Who's Guarding the Cookie Jar? On November 3rd, will it be back to business-as-usual for union bosses?

With the miderm election wrapping up next week, win or lose, union bosses will be heading back to their offices and settling in to their normal routine of plotting, lobbying, visiting the White House, targeting employees and antagonizing employers, as well as finding ways to nationalize a few more industries and kill some more jobs. In other words, it will be back to business as usual.

More importantly, though, with the election over, union bosses won’t be having to dump hundreds of millions on Democrats again for another…year and a half. Which means they can finally start spending their members’ money on the more mundane things that fill a union bosses’ life.

Then, of course, there are the less mundane things to fill some union bosses’ lives, like trying to avoid getting caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar…

On October 20, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Gilbert Woods, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 84768 (located in Kettering, OH), was sentenced to five years probation and six months house arrest. He was ordered to pay restitution of $25,465, which included $20,000 to Travelers Insurance and $5,465 to the union. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $25. On July 21, 2010, Woods pled guilty to one count of making false entries in union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On October 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Aaron Hunter, former President of Firefighters Local 108-F (located in Fort Leonard Wood, MO), was sentenced to one year probation for the charge of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 to conceal his embezzlement of union funds. Hunter paid restitution totaling $30,000 prior to his sentencing. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On October 15, 2010, in Circuit Court for Arlington County, Virginia, Richard James, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1402 (located in Arlington, VA), was sentenced to two years incarceration (all suspended), two years supervised probation, and 75 hours of community service for embezzling $9,850 from the union in violation of Section 18.2-111 of the Virginia Code. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office and the Arlington County Police Department.

On October 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Deidra Lucas, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, MI), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,283.20. Lucas is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On October 8, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Amar Ali, former Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) Sub-Lodge 695 (located in Baltimore, MD), was charged in a one count information with failure to maintain union records (29 U.S.C. Section 439(a)(b)). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On October 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Craig A. Bohn, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) Local 558 (located in Green Bay, WI), was sentenced to one year probation, a $1,500 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Bohn previously made restitution in the amount of $5,000. On June 18, 2010, Bohn pled guilty to two counts of creating false union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Lance Hinerman, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 189 (located in Little Rock, AR), was sentenced to two years probation and a $200 assessment. On July 6, 2010, Hinerman pled guilty to wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, a Class C Felony. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

On October 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, an information was filed charging Nickolas Weihert, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4845 (located in Waukesha, WI), with three counts of embezzlement totaling $450.00. The information states that the three counts were fraudulent transactions related to an embezzlement of $17,256. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On October 5, 2010, Joseph Kerwan, Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 112 (located in Elmira, NY), was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine in the Western District of New York. On May 20, 2010, Kerwan pled guilty to falsification of union records. As part of the plea and sentencing, Kerwan made full restitution to his local union totaling $6,927.55. The court action came as a result of an investigation by the Buffalo District Office.

On October 5, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Donald Kotouch, the former President and Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1738 (located in Latrobe, PA), was charged in a two count indictment for embezzling $18,806.27 in union funds and falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On October 4, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Thomas Carrola, the former Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 1919 (located in Pittsburgh, PA), was sentenced to two years probation for each of the two counts (to run concurrently) and six months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution of $35,057 and a $100 count assessment. Carrola pled guilty on June 1, 2010 to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $35,057 and to falsifying union records. Full restitution has been made to the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Pittsburgh District Office.

On September 30, 2010, in the Mower County Minnesota District Court, Dustin Heichel, former General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Shortline General Committee of Adjustment (BLET GCA), located in Austin, MN, pled guilty to one count of gross misdemeanor theft and false representation in the amount of $1,562.12. The plea follows an investigation by the Milwaukee District Office and the Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On September 29, 2010, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Keith Hart, former Financial Secretary of Bakery Workers Local 315G (Mt. Vernon, IN), was sentenced to six months in a work release community corrections facility and three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,904.69 and a $100.00 special assessment. On July 6, 2010, Hart pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in the amount of $13,904.69. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Cincinnati District Office.

