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Union Facts

Glass Molders Plastics

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
April 16th, 2014On April 16, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David L. Barr, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 99 (located in New Brighton, Pa.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $5,688, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2014. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
July 18th, 2013On July 18, 2013, in the United States District Court Western District of Texas, Johnny Torres, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics (GMP) Local 259 (located in Waco, Tex.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,947, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). On May 14, 2013, Torres was indicted on the same charge. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
February 24th, 2012On February 24, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Poutoa Tuiolemotu, former Financial Secretary for Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers (GMP) Local 50 (located in Seattle, Wash.), was sentenced to one year of probation, 90 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $17,250. Tuiolemotu was charged with one count of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) for knowingly and willfully embezzling labor union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
December 14th, 2011On December 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rodney Richerson, former Financial Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union (GMP) Local 238 (located in Kokomo, Ind.), pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzlement in the amount of $100,195, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Richerson was then sentenced to four months incarceration, eight months home detention, two years supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $100,195 and a $100 special assessment. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
April 28th, 2011On April 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Rodney Richerson, former Financial-Secretary of Glass Molders Plastics (GMP) Local 238 (located in Kokomo, Ind.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzling union funds totaling $100,195. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
December 10th, 2010On December 10, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, an information was filed charging Poutoa Tuiolemotu, former Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 50, 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.
May 20th, 2010On May 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Curtis Iwatsubo, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 52 (located in Santa Clara, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $48,434.50. On March 24, 2010, Iwatsubo was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
April 22nd, 2010On April 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Karl Youngerman, Woodrow Anderson and Anthony Green, former President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary, respectively, of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, six counts of embezzling union assets, making false statements and entries and filing false reports. The indictments follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Residence Office.
March 31st, 2009On March 31, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Michael St. John, former Secretary Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 30 (located in Festus, Mo.), was sentenced to five years of probation, which included six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,085.56 for the charge of embezzlement of union funds. On October 23, 2008, St. John was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $24,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the St. Louis District Office.
October 23rd, 2008On October 23, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Michael St. John, former Secretary Treasurer of Glass Molders Local 30 (located in Festus, Mo.) was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $24,000. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.
October 7th, 2008On October 7, 2008, in the Maryland Circuit Court for the City of Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Bealefeld, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer for the Glass Molders and Plastics Local 118 (located in Baltimore, Md.) was indicted on one count of theft for stealing $5,686 from the union. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
September 18th, 2008On September 18, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanette McFarland, former President of Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $7,604. On March 26, 2008, McFarland was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
October 2nd, 2007On October 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Curtis Smith and Steve Dobyns, former President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of Glass Molders Plastics Local 325, were charged with embezzling union funds. Smith was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $904.48, while Dobyns was charged with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $850. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
August 15th, 2007On August 15, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, James Douglas, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 220, pled guilty to concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. Douglas destroyed the records to conceal his embezzlement of approximately $12,857 in union funds. On July 2, 2007, an information was filed against Douglas charging him with one count of concealing, withholding, and destroying union financial records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
July 2nd, 2007On July 2, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, an information was filed against James E. Douglas, former Secretary-Treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 220, charging him with concealing, withholding, and destroying union records. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.
March 11th, 2005On March 11, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Derrick Thomas, former secretary-treasurer of Local 138, Glass Molders Plastics Union, was sentenced to three years probation, with the first six months in home confinement, for embezzling union funds. In addition, he was ordered to: (1) make additional restitution of $3,528.52, (2) pay a special assessment of $100, and (3) complete 200 hours of community service. Thomas had previously made restitution in the amount of $10,297.72 to the union. On November 19, 2004, Thomas pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
September 29th, 2004On September 29, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Becky Harris, former secretary-treasurer of Glass Molders Plastics Local 37, was sentenced to two years probation for creating false records. In addition, Harris was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and an assessment of $25. On April 27, 2004, she pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.