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 8th, 2022	On September 8, 2022, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, VA), was sentenced to six months of home detention and 24 months of probation, and was fined $4,000. Jordan had previously paid full restitution of $30,519. On May 11, 2022, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentence follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
May 11th, 2022	On May 11, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization totaling $30,519, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
February 28th, 2022	On February 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was sentenced to six months in a home detention program and three years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,078 in restitution and a $400 special assessment. Rooze previously paid $127,943 in restitution. On August 30, 2021, Rooze pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
August 30th, 2021	On August 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen A. Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), pleaded guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and admitted to embezzling a total of $140,064 over an eight-year period. The guilty plea follows an investigation by OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
January 29th, 2021	On January 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was sentenced to six months of confinement and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $61,386 in restitution. On September 16, 2020, Davis pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
September 16th, 2020	On September 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Edward C. Davis, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 620 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
October 23rd, 2018	On October 23, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman (BLET)/IBT Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to four years of probation. Taylor was also ordered to perform 200 hours community service and to pay $59,150 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On March 20, 2018, Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
March 20th, 2018	On March 20, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Michael A. Taylor, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling $24,868 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). He then pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
October 10th, 2017	On October 10, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was sentenced to two years of supervised probation the first three months of which will be served in home confinement. Miller was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,070, a fine of $2,000, and a special assessment of $100. On May 19, 2017, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,686, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
September 25th, 2017	On September 25, 2017, in the Franklin County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Michael Mathis, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $5,784. He was immediately sentenced to 60 days of incarceration (suspended) and one year of probation. He was also ordered to pay $5,784 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
May 19th, 2017	On May 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), pled guilty to a one-count criminal information for embezzling $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
August 10th, 2015	On August 10, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.Va.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409. On June 12, 2015, McCallister pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
June 12th, 2015	On June 12, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 101 (located in Hinton, W.V.), pled guilty to one count of felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The sentencing is scheduled for August 10, 2015. The plea follows an investigation by the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
March 2nd, 2015	On March 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern Illinois, Kimberly Hesla, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 474 (located in Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and a special assessment of $25. On November 4, 2014, Hesla pled guilty to one count of a false statement in a labor union financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
January 5th, 2015	On January 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dale T. Hull, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 261 (located in Herington, Kans.), was sentenced to time served, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,189 and a fine of $2,500. On September 29, 2014, Hull pled guilty to a single count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
March 20th, 2014	On March 20, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Robert Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 644 (located in Galesburg, Ill.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On July 23, 2013, Davis was charged in an indictment with embezzling $27,712 in union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
January 24th, 2013	On January 24, 2013, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to four years and 60 days in jail with four years of the jail term suspended and seven years of probation. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,326.62. On October 30, 2012, Shell pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code 18.2-111. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
October 30th, 2012	On October 30, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Tim Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of $200 or more for embezzling money from a union, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
October 18th, 2012	On October 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert K. Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), was ordered to pay $5,742.85 in restitution, a $500 fine, and a $25 special assessment. On April 18, 2012, Lauermann pled guilty to a one-count information for filing false reports with the Railroad Retirement Board, in violation of 45 U.S.C. 231(l). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
April 18th, 2012	On April 18, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), pled guilty to a one-count information for filing false reports, in violation of 45 U.S.C. 231(l). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
December 12th, 2011	On December 12, 2011, in the Cerro Gordo County, Iowa District Court, Kenneth Schmidt, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 656 (located in Mason City, Iowa), was sentenced to up to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections, with execution of the sentence suspended and was placed on probation for three years. Schmidt was also ordered to pay $1,373 in restitution and a $750 fine. On November 29, 2011, Schmidt pled guilty to one count of Theft in the 2nd Degree, in violation of Iowa Statute 714.2. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
