Posts tagged embezzling
Former UAW president pleads guilty to embezzling union funds
October 14, 2025 // Former United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams on Wednesday pleaded guilty to trying to embezzle union funds that prosecutors said he spent on Palm Springs vacations, golf, liquor and cigars. Appearing by video in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, Williams entered his plea and apologized to the members of a union that faces a corruption probe by the office for Matthew Schneider, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Former central Pa. postal union official sentenced for embezzling $74K
September 30, 2025 // Miller is barred from union office or employment for 13 years. Miller pled guilty this year to one count of embezzling labor union assets, one count of falsifying a labor union annual report, and one count of falsifying labor union financial records. While serving as the treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 95 of Lancaster, Miller signed and cashed at least 137 unauthorized checks worth $68,818 between December 2019 and December 2022. She also made at least 128 credit card purchases for personal use totaling $5,441 on her union credit card.
EXCLUSIVE: Congress Asks Union About Blunder That Reportedly Sent About $80 Million Down The Toilet
September 16, 2025 // United Auto Workers (UAW) has not disclosed what happened to $340 million it used to cover strike costs in 2023 while promising to reinvest the funds, the House Education and Workforce Committee told the union in a letter scheduled to be sent Thursday. The committee is requesting documents and information on the alleged blunder, which angry UAW officials claimed cost an estimated $80 million in potential gains, according to a Reuters report cited in the letter. Failing to reinvest the funds may have violated UAW’s fiduciary duty under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), ushered in higher dues, led to lesser strike benefits for members and made them miss out on stock market surges that followed President Donald Trump’s reelection in November, according to the letter.
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?
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.
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.