2009, Bruno pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,118.57. On October 9, 2008, Bruno was charged with embezzling union funds, between March 2004 and March 2006, in the same amount. The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
May 1st, 2009On May 1, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,192. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
March 25th, 2009On March 25, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Donna Caltabiano, former President of AFSCME Local 888 (located in Catskill, N.Y.), pled guilty to embezzling $23,644.76 in union funds between 2002 and 2006.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
January 7th, 2009On January 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Carol Bruno, former Treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 (located in Albany, N.Y.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $16,118.57. On October 9, 2008, Bruno was charged with embezzling union funds, between March 2004 and March 2006, in the same amount. Also, Bruno agreed to pay restitution. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
September 29th, 2008On September 29, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Wendy Elaine Bentzen, former information/financial manager for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) State Council 72 (located in Jefferson City, Mo.) pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. The charge follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.
June 26th, 2008On June 26, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME (located in Washington, DC), was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by 36 months probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,446. On April 4, 2008, Albritton pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 23rd, 2008On June 23, 2008, in the County Court of St. Lawrence County, New York, June Wilkins, former President of AFSCME Local 625 (located in Potsdam, NY), was sentenced to four months imprisonment followed by five years probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $689.03 plus probation costs in the amount of $3,102. Wilkin had previously made restitution in the amount of $15,730.92. On May 5, 2008, Wilkins pled guilty to two counts of third degree grand larceny. Wilkins admitted to taking over $15,000 from the local. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
April 4th, 2008On April 4, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Zona Albritton, former Manager of General Services for AFSCME, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $75,446. On March 17, 2008, a criminal information was filed charging Albritton with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
October 17th, 2007On October 17, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Sandra Gorman, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11's ODOT Assembly, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
June 22nd, 2007On June 22, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 8330, was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, five years probation, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $25,891.11. On March 15, 2007, Walters pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
June 12th, 2007On June 12, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Hohlbauch, former Financial Secretary of AFSCME Local 3600, was sentenced to two years probation for willfully making false entries in financial records. On April 11, 2007, Hohlbauch pled guilty to making the false entries to conceal his embezzlement of $5,073 in union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
April 30th, 2007On April 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Sandra Gorman, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11's ODOT Assembly (located in Columbus, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $4,642. On October 17, 2007, Gorman pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
April 11th, 2007On April 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Jeffrey Hohlbauch, former President of AFSCME Local 3600, pled guilty to one count of willfully making false entries in financial records to conceal his embezzlement of $5,073 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
March 15th, 2007On March 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Deborah Walters, former President of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 8330, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,012. On October 4, 2006, Walters was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount and five counts of falsification of union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
December 7th, 2006On December 7, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $5,409.27 within 30 days. On August 3, 2006, Peterson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309.27. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
October 2nd, 2006On October 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Elizabeth Fiske, former office bookkeeper for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 38, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $32,793. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
August 3rd, 2006On August 3, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Nanette Peterson, former Treasurer of AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2597, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,309. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 9th, 2006On February 9, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 2528, was sentenced to 5 years probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to make full restitution. Thompson previously pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $2,727.93 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
January 24th, 2006On January 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, William Van Sickle, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 725, pled guilty to embezzling union funds totaling $64,229.40. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
December 16th, 2005On December 16, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Gary Gourley, former President of AFSCME Local 1522, was sentenced to five months incarceration, five months home confinement with electronic monitoring, and three years of supervised release. Gourley was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, assessed a $100 fine, and ordered to make restitution of $63,083.80. Gourley previously pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $63,083.80. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
December 14th, 2005On December 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Jackie Sikorski, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 1522, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzlement of union funds in excess of $10,000 and less than $30,000. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
November 15th, 2005On November 15, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Michelle Thompson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter #2528, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with embezzling union funds totaling $2,727.93. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
September 20th, 2005On September 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Gary Gourley, former President of AFSCME Local 1522, pled guilty to embezzling $63,084 in union funds. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.
June 1st, 2003On June 1, 2003, in Ogdensburg (NY) City Court, John Miller, former secretary-treasurer of AFSCME, Civil Service Employees Association, Local 727, was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service for committing grand larceny in the third degree. Miller pled guilty to stealing $4,743 from his union and made full restitution following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
March 24th, 2003On March 24, 2003, in Onondaga (New York) City Court, John Miller, the former president of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 727, pled guilty to one count of attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree. He had previously made restitution for depositing two dues remittance checks from CSEA in his personal checking account. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
January 22nd, 2003On January 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey L. Williams, former treasurer of Chapter 6555, AFSCME Local 11, pled guilty to embezzling $3,312.65 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
November 15th, 2001On November 15, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Robert Gordon, former financial secretary-treasurer of Local 366 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $88,431. He had pled guilty on July 27, 2001, to embezzlement of union funds and falsification of union records following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.