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National Federation of Federal Employees

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
June 30th, 2011On June 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, a federal jury convicted Gloria Porter, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local 2049 and former Secretary-Treasurer of the NFFE IAM Army Materiel Command (AMC) District Council (both located in Las Cruces, N.M.), of 105 counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Evidence at trial established that Porter executed a scheme to defraud Local 2049 and the AMC of $134,026. The jury deliberated for three hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts. The trial and conviction follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
June 9th, 2008On June 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Donna Hammock, former President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 2096 (located in El Cajon, CA), was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. On February 8, 2008, Hammock pled guilty to providing false statements on the local’s annual Form LM-3. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office. (Senior Investigator Beverly Perkins)
August 1st, 2007On August 1, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Lorraine Payton, former President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Veterans Administration Council, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud. On March 16, 2007, Payton was charged in a superseding indictment with mail fraud and false statements to a government agency. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
February 15th, 2006On February 15, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer of International Association of Machinists, National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 2058, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by two years supervised probation. Turner was also ordered to pay full restitution. On November 14, 2005, Turner pled guilty to one count of making false statements, which were made to conceal his embezzlement of $40,474 from the union. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
November 14th, 2005On November 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Henry Michael Turner, former Treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 2058, pled guilty to one count of making false statements for falsely representing the union's assets on an LM-4 report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. The false statement was made to conceal his embezzlement of $40,474 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
May 5th, 2004On May 5, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Rose Erma (Irma) Elizaldez, former secretary-treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees, IAM Local 1031, was sentenced to six months home confinement and one year probation for misdemeanor receiving stolen property (approximately $500.00). She was not ordered to pay restitution since she had previously repaid $26,655 to the union; however, she was assessed $25. Elizaldez pled guilty on February 6, 2004 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
February 6th, 2004On February 6, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Erma Elizaldez, former secretary-treasurer for National Federation of Federal Employees, IAM, Local Union 1031, pled guilty to a one count information charging her with misdemeanor receiving stolen property (approximately $500.00). Elizaldez stipulated that she received $14,491.89 from the local's checking account and $4,151.00 from the arbitration/savings account, for a combined total of $18,642.89. Elizaldez paid restitution of approximately $26,655.00. In a plea agreement, she agreed not to hold any official title in the labor organization, other than as a member, for 13 years from the date of the plea. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
December 30th, 2003On December 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael LaForge, former president of the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, was sentenced to six months in a pre-release center and four years probation for embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, fraud, and false statements. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $15,647.67 and to pay a fine in the amount of $200. On October 9, 2003, LaForge pled guilty to embezzlement/theft of government property after cashing union dues rebate checks totaling $14,622, and to fraud and false statements. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
October 9th, 2003On October 9, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael La Forge, former president of National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, entered a voluntary plea of guilty for embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, fraud, and false statements. In an earlier plea dated August 18, 2003, La Forge pled not guilty. La Forge was indicted on July 17, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
August 18th, 2003On August 18, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Michael La Forge, former president of National Federation of Federal Employees Local 224, pled not guilty to one count of embezzlement/theft of government property totaling $14,622, and one count of fraud and false statements. He had been indicted on July 17, 2003 following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.