Officials Sentenced

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
June 28th, 2022	On June 28, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott E. Rodgers, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years of probation. Rodgers was also ordered to pay $78,765 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Rodgers previously paid $2,000 in restitution prior to sentencing. On January 26, 2022, Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
March 1st, 2022	On March 1, 2022, in the District Court of Inglewood, California, Vida Sloan, former Treasurer of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 303 (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft in the amount of $10,039, in violation of California Penal Code Section 487(A). Sloan was then sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $10,039 in restitution. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.
September 21st, 2021	On September 21, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Yvette Luster, former Treasurer of Postal Mail Handlers Local 314 (located in Hazelwood, Mo.), was sentenced to 18 months of prison and three years of probation. Luster was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $184,138 and a $100 special assessment. On June 22, 2021, Luster pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
October 6th, 2016	On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jeffrey Velfling, former Chief Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Velfling previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758. On June 8, 2016,Velfling pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal ServiceÕs Office of Inspector General.
October 6th, 2016	On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, John Crosby, former Assistant Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Crosby previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758. On June 8, 2016,Crosby pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of LaborÕs Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal ServiceÕs Office of Inspector General.
October 6th, 2016	On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Jeffrey Velfling, former Chief Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Velfling previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758. On June 8, 2016,Velfling pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal ServiceÄôs Office of Inspector General.
October 6th, 2016	On October 6, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, John Crosby, former Assistant Steward of National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Crosby previously paid restitution in the amount of $6,758. On June 8, 2016,Crosby pled guilty to embezzlement of union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office, the Department of LaborÄôs Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal ServiceÄôs Office of Inspector General.
August 31st, 2011	On August 31, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Donald Kister, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Kister previously made restitution in the amount of $4,137.35. On March 14, 2011, Kister pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount between August 2006 and October 2007. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Grand Rapids Resident Investigator Office.
April 30th, 2007	On April 30, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dennis P. Harper, former Branch President and advocate of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 304, was sentenced to three years probation, including three months house arrest and ordered to make restitution of $2,543.10. On December 20, 2006, Harper was convicted of embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
November 21st, 2006	On November 21, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Preston Nelson, former Treasurer for Postal Mail Handlers Local 305, was sentenced to one day imprisonment to be followed by three years probation, 120 days of which must be served in home detention. Nelson was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution to the union in the amount of $5,363.98. On August 16, 2006, Nelson pled guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,547.26. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.