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Union Facts

Office & Professional Employees

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 15th, 2014On May 15, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,909 and a $100 fine. On December 18, 2013, Hoffman pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,909, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
May 13th, 2014On May 13, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,546 and a $100 fine. On December 19, 2013, Branca pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,546, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
December 19th, 2013On December 19, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $16,546, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting another, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. On December 18, 2013, Branca was charged in an information with embezzling union funds and aiding and abetting. The information also alleged forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
December 18th, 2013On December 18, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $8,909, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting another, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. On December 17, 2013, Hoffman was charged in an information with embezzling union funds and aiding and abetting. The information also alleged forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). The charges and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
October 8th, 2013On October 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Elizabeth Branca, former business manager for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,456, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. The indictment also alleges forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). On October 25, 2013, Branca self-surrendered. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
October 8th, 2013On October 8, 2013, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Laurie Hoffman, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12 (located in Roseville, Minn.), was indicted for embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $25,456, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and for aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. The indictment also alleges forfeitures pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(c) and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c). On October 24, 2013, Hoffman was arrested. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
June 2nd, 2011On June 2, 2011, in the 54th District Court of Ingham County, Michigan, Joseph Darby, former Service Representative of Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 459 (located in Lansing, Mich.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzlement of $200 or more, but less than $1,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
December 19th, 2008On December 19, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 339 (located in Brook Park, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and 60 hours of community service. On June 10, 2008, Eye pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. Eye previously made restitution in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
August 12th, 2008On August 12, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees Local 339 (located in Kent, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. On June 10, 2008, Eye was indicted for embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
June 10th, 2008On June 10, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees Local 339 (located in Brookpark, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds totaling $9,296. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 8th, 2007On February 8, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office & Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 112, was sentenced to two years probation that will include four months in a community corrections center and a special assessment fee of $100, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,543.60. On October 23, 2006, Hollis pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in an amount over $20,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
October 23rd, 2006On October 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $20,000 in union funds. On September 20, 2006, Hollis was indicted on the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
September 20th, 2006On September 20, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sally Ann Hollis, former bookkeeper for Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Local 112, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds of more than $20,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.