Union Corruption Update
Since 1997, NLPC has become a high-profile and credible source for information about America’s labor unions through our publication Union Corruption Update.
The newsletter has been referenced in many other media outlets including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and National Journal.
On January 28, Danny Tilley, former executive secretary-treasurer of the Texas State Building & Construction Trades Council, was sentenced in federal court to three years probation for embezzling $9,719.11 from the Austin-based AFL-CIO affiliate. He pleaded guilty in April. The sentencing follows a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 28, Johnny Banes, formerly financial secretary of United Steelworkers of America Local 2401, was indicted in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia on one count of theft of $38,329 in funds from the Mableton, Ga. union. The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
For almost two and a half years, Tammy Smith used her union as a cash dispensary. She now wishes she hadn't. On February 17, Smith, former secretary of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1922 in Billings, Montana, 
John Vinson
As a police officer, Gene Tomatani didn't have to be told that stealing from his union and his employer was illegal. At least now he's acknowledged as much. On February 10, Tomatani, a former officer with Redondo Beach, California police force, 
On January 22, Gary Day, former field representative for Laborers International Union of North America Local 1180, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with embezzling $10,827.50 from the Harrisburg local. The charge follows a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 21, Sonia McGuire, former treasurer of American Postal Workers Union Local 3434, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to five years probation, the first six months of which must be served in home detention, for embezzling funds from the Decatur, Ga. union. She also will have to pay $16,023.12 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. McGuire had pleaded guilty in November to embezzling funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 21, Lisa Wright, former treasurer of the Transit Employees Union, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio with one count of embezzling $71,470.50 from the Bedford (suburban Cleveland) union. The charge follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 21, Jacqueline Kiedrowicz, former president of United Steelworkers of America Local 1200, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio with one count of making false entries in financial records of the Canton union. The charge follows a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Running a labor union and a credit union at the same time may be a bad combination. For 
On January 15, Ray Horton, a former employee of United Steelworkers of America Local 9443 in Robards, Ky., was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to three years probation, including four months of community confinement, for embezzlement and mail fraud from the union. He also will have to pay $43,816.29 in restitution and $200 in court costs. He had pleaded guilty in October to stealing nearly $20,000 in local funds. The sentencing follows a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 6, David Miller, former treasurer of Independent Workers Union Local 373, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan on one count of embezzling funds from the Litchfield union in the amount of $50,501.99. The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 12, Ron Quinn and Rebecca James, respectively, the former president and secretary-treasurer of International Guards Union of America Local 123 in Port Gibson, Miss., pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $11,147.30. The pair had been charged in July with conspiracy and embezzlement during the period January-August 2008. The guilty pleas follow a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On January 8, Monica Peaslee, former office manager of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 533, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada to four years probation for embezzling funds from the Reno union. She also was ordered to pay $12,479.99 in restitution. Peaslee pled guilty in October to embezzling $13,156 and falsifying union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Sherri Patrick isn't the communicative type. She'll likely become one, however, not long from now. Patrick's former employer, the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, on February 8 filed 
Until seven years ago, Locals 14 and 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) had been virtually synonymous with organized crime. Union bosses, working in tandem with the Genovese and Colombo crime families, diverted millions of dollars in labor payments associated with major New York City-area construction projects into their own pockets. Now another participant in that racket has had a date with justice. On January 29, Joseph "Joey" Coriasco, a former IUOE Local 14 business agent, was sentenced to three years probation in Brooklyn federal court for his role in facilitating unlawful labor payments and mail fraud.
Sherrell Mitchell
Settling out of court might not be the most lucrative approach to getting back stolen funds, but in the long run it may be the best. Officials of Local 2533 of the International Association of Fire Fighters are hoping so. Early this month, the Branford (near New Haven), Connecticut union and State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced they had reached 
James Miles
