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
February 1st, 2013	On February 1, 2013, John McNamee, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 829 in New York, New York, was sentenced to one year of imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. McNamee made full restitution prior to the sentencing. In October 2012, McNamee pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $150,000 in labor union funds. An OLMS investigation found that between January 2004 and February 2011, McNamee used the union credit card to cover personal expenses, including jewelry, clothing, restaurant bills, entertainment tickets, and vacations for himself and his family.
September 13th, 2010	On September 13, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Paul Wyatt, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 220 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was sentenced to six months incarceration followed by six months of home confinement, as well as three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $35,023 and a special assessment of $100. On June 23, 2010, Wyatt pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,023. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
October 6th, 2009	On October 6, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Teresa Cora Luna, former office manager/bookkeeper of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 504 (located in Anaheim, Calif.), was sentenced to five months in federal prison and five months in a community corrections facility, to be followed by a three year period of supervised release and a 13-year bar from future union officer or employment service following her release. Additionally, Luna was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,416.21 and a $100 assessment. On September 26, 2008, Luna was charged with embezzling union funds in the same amount from November 2004 through June 2005. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.
July 28th, 2008	On July 28, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Darrell Pendergrass, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 699 (located in Bristol, Va.), was sentenced to one year and a day in prison to be followed by three years of probation. Also, Pendergrass was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70,336 and pay any fines owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Pendergrass previously made restitution in the amount of $53,000. On April 4, 2008, Pendergrass pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $70,336 and one count of willfully evading the payment of taxes. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the IRS.
January 30th, 2008	On January 30, 2008, in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, Timothy A. Wilson, former employee of the Stage and Picture Operators Local 271, was sentenced to two years probation for forgery. On November 16, 2007, Wilson pled guilty to a one count felony charge of forgery in the amount of $168. Prior to the investigation, Wilson paid restitution in the amount of $16,750. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office.
May 24th, 2007	On May 24, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, James Russell, former Treasurer of Stage & Picture Operators Local 9, located in Syracuse, NY, was sentenced to five years probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution. On January 19, 2007, Russell pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $54,776.65. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
March 17th, 2006	On March 17, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Cathy Jacobsen, former Financial Secretary of Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE), Local 69, was sentenced to one year of probation which includes six months of home detention. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
January 30th, 2006	On January 30, 2006, Donald Dixon, former treasurer and bookkeeper for Stage and Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 623, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $100 fine. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $40,152. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.
June 17th, 2004	On June 17, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Paul B. Ladner, former treasurer of Stage & Picture Operators (IATSE) Local 674, was sentenced to six months home confinement under the electronic monitoring device program followed by three years probation for failing to maintain union records. He was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,162.50 and to pay a $25 special assessment. On March 29, 2004, Ladner pled guilty to the charge following an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
March 11th, 2003	On March 11, 2003, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Jo Ann Vaughn, former treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, was sentenced to six months home confinement and five years probation. She was also ordered to make restitution of $29,175 to Local 220 and to pay $1,375 to Local 220 officers to reimburse them for costs incurred in the investigation. She had pled guilty to one count of embezzling approximately $29,000 in union funds following an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
November 6th, 2002	On November 6, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Tony Evans, former secretary-treasurer of Stage and Picture Operators Local 197, pled guilty to a one-count bill of information and was sentenced to six months of home confinement followed by two years of supervised probation and fined $1,000. The information charged Evans with embezzling $16,319 in union funds that he repaid prior to being sentenced. The charge was brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.
November 20th, 2001	On November 20, 2001, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Keith R. Sharp, former business agent for Stage and Picture Operators Local 132, was sentenced to six months home detention with electronic monitoring and three years probation and was ordered to make restitution of $7,873. He had pled guilty on September 6, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.