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.

Date	Description
October 6th, 2021	On October 6, 2021, in the 107th Judicial District Court of Cameron County, Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), was charged with one count of theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and one count of theft of property from a non-profit organization, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, in violation of Texas Statute 31.03(f)(1-3) and 31.03(f), respectively. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
August 21st, 2019	On August 21, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Coleman-Gordon, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1477 and the Texas Postal Workers Union (both located in Tyler, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $71,064 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). This indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
August 8th, 2019	On August 8, 2019, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden), Robert Peter, former Secretary/Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 526 (located in Blackwood, N.J.), was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $34,500, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On the same date, Peter pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
September 12th, 2018	On September 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Spartanburg Division, Dana Quinn Roush, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 403 (located in Spartanburg, S.C.), was charged with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $10,089, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
July 7th, 2017	On July 7, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Lonzell Moore, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1730 (located in Des Plaines, Ill.), was charged in a criminal complaint with embezzling $18,857 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
December 28th, 2016	On December 28, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Amalia Lopez-Santiago, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1070 (located in San Juan, P.R.), was charged in an indictment with embezzling union funds in excess of $92,965. The indictment includes one count of embezzlement of union funds, one count of false statements to the federal government, one count of aggravated identity theft, and four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 1018, and 18 U.S.C. 1343, respectively. During her time as treasurer, Lopez authorized salary payments and reimbursements for lost wages on her behalf, in excess of the amounts allowable and authorized by the unionÄôs constitution and bylaws. She submitted fraudulent claims for wage reimbursements and authorized duplicate or excessive salary payments. Lopez also purchased personal items with the unionÄôs SamÄôs credit card. In order to conceal the misuse and theft of union funds, Lopez made false statements and omissions in the union LM Reports. On February 28, 2017, Lopez was arrested. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.
February 3rd, 2016	On February 3, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Lawrence Moyer, President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6723 (located in Troy, Mich.), was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of embezzling $2,599 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
January 27th, 2016	On January 27, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Nereida Norris, Clerk Craft Director of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 98 (located in Fort Worth, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information for making a false statement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
September 1st, 2015	On September 1, 2015, in the United States District Court of South Carolina, Sharon Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 807 (located in Columbia, S.C.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $41,823, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of falsification of union records, in violation of 29 U.S.C 439(c); one count of wire fraud in the amount of $178,330, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343; and one count of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
August 12th, 2015	On August 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gonzales, President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 300 (formerly Local 488-489), located in Lansing, Mich., was charged with one count of embezzling $6,720 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsifying financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal ServiceÕs Office of Inspector General.
August 12th, 2015	On August 12, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gonzales, President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 300 (formerly Local 488-489), located in Lansing, Mich., was charged with one count of embezzling $6,720 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and one count of falsifying financial records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the United States Postal ServiceÄôs Office of Inspector General.
January 13th, 2015	On January 13, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, an information was filed against Salvatore E. Mauro, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1236 (located in Salisbury, N.C.), charging him with one count of creating a false report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). On January 14, 2015, Mauro pled guilty to the information. The indictment and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
December 6th, 2013	On December 6, 2013, in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit of Georgia, Dorothy Gardner, former Financial Secretary of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1803 (located in Covington, Ga.), was indicted for fiduciary theft by taking $1,604 in union funds, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-8-2, and 16-8-12. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
November 12th, 2013	On November 12, 2013, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, David Westgard, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 65 (located in Mendota Heights, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft – indifferent to owner rights. On November 8, 2012, Westgard was charged with theft by swindle of over $5,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.
