From embezzlement and misappropriation to fraud and theft, check out the latest fall fails from labor bosses below:
In Pennsylvania, Joseph Whitbeck, former Vice President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 274 (located in Allentown, Pa.), pleaded guilty to 10 counts of honest services wire fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud.
In Georgia, Savannah Division, Connie Deal, former bookkeeper for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 508 (located in Savannah, Ga.), was charged with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $243,003 and one count of making a false entry.
In Illinois, Patrick King, former President of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, Division of IBT, Lodge 2401 (located in Cicero, Ill.), was charged with three counts of continuing financial crimes enterprise totaling $11,203 and one count of misappropriation of financial institution property totaling $2,000.
In the District of Columbia, Donnell Owens, former Secretary to the Communications Director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Union (located in Washington, D.C.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $275,524 from the union.
In Tennessee, James Michael Foote, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 9-137 (located in Manchester, Tenn.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union assets, in the amount of $86,268.
In the District of Columbia, Roderick Bennett, former Chief of Staff for the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), located in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 12 months of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $155,638 in restitution. On November 20, 2018, Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). Additionally, on July 30, 2021, Bennett was found guilty after a jury trial of one count of health care fraud.
In Virginia, Richmond Division, Nintay Edwards, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 694 (located in Richmond, Va.), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $66,684 from the union.
In Massachusetts, Joshua Fernandes, former Treasurer of the New Bedford Police Union (located in New Bedford, Mass.), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud of union funds totaling $48,631.
In Texas, Michael Paul Garza, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 1093 (located in Brownsville, Tex.), was charged with one count of theft of property by a public servant, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and one count of theft of property from a non-profit organization, in the amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000.
In the District of California, Rachel Marie Gleason, former Treasurer of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union (SMART) Local 1700 (located in Perris, Calif.), was sentenced to 36 months of probation. She was also ordered to pay $10,698 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On June 30, 2021, Gleason pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds.
In Virginia, Richmond Division, Nintay Edwards, former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 694 (located in Richmond, Va.), was charged in a criminal information with one count of embezzlement from a labor organization for embezzling $66,684.