November 30th, 2010	On November 30, 2010, in Dakota County District Court of Minnesota, Jonathan David Thompson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 333 (located in Rosemount, Minn.), was sentenced to 364 days in jail (361 were stayed and a credit of three days was given for three days served) and two years probation for financial transaction card fraud of over $2,500. Thompson was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service, pay $455 in court related fees, supply a DNA sample, and write a letter of apology to Division 333. Thompson was also ordered to pay restitution of $11,841.76 to Division 333 and to pay $9,650.93 to Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. On September 17, 2010, Thompson pled guilty to one felony count of financial transaction card fraud of over $2,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
November 5th, 2010	On November 5, 2010, in the Mower County Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (BLET GCA) (located in Albert Lea, MN), was sentenced to four years probation for theft of $1,562.12, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the same amount, to write a letter of apology, and to not hold a position of financial responsibility. On September 30, 2010, Heichel pled guilty to gross misdemeanor theft by false representation in the amount of $1,562.12. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
September 30th, 2010	On September 30, 2010, in the Mower County Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (BLET GCA), located in Austin, MN, pled guilty to one count of gross misdemeanor theft and false representation in the amount of $1,562.12. The plea follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office and the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
July 29th, 2010	On July 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cory A. Carroll, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,362.41. On April 5, 2010, Carroll was indicted for the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 10th, 2009	On March 10, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,074.23 and a $100 special assessment.On November 20, 2008, Bohanon pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
February 17th, 2009	On February 17, 2009, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Todd Novak, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 3 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, two years probation, and was fined $2,000. On October 31, 2008, Novak pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $47,780.89 which he repaid prior to sentencing. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
November 20th, 2008	On November 20, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. On September 16, 2008, Bohanon had been charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
October 14th, 2008	On October 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad Mowery, former Secretary Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution. On May 5, 2008, Mowery pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
May 5th, 2008	On May 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Chad M. Mowery, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) Division 282 (located in Springdale, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,537.00. On February 6, 2008, Mowery was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
February 14th, 2008	On February 14, 2008, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local 37, was sentenced to two years probation, which includes six months of home detention, and a fine of $2,000. Greear had previously made full restitution to the union. On November 21, 2007, Greear pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
November 21st, 2007	On November 21, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Randy Greear, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 37, pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $22,691.60. On September 11, 2007, Greear was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
July 20th, 2006	On July 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Ryan L. Butterfield, former Secretary Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 135, was sentenced to three years probation. Butterfield previously made restitution to the local in the amount of $31,097.39. On March 16, 2006, Butterfield pled guilty to filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
June 23rd, 2006	On June 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Kimberly Solheim, former bookkeeper for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Local 402, was sentenced to fourteen days in prison to be followed by one year of supervised probation. Solheim was also ordered to make restitution to the union's bonding company in the amount of $6,658. On March 7, 2006, Solheim pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
June 19th, 2006	On June 19, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles Douglas Davis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, and required to make restitution to the union in the amount of $34,123.41. Additionally, Douglas was assessed $75 and is barred from possessing a firearm during his period of supervision. Davis previously pled guilty to one count of filing a false report and two counts of falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
December 13th, 2005	On December 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Blaine D. Barnett, former Secretary-Treasurer for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 374, pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $1,100. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2, 2006. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
December 15th, 2003	On December 15, 2003, in the United States District Court of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, AFL-CIO, Division 245, was sentenced to three (3) years probation, six (6) months home confinement, and was ordered to pay a penalty of $150 and a fine of $1,500. On October 10, Rodda plead guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $26,150, and making false entries and false statements in union records. Rodda previously made full restitution to BLE, Division 245. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
October 23rd, 2003	On October 23, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,900. Haskins pled guilty on July 28, 2003, to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
August 25th, 2003	On August 25, 2003, in United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, Douglas W. Rodda, former secretary and treasurer of the Locomotive Engineers, Division 245, pled guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzling $26,150 in union funds, willfully making false entries in union records, and making false statements in a report required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor. Rodda wrote checks payable to himself and his wife for fraudulent expenses and concealed the checks from other union officials. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
July 28th, 2003	On July 28, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement and two counts of falsifying union records, and agreed to pay restitution of $41,900. Haskins had been indicted on April 8, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
June 12th, 2001	On June 12, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former secretary-treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.