Iron Workers (BSORIW)

International Staffer Admits $350,000 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 11/12/2001 - 01:00

Kerry J. Tresselt, ex-bookkeeper for the Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers, admit Nov. 8 that she embezzled more than $350,000 from a union job-training fund, the Nat'l Ironworkers & Employers Apprenticeship & Journeyman Upgrading Fund, and attempted to cover it up. She pled guilty in U.S. Dist. Court in Washington, D.C., to three counts of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and one count of conspiring to make false statements. The Va. resident admitted to illegally issuing checks to herself and others while working for the training fund set up by BSORIW with contributions from contractors. She agreed to make restitution and assist prosecutors in a continuing criminal probe of BSORIW.

Southern California Staffer Embezzled $110,000

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 10/22/2001 - 00:00

U.S. Dist. Judge Ronald S.W. Lew (C.D. Cal., Reagan) sentenced Wilfield Bloomfield, United Bhd. of Carpenters Local 1553's ex-bookkeeper, Oct. 16 to 15 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $110,000 from the local in Hawthorne, Cal. Lew put Bloomfield on 3 years probation and ordered him to pay $110,887 in restitution to the local, which is also known as the Elec. & Space Technicians Local 1553. He pled guilty in June. Bloomfield reportedly stole the money over a 2-year period ending in April 2000."Bloomfield allegedly stole pre-signed checks, made the checks payable to himself, then cashed them at a nearby check-cashing outlet and used the money for personal purposes. [City News Serv. 10/16/01]

Ex-International President Indicted for $50,000 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 09/10/2001 - 00:00

The ex-top boss of the Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers was charged Aug. 28 with embezzling more than $50,000 in union funds to cover costs of golf outings, dinner parties, vacations, liquor shipments, and other personal expenses. Jake West pled not guilty to union embezzlement and other corruption charges in a 49-count indictment. West resigned in Feb. after running BSORIW for twelve years. He is the fifth BSORIW boss nabbed in the scandal.

Fourth International Boss Guilty of Union Corruption

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 07/02/2001 - 00:00

James E. Cole, Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers' general secretary, pled guilty to one count of embezzling of union funds, one count of "failing to disclose a material fact" in a report to the Dep't of Labor, and one count of "making a false entry" in union records. In return, he will cooperate with the ongoing federal probe of BSORIW, under the terms of a plea agreement approved June 18 by U.S. Dist. Judge Thomas F. Hogan in Washington, D.C. Cole's trial on 18 felony charges was scheduled to begin June 18. Cole is the fourth BSORIW boss to admit to crimes against his union in the three-year probe by the U.S. Atty.'s Office in D.C., FBI, and DOL.

Hogan did not set a sentencing date, but he ordered Cole to return to court on Sept. 26 for a status hearing. Cole faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $450,000 when he is sentenced. But prosecutors may seek a shorter sentence if Cole provides them with substantial assistance. Currently under the plea agreement, Cole will pay a $15,000 fine within 30 days of signing the plea agreement and $15,000 in restitution for his embezzlements.

Iron Workers' Top Boss Resigns

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 03/05/2001 - 01:00

The president of the Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, Jake West, resigned Feb. 23 amid corruption allegations. West became president in 1989 and had appeared to be moving toward seeking another 5-year term this July. His annual salary was more than $200,000 and will be the unpaid president emeritus of the D.C.-based union. He was succeeded by Joe Hunt, Jr., who was general treasurer.

West's resignation comes as the FBI and U.S. Atty's Office in D.C. continue to investigate his ties to ex-D.C. police chief Larry D. Soulsby. Prosecutors have tried to determine whether West used union money to bestow favors on Soulsby and whether the ex-chief did anything in return. Prosecutors alleged unnamed D.C. police officials were treated to meals and entertainment with money embezzled from BSOIW. Sources have said that Soulsby was on at least one golf outing with West that was paid for with embezzled union funds.

