International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)

New York Thruway Employees Counsel Charged with $200K+ Theft

New York Thruway logoKevin Clor's intentions may have been good, but members of the union he represented might not be impressed. Clor, formerly general counsel for New York State Thruway Employees Local 72, was indicted in Manhattan state court on January 25 on charges of embezzling more than $211,000 from the Teamsters-affiliated union, which represents some 2,500 toll collectors and other Thruway employees. Working out of his Buffalo home office, the defendant allegedly used his position to generate phony receipts enabling him to receive funds from two separate union accounts. "Instead of representing their best interests, (Clor) now stands accused of violating their trust and using his position to enrich himself illegally," said District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Clor has pleaded not guilty and is free on $75,000 bail.

Chicago Teamsters Vice President Charged with Embezzlement

TrucksOn November 1, John Giannone, former vice president of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 706 in Chicago, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois with an information count for embezzlement of $11,900 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation of the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Teamsters Steward in Chicago Area Charged; Pleads Guilty, Sentenced

On July 7, Larry Shelton, former steward of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 754, pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit of DuPage County, Illinois to engaging in deception while serving in his position with the Elmhurst union. He then was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 25 months probation, and was ordered to pay $600 in restitution. Shelton had been charged in June with writing a bad check in an amount over $150. The actions follow a joint investigation by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Investigation Office.

Local Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer in Nevada Sentenced

For about three years, Mark Tracy used his union credit cards for a good time at the expense of members. He's now going to be doing time. On June 20, Tracy, formerly secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 533, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada to two years in prison and three years supervised release for embezzling about $125,000 from the Reno-based union. He also will have to pay $87,119 in restitution plus a $10,000 fine. Tracy pled guilty last December.

Teamsters National Organizer Sentenced for Embezzlement

On December 13, Jo Ann Duffy, former project organizer for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to three years probation, 50 hours of community service, and gambling counseling for embezzling $13,738 in union funds. She also will have to pay full restitution. Duffy pleaded guilty in September. The guilty plea and sentencing follow a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Feds' Mob Takedown Includes Union Crooks

mobster photoThere are few things quite like a mass arrest to serve as a reminder of the Mafia's continuing presence in American life. The mob roundup last Thursday morning, the largest in U.S. history, at once underscores the large dent that the Justice Department has been making in organized crime and how deeply entrenched so many organized crime operations have been. Some 800 FBI agents, U.S. marshals, state police and New York City cops fanned out and arrested nearly 120 wise guys and associates named in an 82-page, 16-count indictment for acts of murder, racketeering, money-laundering, loan-sharking, extortion and other offenses going back three decades. The takedown includes crime soldiers from each of New York's "Five Families," plus the DeCavalcante (Northern New Jersey) and Patriarca (New England) families. A number of the arrestees were heavily involved in labor corruption.

New York City Snow Removal Response Investigated as SEIU-Teamster Slowdown, Payback

NYC snowstormNew York City residents finally are digging out of a devastating post-Christmas blizzard, aided by unexpectedly warmer weather. But a growing number are sounding as if they want to use their shovels against union snowplow workers and their supervisors. Various news outlets have reported that leaders of the Service Employees-affiliated Sanitation Officers Association ordered their Teamsters-affiliated work crews to slack off as a protest against recent City Department of Sanitation budget cuts and demotions. The apparent work slowdown not only paralyzed traffic, but also led to two deaths and any number of commuters trapped overnight in subway cars. On the hot seat, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has demanded, and is getting, a full investigation. Union leaders deny culpability, insisting fiscal austerity had reduced manpower. But evidence appears to undercut such claims.

Nevada Teamsters Local Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Trucks rolling down the highwayMark Tracy had two union credit cards. He's no doubt wishing he was more prudent in the way he used them. Tracy, formerly secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 533, pleaded guilty on December 6 in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada to embezzling about $125,000 in union funds over a three-year period. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Former Ohio Teamsters Local President Pleads Guilty

On September 3, Daniel Graves, former president of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1224 in Wilmington, Ohio, pleaded guilty in Clinton County Court of Common Pleas to persistently disorderly conduct. He then was sentenced to 30 days incarceration to be suspended pending good behavior. Graves had been indicted in April on one count of theft in the amount of $2,867.42. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Indiana Teamsters Local Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzlement

TrucksOn July 15, Stacey Spalding, former bookkeeper for Local 215 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to one year at a work release facility and two years probation for embezzling $29,516 from the Evansville union. She also will have to pay $29,499 in restitution to Zurich Insurance of North America, $1,597 in restitution to various 401(k) accounts, and $100 in court fees. She had pleaded guilty in May. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.

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