On September 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Woodrow Anderson, former Treasurer of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, FL), was sentenced to probation for 24 months and 180 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay Zurich North America the amount of $2,249.96 and a special assessment fee of $25.00. On July 1, 2010, Anderson pled guilty to making a false statement of a material fact in a report or document required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On September 28, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Anthony Green, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, FL), was sentenced to probation for 24 months and 180 days of home confinement, and was ordered to pay Zurich North America the amount of $3,073.10 and a special assessment fee of $25.00. On July 12, 2010, Green pled guilty to making a false entry in, or willfully concealing, withholding, or destroying any book, record, report or statement required to be kept under the LMRDA. Zurich North America paid a loss to GMP LU 208 as a result of Green’s dishonest claim filed after his embezzlement. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office.

On September 24, 2010, in the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, former Bookkeeper Cheryl Staley was sentenced to five years probation, during which time she is restricted from entering a casino without first notifying the U.S. Probation Office; ordered to attend gambling addiction classes; ordered to pay $231,653.89 in restitution, plus 10% interest at $200/month; and ordered to pay $200 in court assessments. In May 2010, Staley pled guilty to embezzling union funds and causing false entries in the LM reports filed by Local 501. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On September 23, 2010, 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, MI), was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,137.35 between August 2006 and October 2007 and one count of making false statements. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 23, 2010, in Newton Massachusetts District Court, a criminal complaint was issued against Richard Dean, former Treasurer of Carpenters Local 275 in Newton, MA, charging him with 11 counts of larceny totaling $15,374. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On September 22, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Jonathan S. Deutsch, former Trustee of the West Virginia Heavy and Highway Construction Industry Fund, was indicted in a 25 count indictment of wire fraud involving approximately $750,000 in embezzled union funds. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Pittsburgh District Office and the DOL OIG.

On September 21, 2010, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, Stephen P. Arena and David Caivano, President and Recording Secretary/Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of Novelty and Production Workers Local 148 (located in Newark, N.J.), were indicted on 29 counts of conspiracy and embezzlement of approximately $375,000 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the Labor OIG.

On September 16, 2010, in Madison County (NY) court, Gail Shingler, former Treasurer of the now defunct Steelworkers Local Union 53 (located in Oneida, NY), was sentenced after entering a guilty plea to one count of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree. Shingler was sentenced to 60 days in jail after admitting to taking $2,572 from her former local union. She made full restitution prior to her appearance in county court. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court of Eastern Texas, Michael Doggett, former Financial Secretary of Carpenters Local 502 (located in Orange, Texas), was indicted on one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan in the amount of $58,994, and one count of embezzlement from a labor union in the amount of $45,043. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the FBI.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Brian Wilson, former Treasurer for AFSCME Local 2804 (located in Warren, Ohio), was sentenced to three years probation and 90 days home confinement. On July 13, 2010, Wilson pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $10,500. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On September 15, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Ellsworth Williamson, former President of Steelworkers Local 5-1967 (located in Hamilton, Ohio), was charged with embezzling union funds in the amount of $5,159.16. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Joseph Chester, former President of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATC) Local ABQ (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was indicted on 47 counts of wire fraud. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Robert W. Rybak, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Plumbers Local 55 (located in Cleveland, Ohio), was indicted on conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy under the Hobbs Act, embezzlement or theft from a labor union, embezzlement or theft from an employee benefit fund, and tampering with a witness. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office, Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

On September 14, 2010, in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Tiffany Freeman was sentenced to two years community control and was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $2,260. On August 6, 2010, Freeman pled guilty to three counts of forging checks belonging to Musicians Local 1 (located in Cincinnati, Ohio). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jerrold King, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to 36 months of probation, including 90 days of home confinement, and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $70.06 and pay a $25 special assessment. King previously made restitution in the amount of $900. On June 14, 2010, King pled guilty to one count of concealing union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

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.

On September 3, 2010, in the Clinton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Daniel Graves, former President of Teamsters Local 1224 (located in Wilmington, Ohio), pled guilty to persistent disorderly conduct. Graves was then sentenced to 30 days incarceration, to be suspended pending good behavior. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On September 2, 2010, in the Superior Court of Washington County, Washington, Elizabeth Mills, former office manager of Laborers Local 901 (located in Mount Vernon, Wash), was sentenced to 20 days of incarceration and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,721. On June 18, 2010, Mills pled guilty to theft of union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On September 1, 2010, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Joe Ann Duffy, former Project Organizer for the Teamsters (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $13,738. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.

On September 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records. On May 6, 2009, Means-Swanson was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,900. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.