Posts tagged embezzling

    Research ● Corruption Labor Unions

    Unveiling Financial Transparency Failures in Labor Organizations

    July 24, 2025 // In 2024 alone, the DOL recorded 177 union enforcement actions involving fraud, embezzlement, wire fraud, and falsified records. These are only the crimes that rise to the level of federal prosecution. Far more ethical violations, financial misuses, and questionable behaviors fall below the radar leaving union members in the dark and are quietly buried through internal repayments, hush resignations, or legal threats — all without any formal DOL investigation or public accountability. Despite 16 years as a union official, I did not become aware of the existence of LM-2 financial disclosure filings until our local filed a lawsuit against our state affiliate. Imagine that: even as a union president and past treasurer, I was unaware that both our state and national unions were required to submit LM-2 forms to the Department of Labor. If someone like me — deeply engaged in union governance — was kept in the dark, how can we expect average members to know their rights, much less exercise them?

    AFL-CIO Fire Fighters Local 7 AFL-CIO Teachers AFSCME Local 2620 AFT Connecticut American Postal Workers Union audit finances Burbank bureaucratic California charities Connecticut DOJ DOL Edward Kelly embezzling Fairness Center FINANCES financial abuse financial misconduct Fire Fighters AFL-CIO firefighters grant money IAFF IAFF-FC indicted insurance International Association of Fire Fighters International Union of Operating Engineers International Union of Operating Engineers Local 465 Kurt Becker labor organizations Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act LM2 LMRDA Los Angeles Fire Department Muscular Dystrophy Association PAC fund balances pay to play Pennsylvania rank and file retirement planning secrecy Securities and Exchange Commission taxpayer money Texas Transparency Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters of Connecticut Union union membership unions United Steelworkers UPFFA Local 7 vendors wire fraud

    News Article ● Corruption Unions

    Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Embezzling Funds from Police Union

    June 11, 2025 // South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley today announced that Matthew Wilson, 39, of Sioux Falls, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $3,507.20 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of Grand Theft. The charge stemmed from Wilson exercising unauthorized control over funds belonging to the Lincoln County Fraternal Order of Police Union. Wilson received his sentence on Thursday in Lincoln County Circuit Court. While the state had sought a 180-day county jail sentence, the court authorized electronic monitoring for the 90-day term.

    corruption embezzling grand theft Jail Lincoln County Fraternal Order of Police Union Matthew Wilson pleading guilty restitution Sioux Falls South Dakota

    News Article ● Corruption Labor Unions

    IBEW Local 98 fined $25,000 for Dougherty lobbying

    February 24, 2025 // Prosecutors alleged Henon, who worked as the union’s political director while also serving on City Council, was essentially on retainer to the union leader, using his council position to help Dougherty attack rivals in other unions and pressure large companies to hire union electricians. In November 2021, they were convicted on the majority of counts they faced. The jury found both men guilty of conspiracy and honest services fraud and Henon guilty of bribery.

    Bobby Henon bribery Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Comcast conspiracy embezzling expense reports fine Franchise Agreement fraud guilty IBEW IBEW Local 98 Jail John Dougherty lobbying Mark Lynch Pennsylvania Convention Center PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia Parking Authority political director prison sheet metal workers Teamsters towing industry truck drivers