North Dakota Boss Embezzled $2,300

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 01/22/2001 - 01:00

Ex-president of Nat'l Fed'n of Fed. Employees Local 225 in Fargo, N.D., Richard LaRue of Shevlin, Minn., was sentenced Jan. 16 to two years probation for embezzling union funds. He pled guilty to misappropriating $2,300 in union funds between Oct. 1996 and Dec. 1997. U.S. Dist. Judge Rodney Webb in Fargo ordered LaRue to spend four months in home confinement, pay a $500 fine and make restitution. [Bismarck Trib. 01/17/01]

D.C. Probe Charges Fourth Boss with Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 01/08/2001 - 01:00

James E. Cole, the general secretary of the Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, was secretly indicted last month by a federal grand jury for union embezzlement. The 18-count indictment was unsealed Jan. 3 in U.S. Dist. Court in Wash., D.C. Cole is the fourth BSOIW boss to face charges in a FBI probe involving allegations of corruption within the BSOIW hierarchy and D.C. police force. The others have pled guilty.

The indictment alleges that starting in 1992, Cole and others cheated the union by using its money to pay for personal outings and services from restaurants, hotels and golf courses. It accuses Cole of mail fraud, embezzlement, making false statements and concealment. Cole allegedly used union credit cards and other accounts to benefit himself, his family and friends. For example, he allegedly used more that $10,000 for a Scotland vacation, a high school reunion trip, and anniversary flowers for his wife. Further, he allegedly failed to report nearly $20,000 in disbursements to BSOIW president Jake West in 1996-98. West has not been charged.

Idaho Secretary Sentenced for $20,000 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 09/25/2000 - 00:00

Michelle Mogolich, a former office secretary for Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers Local 732, was sentenced May 2 to six months home detention and three months probation for embezzling over $20,000 from the Pocatello, Idaho-based local. She was also fined $500. Mogolich had previously pled guilty to one count of embezzlement in federal court and had already repaid the local. [Idaho Statesman 5/3/00]

Boston Boss Sentenced for $30,000 in "No Show Payments"
U.S. Dist. Judge George A. O'Toole sentenced Anthony J. Frizzi, ex-business agent for Int'l Ass'n of Machinists Local S25, Sept. 7 to two years probation for his role in soliciting and accepting illegal payments from an employer which had entered into a collective bargaining agreement with Boston-based local. The first six months of the probation must be served in home confinement. O'Toole also fined Frizzi $5,000. Frizzi pled guilty in Apr. 2000.

California Boss Admits to $120,000 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 09/25/2000 - 00:00

Another ex-Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers boss pled guilty Sept. 15 to stealing up to $120,000, admitting that he routinely used the union's money to cover his and others' personal expenses. Darrel E. Shelton, who resigned Sept. 14 as the union's Cal.-based general organizer, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a probe into allegations of corruption in the Iron Workers hierarchy in Washington, D.C. and the D.C. police force.

Shelton's illegal expenses included $3,995 for a Jan. 1997 golf outing in Palm Springs, Cal., attended by BSOIW president Jake West and several D.C. police officials. It reportedly included $1,000 for a dinner attended by West, his friends and several women. Reportedly, Larry D. Soulsby, then the D.C. police chief, was among those on the trip.

In Mar. 2000, Fred G. Summers, BSOIW's executive director of organizing, pled guilty to stealing more than $50,000, including $2,300 stemming for the same Palm Springs golf outing. Last year, Michael J. Brennan, who once headed the Iron Workers Political Action League, pled guilty to charges involving the theft of $7,000 in union money.

Third International Boss Indicted

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 05/22/2000 - 00:00

A third Iron Workers boss has been indicted on federal charges that he illegally used more than $85,000 in union money to cover personal expenses, including the costs of meals, hotels and vacations for himself, his family and his friends. Darrell E. Shelton, Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers' organizer for Cal., was accused May 12 of using at least $3,000 of union funds to cover personal dinners and resort charges for Jake West, BSOIW's president, and West's family and friends.

West has not been charged but has been probed for over two years because of a relationship with ex-Washington, D.C. police chief Larry D. Soulsby--and whether West used union money to bestow favors on Soulsby, and if so, whether he received anything in return.