The final criminal acts of union bosses in 2019
Happy New Year! As we ring in 2020, below are the final illegal shenanigans union bosses committed in 2019, courtesy of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Here’s to hoping their New Year’s resolutions include “being a law-abiding citizen.”
Connecticut: Former President of Communications Workers of America Local 81266 Thomas Popillo pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds.
District of Columbia: Audonus Duplessis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2463, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property.
Kentucky: Rocky Gannon, former President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2302, was charged in a 12-count indictment including three counts of wire fraud and nine counts of forged securities.
Maryland: John Scarcella, former Secretary-Treasurer of Association of Civilian Technicians Local 125 pleaded guilty to one count of theft for stealing $28,010 from the union.
Michigan: Former President of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 560 Kelly Carter pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds.
Joseph Ashton, former United Automobile Workers (UAW) International Vice President in the General Motors Department and director of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources from 2010-2014, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
New Jersey: Former Financial Secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1614 was charged with embezzlement.
New Mexico: Former office manager for Operating Engineers Local 953 Jessica Pangburn pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
New York: Mob soldier Steven Arena was charged with racketeering conspiracy. Frank Cognetta, a former Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 1D, and Vincent D’Acunto Jr., a mafia connected union official and former Secretary-Treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2D, were previously charged in the same indictment. All pleaded guilty. Several weeks later, Frank Giovinco was also found guilty of racketeering conspiracy.
John Ulrich, former Vice President and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 812, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan.
Ohio: Bud Sherwood, former Secretary-Treasurer of Transportation Communications Union/International Association of Machinists Lodge 6546 pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds.