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Union Facts

Machinists

Guilty Pleas

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 16th, 2022On May 16, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2947 (located in Armona, Calif.), was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervision. Crownover was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,463 and a $200 special assessment. On November 10, 2021, Crownover was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial of one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
November 10th, 2021On November 10, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Kevin Crownover, former Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 2947 (located in Armona, Calif.), was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial of one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1028A, respectively. From June 2015 through October 2016, Crownover embezzled $50,879 through unauthorized cash withdrawals and wrote unauthorized and forged checks to himself, which he then endorsed into his own personal bank account. The guilty verdict follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.
October 27th, 2021On October 27, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division, Sarah Geddes-Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home detention and three years of probation. She was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay $264,585 in restitution. On December 3, 2020, Geddes-Holmes pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization and one count of bank fraud for embezzling $294,585 from the union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 1344, respectively. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
February 25th, 2021On February 25, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 836 (located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine), was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $57,611 in restitution, a $2,400 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On February 27, 2020, Phillips pleaded guilty to taking and carrying away personal property within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the amount of $57,611, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
December 3rd, 2020On December 3, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Sarah Geddes Holmes, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 24 (located in Clinton, Md.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization (29 U.S.C. 501(c)) and one count of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) for embezzling $294,585 from the union, forging the signature of the union president on checks, and altering information in the union's accounting software. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
September 16th, 2020On September 16, 2020, in the 337th District Court of Harris County, Texas, Moises Romero, former Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge 811 (located in Houston, Tex.), pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of misapplication of fiduciary property in the approximate amount of $500 - $1,500, in violation of Texas Statute 32.45. As a condition of Romeros plea agreement, he previously paid restitution of $21,342. He was then sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication. Romero was also ordered to submit a written letter of apology to the Secretary-Treasurer of Lodge 811. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
July 8th, 2020On July 8, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 124 (located in Channahon, Ill.), was sentenced to three years of probation. Blake was also ordered to pay $34,159 in restitution ($15,000 due by September 11, 2020) and a $5,000 fine. On December 4, 2019, Blake pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 27th, 2020On February 27, 2020, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Jeffrey Phillips, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 836 (located in Kittery, Maine), pleaded guilty to one count of stealing from within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the amount of $57,610, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
February 20th, 2020On February 20, 2020, in the United States Central District of California District Court, Tommy Nou, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6602 (located in San Pedro, Calif.), was sentenced to three years of probation, including one month of home detention, and was ordered to pay $1,997 in remaining restitution and a special assessment of $100. Nou previously paid $4,989 in restitution. On October 24, 2019, Nou pleaded guilty to failing to disclose material facts in a financial report filed with the Department of Labor, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
December 4th, 2019On December 4, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Amber Blake, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 124 (located in Channahon, Ill.), pleaded guilty to an information charging her with willfully causing a false entry in books, records, reports, and statements required to be kept by 29 U.S.C. 436, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
November 18th, 2019On November 18, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. Sherwood previously paid restitution of $13,002. On June 10, 2019, Sherwood pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $10,813. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati- Cleveland District Office.
October 24th, 2019On October 24, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Tommy Nou, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6602 (located in San Pedro, Calif.), pleaded guilty to failure to disclose a material fact, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
June 10th, 2019On June 10, 2019, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Bud G. Sherwood, former Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communication Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 6546 (located in Bellevue, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one-count of theft of union funds of approximately $10,813, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
May 14th, 2018On May 14, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Maria Nunez, former office secretary of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1484 (located in Wilmington, Calif.), was sentenced to probation for a term of 2 years, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,868.50 and assessed a $25 penalty. On January 4, 2018, Nunez pled guilty to one count of false statement in records required to be maintained by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
February 12th, 2018On February 12, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Ryan Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local S-6 (located in Bath, Maine), was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Jones to pay restitution totaling $280,865. On September 6, 2017, Jones pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
January 4th, 2018On January 4, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Maria Nunez, former office secretary for International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1484 (located in Wilmington, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of false statements in records required to be maintained by a labor union, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
October 31st, 2017On October 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Royer, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 243 (located in East Prospect, Pa.), was sentenced to one year and one day of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. Royer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $130,869 and a special assessment of $100. On June 19, 2017, Royer pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
October 24th, 2017On October 24, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew J. Thibodeau, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 1433 (located in Kensington, Conn.), was sentenced to three months of incarceration followed by one year of supervised release with community service. Thibodeau was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,179 and a special assessment of $100. He previously paid $3,200 in restitution. On April 5, 2017, Thibodeau pled guilty to one count of embezzlement for an amount exceeding $70,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General.
September 6th, 2017On September 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Ryan Jones, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge S-6 (located in Bath, Maine), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $280,865 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
June 19th, 2017On June 19, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Royer, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 243 (located in East Prospect, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The loss amount will be determined at a later date. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
June 16th, 2017On June 16, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Kathleen Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 850 and the Oklahoma State Council of Machinists (located in Oklahoma City and Enid, Okla., respectively), was sentenced to four years of probation and 104 hours of community service, and she was ordered to pay $20,770 in restitution. On January 12, 2017, Smith pled guilty to embezzling union funds from both labor organizations, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
April 5th, 2017On April 5, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Andrew Thibodeau, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local Lodge 1433 (located in Kensington, Conn.), was charged in a one-count information for embezzling union funds exceeding $70,000, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Thibodeau then pled guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow a joint investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office and the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General.
February 1st, 2017On February 1, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, County of Clarion, Mark Bell, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2439 (located in Knox, Pa.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay the cost of prosecution and the cost of supervision fee of $35 per month and to complete 50 hours of community service. Bell previously paid $872 in restitution. On January 4, 2017, Bell pled guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. 4101(a)(1). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
January 12th, 2017On January 12, 2017, in the Western District of Oklahoma, Kathleen Smith, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 850 and the Oklahoma State Council of Machinists (located in Oklahoma City, Okla.), was charged and pled guilty to one count of embezzling $18,658 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C 501(c). The charge and plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
January 4th, 2017On January 4, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, County of Clarion, Mark Bell, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2439 (located in Knox, Pa.), pled guilty to one count of forgery, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. 4101(a)(1). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
July 28th, 2016 On July 28, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Machinists Local 2458 Secretary-Treasurer (located in Lemont, Ill.), was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $510,973 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On April 14, 2016, Mascote pled guilty to embezzling $64,263 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). In the plea agreement, for the purposes of computing his sentence under Guideline 1B1.2, Mascote stipulated to having stolen, and knowingly converted to his own, property of the United States (namely machine components, Tungsten steel and copper) valued at $510,973, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641. Mascote had previously paid restitution of $64,263 to the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District office and the Department of EnergyÄôs Office of Inspector General.
July 18th, 2016On July 18, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Oscar Luevano, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Lodge 5050 (located in Covina, Calif.), was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $104,410 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On March 30, 2016, Luevano pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $132,939, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office Äì Las Vegas Resident Office.
April 14th, 2016On April 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 2458 (located in Minooka, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $63,263, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Not included in the charge, but for the purposes of computing his sentence under Guideline Section 1B1.2, Mascote stipulated to having stolen, and knowingly converted to his own, property of the United States valued at $510,973, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641. The guilty plea follows investigations conducted by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of EnergyÕs Office of Inspector General.
April 14th, 2016On April 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Raul Mascote, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 2458 (located in Minooka, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $63,263, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Not included in the charge, but for the purposes of computing his sentence under Guideline Section 1B1.2, Mascote stipulated to having stolen, and knowingly converted to his own, property of the United States valued at $510,973, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 641. The guilty plea follows investigations conducted by the OLMS Chicago District Office and the Department of EnergyÄôs Office of Inspector General.
March 30th, 2016On March 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Oscar Luevano, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) Local Lodge 5050 (located in Covina, Calif.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $132,939, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office Äì Las Vegas Resident Office.
May 2nd, 2014On May 2, 2014, in the Stearns County Court of Minnesota, James Kiser, former Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 65 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), was sentenced to five years of probation, 30 days in jail with credit for one day served (to be served by way of home detention), and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,918 and a $50 fine. On March 14, 2014, Kiser pled guilty to one felony count of theft by swindle of over $1,000, in violation of Minnesota Theft Statute 609.52. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 14th, 2014On March 14, 2014, in the Stearns County Court of Minnesota, James Kiser, former Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 65 (located in St. Cloud, Minn.), pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle of over $1,000, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52. On December 18, 2012, Kiser was charged with four felony counts of theft by swindle totaling a theft of $5,919. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
April 11th, 2013On April 11, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Bonnie Nixon, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge W443 (located in Laurel, Miss.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling $15,981 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
February 20th, 2013On February 20, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert Stephenson, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Local 2903 (located in Westville, Ind.), was sentenced to one year of supervised probation including six months of home confinement and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. On November 13, 2012, Stephenson pled guilty to one count of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b), by failing to disclose over $18,000 of union funds that he disbursed for his personal use. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
December 17th, 2012On December 17, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Mark Morgan, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2584 (formerly located in Fremont, Ind.), was sentenced to three years of probation including eight months of home detention with electronic monitoring. Morgan was also ordered to pay $17,616.70 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On August 20, 2012, Morgan pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
November 13th, 2012On November 13, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Robert A. Stephenson, former Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2903 (located in Westville, Ind.), pled guilty to one count of filing false reports, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). Stephenson pled guilty to willfully failing to disclose approximately $18,000 of union funds he disbursed for his personal use. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
October 1st, 2012On October 1, 2012, Rachel Lanham, former office secretary for Machinists District Lodge 34 in Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $104,867. In June 2012, Lanham pled guilty to one count of embezzlement. The investigation found that Lanham made unauthorized salary payments to herself via electronic fund transfers and used a union credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases.
