


On January 11, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Charyle Emel, former President of American Postal Workers Local 2013, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make restitution, pay $60 to the United States Postal Service, and a $25 special assessment. On February 23, 2007, Emel pled guilty to one count of falsifying union financial records by willfully making or causing to be made a false loan agreement between her and the local totaling $12,864.10. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
On January 9, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Graham Paul Vane, former President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1280, pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $170,000 in union funds, and four counts of making false statements to a government agency. The final embezzlement amount will be determined at Vane’s sentencing hearing. On May 24, 2007, Vane was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the same approximate amount, and four counts of false statements to a government agency. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.
On January 9, 2008, a failure to maintain records investigation conducted by the OLMS New Orleans District Office resulted in the subject entering into a Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Under the terms of the Pre-Trial Diversion Agreement, the subject must make full restitution to the union, and not hold any union office during the duration of the agreement. Due to the confidential nature of the Pre-Trial Diversion program, details that could identify the subject are not public information.
On January 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kurt Swanstrom, former Financial Secretary and Treasurer of PACE/USW Local 5-1560, was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $12,327, one count of falsification of union records, and one count of filing a false labor organization report. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On January 8, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Kathleen Drake, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Local 2339-C, pled guilty to one count of falsification of union records, and agreed to make restitution in the amount of $17,035. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
On January 7, 2008, in the City Court of Peekskill, New York, Glenroy Richards, former President of AFGE Local 2440, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree. During the period of July 2006 to November 2006, Richards is alleged to have utilized his union-issued debit card to withdraw a total of $11,243 from the union’s checking account. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
(dol.gov)