Center for Union Facts logo

Union Facts

Locomotive Engineers

criminal charges

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
February 14th, 2023On February 14, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Byers, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 287 (located in Ashville, Pa.), was indicted on one count of embezzling $45,373 in union funds and one count of falsification of records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 29 U.S.C. 439(c), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
April 26th, 2022On April 26, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Anthony Jordan, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 26 (located in Chester, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $30,519 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
March 12th, 2021On March 12, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Stephen Rooze, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 662 (located in Burbank, Calif.), was charged in a four-count indictment for embezzling $140,064 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
September 14th, 2020On September 14, 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.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,386, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
March 20th, 2018On 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.
May 2nd, 2017On May 2, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Thomas M. Miller, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 815 (located in Joliet, Ill.), was charged in an information with embezzling approximately $10,686 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 8th, 2017On February 8, 2017, in the Franklin County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Michael Mathis, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), was charged with one count of theft in the amount of $5,784, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913.02. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
March 11th, 2016On March 11, 2016, in the JusticeÕs Court of Union Township, County of Humboldt, Nevada, Patrick Cunningham, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 229 (located in Winnemucca, Nev.), was charged with one count of felony theft, a violation of Nevada Revised Statute 205.0832 and 205.0835. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
March 11th, 2016On March 11, 2016, in the JusticeÄôs Court of Union Township, County of Humboldt, Nevada, Patrick Cunningham, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 229 (located in Winnemucca, Nev.), was charged with one count of felony theft, a violation of Nevada Revised Statute 205.0832 and 205.0835. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
March 3rd, 2015On March 3, 2015, in the Summers County Court of West Virginia, Nathan McCallister, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers, IBT, Division 101 (located in Talcott, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment with felony embezzlement of an amount more than $1,000, which shall have come into possession, or been placed under his care or management, by virtue of his office, place or employment in violation of West Virginia Code 61-3-20. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
March 20th, 2014On 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.
May 21st, 2012On May 21, 2012, in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia, Timothy Shell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 561 (located in Richmond, Va.), was charged in an indictment with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, in violation of Virginia Code Section 18.2-111. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 15th, 2011On June 15, 2011, in the State of Iowa, Cerro Gordo County District Court, Ken Schmidt, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 656 (located in Mason City, Iowa), was charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree in the amount of $9,467, in violation of Iowa Statutory Code 714.21. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
April 7th, 2011On April 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division, Robert K. Lauermann, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 682 (located in Whiting, Ind.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds over $10,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
August 26th, 2010On August 26, 2010, in the Mower County, Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Regional and Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) (located in Albert Lea, Minn.), was charged with four counts of theft by false representation totaling $1,562.12. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
November 20th, 2008On 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.
September 30th, 2008On September 30, 2008, in the District Court of Dakota County, Minnesota, Jonathan David Thompson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLE) Division 333 (located in Rosemount, Minn.), was charged with two felony counts of financial transaction card fraud and two felony counts of theft by swindle. Thompson is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $8,767.94. The charge follows an investigation by the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
September 16th, 2008On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 16th, 2008On September 16, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Charles Bohanon, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) Division 1 (located in Petersburg, Mich.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,074.23. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
May 5th, 2008On 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.
December 13th, 2005On 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 20th, 2003On December 20, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Charles D. Davis, former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 239, was charged with embezzling $11,799.20 in union funds, filing a false report, and making false entries in union records. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
December 15th, 2003On 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.
August 25th, 2003On 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.
April 8th, 2003On April 8, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Leland Haskins, Jr., former secretary-treasurer of Locomotive Engineers Division 173, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $1,025 in union funds and two counts of falsifying union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of approximately $41,600 in union funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
June 12th, 2001On 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.
March 6th, 2001On March 6, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Bryan Kroh, former treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 746, was indicted on one count of embezzling $33,469 in union funds and one count of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 by filing false LM-3 Labor Organization Annual Reports with OLMS. Also indicted was Kroh’s spouse, Dinah, on one count of aiding and abetting him in embezzling $6,105 of the total amount he was charged with embezzling. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.