September 20th, 2012On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), was sentenced to one year of probation including six months of home detention with electronic monitoring. Dompier was also ordered to pay $11,793.89 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On May 10, 2012, Dompier pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
September 20th, 2012On September 20, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative for Machinists Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Agee had previously paid full restitution of $26,139.13. On May 10, 2012, Agee pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
June 14th, 2012On June 14, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rachel Lanham, former secretary for the Machinists District Lodge 34 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement. On June 5, 2012, an information was filed charging Lanham with embezzling $104,876. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
May 10th, 2012On May 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Northern Division), Renita Dompier, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 283 (located in Baraga, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $8,725.99, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
May 10th, 2012On May 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeff Agee, former business representative for Machinists Local Lodge 10 (located in Richmond, Va.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,181.62, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
January 23rd, 2012On January 23, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), was sentenced to five years of probation which includes 10 months of home detention with electronic monitoring (with the exception of work). Ford was ordered to pay $174,100 in restitution and a $125 special assessment. On September 2, 2011, Ford pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
September 2nd, 2011On September 2, 2011, in the United States District Court, for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), pled guilty to embezzling $174,900, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and making a false statement in a financial report required to be filed, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). Ford was indicted on February 10, 2011 and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2012. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
August 23rd, 2011On August 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Stephen Koski, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1027 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), pled guilty to embezzling approximately $1,500 in union funds. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
November 3rd, 2010On November 3, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Hugo Vargas, former Secretary Treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Lodge 845 (located in Las Vegas, NV), was sentenced to 13 months in prison followed by three years supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $106,293.59 and an assessment fee of $100. On August 2, 2010, Vargas pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
August 2nd, 2010On August 2, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Hugo Vargas, former Secretary Treasurer of the Machinists Lodge 845 (located in Las Vegas, Nev.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $106,293.59. On December 1, 2009, Vargas was charged in an indictment with the same offense. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
April 1st, 2010On April 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Linda Tickle, former office manager of Machinists Locals 56 and 1458 (located in Chattanooga, Tenn.), was sentenced to five months imprisonment, three years probation, a $200 assessment, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,048.72. On March 29, 2010, Tickle pled guilty to two counts of embezzlement union funds in the amount of $40,048.72. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
December 7th, 2009On December 7, 2009, in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Kentucky, Mark Owens, former Financial Secretary of Machinists Local Lodge 366W (located in Lebanon, Ky.), was charged with theft by unlawful taking in the amount of $200.00. Owens then pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to sixty days probated for twenty-four months on the condition that he make restitution of $200.00 and pay $153.00 in fines and court costs by February 3, 2010. The charge, plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
April 7th, 2009On April 7, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement, two years probation, and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $25 special assessment. On January 14, 2009, Baker pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record and made restitution in the amount of $16,050. An OLMS investigation concluded that Baker misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members’ signatures on the union’s check register for 101 checks. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
March 27th, 2009On March 27, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Glen Gard, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2460 (located in Pensacola, Fla.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of approximately $90,500.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Investigator Office.
