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National Staff Organization

embezzlement 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
May 20th, 2021On May 20, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of the National Staff Organization, Professional Staff Association (located in Plano, Tex.), was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of house arrest, and three years of probation. Weatherford was also ordered to pay $73,949 in restitution. On September 17, 2020, Weatherford pleaded guilty to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
September 17th, 2020On September 17, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), pleaded guilty to embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
August 21st, 2020On August 21, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Harold Bryan Weatherford, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization (NSO), Professional Staff Association (located in Tomball, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzlement of union funds totaling $82,560, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
March 15th, 2016On March 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Central Division, Kenneth Potter, former Treasurer of National Staff Organization, South Dakota Staff Organization (located in Pierre, S.D.), was charged in a one-count indictment with embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,130, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.