Geri E. Abbe

International Boss Allegedly Padded Pension

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 06/24/2002 - 00:00

On June 3, the U.S. Atty.'s Office in D.C. unsealed a May 17 indictment which charged LeRoy Worley, ex-IAIW general secretary, with embezzling more than $37,000 from an employee benefit fund in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 664.  Worley reportedly resigned and retired when he was 58 and had worked between 17 and 18 years for IAIW. However, he was allegedly paid a full pension from the Iron Workers Staff Retirement Pension Fund as if he had retired at age 60 and as if he had worked 20 years for IAIW. The indictment further charged that his annual salary preceding his retirement was about $152,000, yet he was paid a pension as if his annual salary preceding retirement had been $169,184. Worley is one of nine individuals indicted in the federal probe of the union and its related funds. Seven have already pled guilty. Worley is awaiting trial as is IAIW president emeritus Jacob "Jake” West. [DOL 6/3/02]

Washington Staffer Admits $15,600 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 04/01/2002 - 01:00

Geri E. Abbe, ex-office secretary for Ass'n of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Local 5 in Camas, Wash., pled guilty Mar. 22 to one count of embezzling $15,690.80 in union funds. The U.S. Atty.'s Office in Tacoma brought the charges on Feb. 22. The case has been assigned to U.S. Dist. Judge Franklin D. Burgess (W.D. Wash., Clinton).

According to the plea agreement, between Feb. 1998 and June 2001, Abbe was Local 5's office secretary, and her duties included filling out payroll vouchers.  On 16 occasions she embezzled funds through bogus payroll  claims. For example, on Feb. 18, 1998, she submitted a payroll voucher in which sought pay for 70 hours of work during the one-week period ending on that date. However, in truth, she worked only 35 hours during that period. After securing an offical's signature, Abbe issued the fraudulent check to herself. She embezzled $14,245 via this scheme.

California Boss Gets Five Months for $64,700 Embezzlement

Submitted by Michael Nelson on Mon, 03/18/2002 - 01:00

Deborah Bankston, ex-financial secretary-treasurer of Ass'n of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Local 83 in Stockton, Cal., was sentenced Feb. 20 to five months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation for embezzling $64,711.65 in union funds. She was also ordered to make full restitution.  Bankston pled guilty to one count of union embezzlement. She was charged on Sept. 26. [DOL 2/20/02]

Washington Staffer Charged with $15,600 Embezzlement
Geri E. Abbe, ex-office secretary for Ass'n of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Local 5 in Camas, Wash., was charged Feb. 22 in a one-count information with embezzling $15,690 in union funds. [DOL 2/22/02]

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