January 14th, 2009On January 14, 2009, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Jeffrey Baker, former co-chairman of the Picket Committee for Machinists Local Lodge 1943 (located in Middletown, Ohio), pled guilty to one count of making a false entry in a union record. Following his plea, Baker paid restitution in the amount of $16,050. Baker misappropriated approximately 107 strike pay checks and forged members' signatures on the union's check register for 101 checks.The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
October 22nd, 2008On October 22, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Rebecca Montgomery, former bookkeeper/office secretary of Machinists Eastern Regional Office (located in Cincinnati, Ohio), pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $509. Montgomery previously made full restitution in the amount of $14,340. On August 20, 2008, Montgomery was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $509. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
August 14th, 2008On August 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brian Dolney, former President of Machinists Local Lodge 2333 (located in Dayton, Ohio), was sentenced to eight months home confinement, five years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and a $100 fine. Also, Dolney was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $11,565.61. On April 14, 2008, Dolney pled guilty to committing one count of bank fraud in the amount of $11,565.61. Machinist Lodge 2333 has since merged into Machinists Lodge 225. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
June 10th, 2008On June 10, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kristen Swint, former Vice President and Secretary Treasurer of Machinists Inflight Aircraft Lodge 2339 (located in Cleveland Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,526. On January 29, 2008, Swint pled guilty to falsification of union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
April 11th, 2008On April 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Secretary-Treasurer for Machinists Lodge 2339-C (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $17,035. On January 8, 2008, Drake pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 13th, 2008On February 13, 2008, in Monroe County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Carson Combs, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1771, was found guilty of theft. Subsequently, Combs was sentenced to one year probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $410.30 plus a ten percent surcharge, and 40 hours of community service. The trial and sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
February 7th, 2008On April 14, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Brian Dolney, former President of Machinists Lodge 2333 (located in Dayton, Ohio), pled guilty to bank fraud in the amount of $11,565. On February 7, 2008 an information was filed charging Dolney with one count of bank fraud in the same amount. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
January 8th, 2008On January 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2339-C, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records, and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,035. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
September 20th, 2006On September 20, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Ann E. Smith, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2140, pled guilty to one count of filing a false report in order to conceal her embezzlement of union funds and was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to make restitution to the local in the amount of $12,899.18, and to pay a $25.00 special assessment. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
April 5th, 2006On April 5, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Lorenzo Kornegay, former President of Machinists Local Lodge 2, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $27,711.81 in restitution to the Local. On December 22, 2005, Kornegay pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with knowingly and willfully taking a loan from the union in excess of $2,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
February 23rd, 2006On February 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former Treasurer for Machinists Local Lodge 498, was sentenced to two years incarceration and three years probation. He was ordered to make full restitution of $63,082 in the appropriate amounts owed to the union and bonding company. On November 29, 2005, Miller pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds and one count of making a false entry in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
January 23rd, 2006On January 23, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Good, Jr., former Secretary-Treasurer for Machinists Local 821, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, 36 months of supervised release, and is required to make full restitution of $192,493.93. Good also received an assessment of $200 and was ordered to obtain and install, at his own expense, monitoring software on his computer to ensure that he does not visit gambling websites. On October 21, 2005, Good pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $3,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
November 29th, 2005On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 498, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $63,082 and one count of making a false entry in union records. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
October 21st, 2005On October 21, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, William Good, Jr., former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 821, pled guilty to two counts of embezzling union funds totaling $192,469. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.
August 29th, 2005On August 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1528, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, including 180 days of home detention, for her role in embezzling union funds. Bautista was ordered to pay restitution totaling $115,259.27. She pled guilty to embezzling union funds on June 20, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
June 20th, 2005On June 20, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Martha Bautista, former secretary-treasurer of Local Lodge 1528, Machinists, pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds of more than $5,000 but less than $10,000. On June 1, 2005, an information was filed against Bautista for embezzlement. On May 6, 2005, Bautista made an initial payment of $50,000 toward the $165,259.27 in restitution due to the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
June 17th, 2005On June 17, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael Moore, former secretary-treasurer of Local 1269, Machinists, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and restitution of $49,131 for embezzling union funds. On April 13, 2005, Moore pled guilty to a one-count information following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
April 13th, 2005On April 13, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Michael T. Moore, former secretary-treasurer of Local 1269, Machinists, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with embezzling $47,939.53 in union funds. During an eight-month period from February to October 2002, Moore wrote 52 unauthorized checks to himself for his personal benefit. He forged the co-signature of the Local president on 50 of these checks. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
November 23rd, 2004On November 23, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Jennifer Givens, former bookkeeper and office secretary of Local Lodge 735, Machinists, was sentenced to thirty-three months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation for false statements and representations and false use of a social security number. Givens was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $28,508.92. Givens had previously entered a guilty plea to the charges on May 31, 2004, following a joint investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office and the Secret Service.
