On January 26, Vance Valentine, former secretary-treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 524, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to filing false financial reports on behalf of the Willis, Texas (north of Houston) labor organization. He had been indicted last September. Three days earlier, on January 23, his wife, Sheila Valentine, pleaded guilty in that court to embezzling union funds in an unspecified amount. She, too, had been indicted in September. The actions follow a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On March 6, 
On April 18, Paul Morales, former treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1477, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to willfully failing to properly maintain union records in relation to unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $22,829.39. He had been charged on February 29. The union is based in Taylor, Mich., in the Detroit area. The charge follows an investigation by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On February 17, Brandon Borders, formerly secretary-treasurer of Local 997 of the United Transportation Union, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to eight months of home confinement to be followed by 24 months of probation for embezzling $12,551.16 in funds from the Camp Hill, Pa.-based union over a nearly four-year period. He also was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and a $100 special assessment after having already paid full restitution. Borders pleaded guilty last September and had been indicted in July. The union represents Norfolk Southern railroad employees. The actions follow an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On February 9, Jose Rivera, former president and secretary-treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 710, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to three years probation and ordered to pay the remaining balance of restitution for accepting an illegal loan of more than $14,000 while serving as an officer of the Newark-based union. He had pleaded guilty last July. The union represents Coach USA bus drivers in northern New Jersey. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
At least 
On November 14, Charles McDaniel, former general chairman of United Transportation Union General Committee of Adjustment 341, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri to five years probation and ordered to pay $68,365.62 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. McDaniel had been charged in April with wire fraud in the theft of $44,889.62 from the St. Joseph, Mo.-based union and another $36.629.29 from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, pleading guilty immediately afterward. The actions follow a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On November 9, Derek Klingman, former secretary-treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 1006, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern of Pennsylvania for embezzling $9,354.84 in funds from the Finleyville, Pa. (near Pittsburgh) union. The charge follows a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
On September 23, Brandon Borders, former secretary-treasurer of United Transportation Union Local 997, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to embezzling $12,551.16 in funds from the Camp Hill, Pa. union. He had been indicted in July. Sentencing is scheduled for January. The indictment and guilty plea follow a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