August 12th, 2013	On August 12, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Frank Juarez, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6768 (located in Plano, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation with 180 days of home detention and was ordered to pay $21,151 in restitution and an assessment of $100. On February 7, 2013, Juarez was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
February 7th, 2013	On February 7, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Frank Juarez, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 6768 (located in Plano, Tex.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $21,290.73, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
November 8th, 2012	On November 8, 2012, in the Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, David Westgard, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 65 (located in Mendota Heights, Minn.), was charged with theft by swindle of over $5,000. The complaint alleges that Westgard stole union funds in the amount of $22,710 between August and December 2011. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
March 13th, 2012	On March 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging Edward Kozusko, former Treasurer of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 443 (located in Youngstown, Ohio), with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $12,613.20. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 21st, 2012	On February 21, 2012, in the New York State Court for New York County, Neil Cardoso, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1241 (located in Long Island City, N.Y.), was indicted with a charge of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, P.L. 155.40 (1) for allegedly using an ATM card to make unauthorized withdrawals of approximately $75,000 in cash from the union’s account. Cardoso was arrested on February 28, 2012 by investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and arraigned on March 2, 2012. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
January 4th, 2012	On January 4, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Pamela S. Hinzman, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 1580 (located in Parkersburg, W.Va.), was charged in a one-count indictment for embezzling $26,260.68 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
August 16th, 2011	On August 16, 2011, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, a complaint was filed against Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), charging her with felony theft of $1,240, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
December 10th, 2010	On December 10, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, an information was filed charging Kim Hirschkorn, former Treasurer of Postal Workers Local 709, with embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
November 15th, 2010	On November 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Frankie L. Sanders, former Southern Regional Coordinator of the Southern Region of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) (located in Houston, Tex.), was found guilty of embezzling union funds. On March 17, 2010, Sanders was indicted on one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzling approximately $10,078 in union funds. The charge for wire fraud remains pending. The verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.
March 17th, 2010	On March 17, 2010, in the United States District Court for Southern District of Texas, Frankie Sanders, former Southern Regional Coordinator for the American Postal Workers Union (located in Houston, Texas), was indicted on one count of wire fraud in the amount of $1,753.78 and one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,078.40. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.
March 16th, 2010	On March 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Barbara Patton, the former President and Vice President of the American Postal Workers Union, Local 4469 (located in Johnstown, Pa), was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,015.78. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
December 17th, 2009	On December 17, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, David M. Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,472.61. On November 23, 2009, Matthis was charged in an information with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007. The plea follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.
November 23rd, 2009	On November 23, 2009, in the United States Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an information was filed charging David Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), with one count of embezzlement of union funds between August 2006 and October 2007. The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.
November 23rd, 2009	On November 23, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, an information was filed charging David Matthis, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 205 (located in Alexandria, La.), with one count of embezzling union funds during a period between August 2006 and October 2007. The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New Orleans District Office.
July 23rd, 2009	On July 23, 2009, in the Superior Court for Clark County, Indiana, Joseph E. Clegg, former President of American Postal Workers Local 753 (located in Jeffersonville, Ind.) was charged in a one count information of Theft totaling $1,560.The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
May 13th, 2009	On May 13, 2009, in the 79th District Court of Mason County, Michigan, Kimberly Drake, former Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3466 (located in Ludington, Mich.), was charged with one count of forgery and one count of embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
December 17th, 2008	On December 17, 2008, in the Criminal Court of White Plains, New York, Thomas Daniels, former President of APWU 1091 (located in White Plains, N.Y.), was charged with one count of grand larceny in the third degree for the theft of approximately $4,250 in union funds. The charge follows a joint investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the USPS Office of the Inspector General.
December 5th, 2008	On December 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Gary Weightman, former President of APWU Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), pled guilty to two counts of tax evasion. Weightman was originally charged with conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of approximately $400,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
November 5th, 2007	On November 5, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Linda Peterson, former Secretary-Treasurer of APWU Branch 715, was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $2,905 and embezzling U.S. Postal Service funds in the amount of $3,600. The charges follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
May 23rd, 2007	On May 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, William Kendrick, former Treasurer of APWU Local 238, pled guilty to conspiring to embezzle union funds. Kendrick and Dwayne Giles, former Local 238 President, co-signed checks that allowed Kendrick to embezzle approximately $26,237 in union funds. On February 28, 2007, Kendrick was charged with one count of conspiring to embezzle union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
February 28th, 2007	On February 28, 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Dwayne Giles and William Kendrick, former President and Treasurer, respectively, for APWU Local 238, were charged in a one-count indictment with conspiring to embezzle union funds. The two are alleged to have co-signed checks that allowed Giles to embezzle approximately $15,589 and Kendricks to embezzle approximately $26,237 in union funds. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office.