June 2nd, 2004On June 2, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, James Mitchell, former president of Machinists Lodge 2008, pled guilty to an information filed the same day charging him with one count of embezzling $2,900 in union funds. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
May 26th, 2004On May 26, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Ohio, Kevan D. Sprow, former treasurer of Machinists District Lodge 57, was sentenced to six months home confinement, three years supervised probation, restitution in the amount of $48,597 and reimbursement of home confinement costs. Sprow pled guilty on March 4, 2004, to one count of embezzling $49,847 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
May 13th, 2004On May 13, 2004, in the Criminal Court for Davidson County (Tennessee), David Randolph, former president of Machinists Lodge 154, pled guilty to theft of property in excess of $10,000 and was simultaneously sentenced to six years of supervised probation. Randolph was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $33,416. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
March 5th, 2004On March 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, William Lane, former president of Machinists Lodge 2525, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of probation and ordered to make restitution of $16,998, which includes $2,098 to a bank. On December 16, 2003, Lane pled guilty to one count of embezzlement. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
March 3rd, 2004On March 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kevan D. Sprow, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists District Lodge 57, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $49, 847 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
February 18th, 2004On February 18, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, William C. Miller, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 498, pled not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of embezzlement and one count of making a false entry. Miller was indicted on February 5, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 9th, 2004On February 9, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Maria T. Eaton, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2714, was sentenced to five years probation, six months of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution of $14,642.84. She pled guilty on October 17, 2003, to embezzling $10,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
January 8th, 2004On January 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell Taylor, former treasurer of the Machinists Lodge 90, was sentenced to thirty days of incarceration, three years probation, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $36,142.08. On September 25, 2003, Taylor pled guilty to embezzling $36,142.08 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
December 16th, 2003On December 16, 2003, in the District Court for Chenango County (New York), Patricia Fletcher, former treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 1278, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution of $3,300 for third degree grand larceny. Fletcher pled guilty to the charge on October 14, 2003. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
December 16th, 2003On December 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for District of North Dakota, William Lane, former president of Machinists Lodge 2525, plead guilty to one count of embezzlement of $13,500 in union funds, one count of bank fraud, and one count of destruction of records. Lane was indicted on these three counts February 11, 2003. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
October 17th, 2003On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Maria Eaton, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2714, pled guilty to an information charging her with embezzling $10,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
September 25th, 2003On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Russell Guy Taylor, former treasurer of Machinists Lodge 90, pled guilty to an information charging him with embezzling $36,142 in union funds. The information was filed on August 22, 2003. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
May 21st, 2003On May 21, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John O'Connell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge 524, was sentenced to five months incarceration, five months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $36,702 in restitution, plus a $100 special assessment. O'Connell pled guilty to embezzling $36,702 in union funds on February 13, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 13th, 2003On February 13, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John O'Connell, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 524 of Island Lake, pled guilty to embezzling $36,702 in union funds. O'Connell was charged on February 3, 2003, following an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
February 10th, 2003On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Thomas Lannon, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Local Lodge #1562, was sentenced to six months of home detention followed by three years of probation and to perform 120 hours of community service. Lannon pled guilty to embezzling union funds and made restitution in the amount of $13,175 following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
February 7th, 2003On February 7, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Steven Pautz, former president of Machinists Lodge 251, was sentenced to three years of probation including six months of home confinement. Pautz pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds on November 19, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
November 19th, 2002On November 19, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Steven Pautz, former president of Machinists Lodge 251, pled guilty to one count of embezzling $450 in union funds. Pautz had been indicted August 6, 2002 on two counts of embezzling $1,450 in union funds and two counts of making false entries in union records. The indictment also noted that he had embezzled a total of $12,257.75 in Lodge 251 funds. The charges were brought following an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.
October 15th, 2002On October 15, 2002, in the United States Court for the District of New Mexico, David Rux, former business representative of Machinists Lodge 2-W in Aberdeen, Washington, was sentenced to three years probation (including six months home confinement with electronic monitoring) and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,075. Rux pled guilty to seven counts of embezzlement and fifteen counts of falsifying union records on July 12, 2002 following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
August 8th, 2002On August 8, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Thomas A. Lannon, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1562, pled guilty to embezzling $13,175 in union funds. He admitted writing unauthorized checks to himself and not depositing cash receipts. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
July 12th, 2002On July 12, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, David Rux, a former business representative for Machinists Local Lodge W2 in Aberdeen, Washington, pled guilty to 7 counts of embezzling a total of $21,557 in union funds and 15 counts of falsifying union records. He had been charged in a sealed indictment on March 27, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington following an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
April 5th, 2002On April 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Carey McClure, former secretary-treasurer of Machinists Lodge 2731, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with failure to maintain records. He was sentenced to three months home confinement with a monitor and 36 months probation, and he was ordered to make restitution of $16,621.22. Charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
February 5th, 2002On February 5, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Joseph Argo, former president of Machinists Lodge 615, pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. He was sentenced to six months probation, fined $500, and ordered to make restitution of $2,643.80. He had been charged in a one-count information on January 15, 2002, following an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.