February 23rd, 2007	On February 23, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President for American Postal Workers Local 2013, entered a guilty plea for falsification of union records. Emel was ordered to return any union records in her possession to the local union within 20 days and to make restitution to the union in an amount to be determined at a later date. On December 29, 2006, Emel was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and the local. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
January 18th, 2007	On January 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David Hlavacek, Secretary-Treasurer for APWU Local 7065 and Missouri State Postal Workers' Union, entered a plea of guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $6,383 from the labor organizations. On December 18, 2006, Hlavacek had been charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
December 29th, 2006	On December 29, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Union Local # 2013, was charged with one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between herself and Local 2013. The agreement purportedly allowed Emel to borrow approximately $7000 of her USPS salary from the local and required her to repay the loan by the end of her term in office. The charge follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office and the United States Postal Service Inspector General's Office.
December 18th, 2006	On December 18, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, David E. Hlavacek, Secretary Treasurer for American Postal Workers' Union Local 7065 and the Missouri State Postal Workers' Union, was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $6,383. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
February 17th, 2006	On February 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, John McGovern and Gary Weightman, former Secretary-Treasurer and President, respectively, for American Postal Workers Union, Local 190, were arrested and indicted on three counts each of conspiring to embezzle union funds totaling over $400,000. The indictment also charged that McGovern and Weightman obstructed investigations by the American Postal Workers International Union and the Department of Labor by destroying essential financial records. The arrests and indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
November 28th, 2005	On November 28, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer for American Postal Workers Union Local 349, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with embezzling union funds totaling $34,919.90 and one count of making a false statement to obtain Federal employees' compensation. Dutchuk was indicted on August 18, 2005. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service.
August 18th, 2005	On August 18, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Robb Dutchuk, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Local 349, was indicted on charges of embezzling $34,919.90, making a false statement in a labor union report, making a false statement to the Postal Service, and making a false entry in and the destruction of labor union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
February 7th, 2005	On February 7, 2005, an information was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa charging Debra Herrig, former secretary-treasurer of Local 2339, American Postal Workers Union, with embezzling union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
February 3rd, 2005	On February 3, 2005, in the United States District Court for Nebraska, Terry L. Gloe, former secretary-treasurer for Local 11, American Postal Workers Union, pled guilty to a one count information charging him with embezzling $113,377 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Investigator Office.
July 20th, 2004	On July 20, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Norman Fugere, former president of American Postal Workers Local 395, was charged with embezzling $12,240 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.
April 6th, 2004	On April 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, an indictment was filed against Ivory Green, former treasurer of American Postal Workers Local 968, charging him with one count of embezzling $14,483.50 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
January 9th, 2003	On January 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Norma J. Reedy, former treasurer of the Louisiana State American Postal Workers Union, was charged with embezzling $34,800 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
August 19th, 2002	On August 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Hugh C. Credle, former president of Postal Workers Local 1616, pled guilty to making false entries in required union records. He admitted making the false entries in order to conceal his embezzlement of union funds totaling $8,163.09. Credle had been charged in a two-count indictment on April 17, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
July 25th, 2002	On July 25, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Dee Dee Gregory Lacy, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 2695, pled guilty to a three-count information charging her with embezzling $4,803 in union funds, theft of U.S. Postal Service funds in excess of $1,000, and access device fraud to obtain in excess of $1,000. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General.
April 17th, 2002	On April 17, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Hugh Credle, former president of Postal Workers Local 1616, was indicted on one count of embezzling $8,163 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
March 12th, 2002	On March 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Deborah Partida, former secretary-treasurer of Postal Workers Local 761, was indicted on two counts of embezzling $132,824 from Local 761 and $1,764 from the Postal Workers' Nevada State Association and two counts of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
October 3rd, 2001	On October 3, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Ygnacio Angel, former president of American Postal Workers Local 402, pled guilty to an information charging him with false recordkeeping in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.