Martin Ludlow

L.A. Local Boss Testifies at Trial; Reveals Labor’s Political Ties

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 11/06/2006 - 01:00

Labor leaders have been called many names, but “naive” hasn’t been among the more common of them. Yet Janett Humphries, formerly one of Los Angeles’ more powerful union officials, made naivete her prime line of defense in her recent criminal trial. Humphries for more than a decade had been president of Service Employees International Union Local 99. She enjoyed close ties to Martin Ludlow, a former Los Angeles City Council Member and also ex-head of the 825,000-member Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Those ties proved too close. Federal prosecutors early this year charged Humphries, 63, with misusing her office to provide financial aid to Ludlow’s successful 2003 city council election campaign. Ludlow pleaded guilty this March to conspiracy to divert union funds to the campaign. Humphries chose to take her federal case to trial; she pleaded guilty to two separate local charges. In light of her recent testimony, she might be wishing she hadn’t.

Los Angeles Ex-Councilman, Union Leader Sentenced

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 06/19/2006 - 00:00

The redemption of Martin Ludlow continues. On June 5, the former member of the Los Angeles City Council and secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor was sentenced in U.S. District Court to five years probation and 2,000 hours of community service for diverting Service Employee International Union Local 99 funds to pay for his 2003 City Council run. He also will have to make $36,400 in restitution to the union. Former Local 99 President Janett Humphries still faces various charges. (OLMS, 6/13/06).

Former Bookkeeper in Philadelphia Sentenced for Theft

Ex-Los Angeles City Councilman Ludlow Sentenced

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 05/08/2006 - 00:00

The education of Martin Ludlow continues. And it’s going to take place out of prison. On April 21, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David M. Horwitz sentenced Ludlow, a former Los Angeles City Councilman, to three years’ probation for conspiring to illegally divert union funds toward his 2003 election campaign. Ludlow also will have to pay restitution and costs in the amount of $45,000, remain out of all union leadership positions for at least 13 years, and not hold elected public office for four years. He also must pay $105,000 to the Los Angeles Ethics Commission for violating city campaign finance laws. In March he had pleaded guilty to a felony count of violating the city’s $500 limit on campaign contributions, plus two misdemeanor counts.

Los Angeles School Workers Local Chieftain Pleads Not Guilty

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 04/10/2006 - 00:00

Janett Humphries isn’t like her former ally, Martin Ludlow: She thinks she can beat the rap. For her sake, she’d better be right. She’s facing a maximum of five years in federal prison on each of 18 counts. On Monday, March 20, Ms. Humphries, formerly president of SEIU Local 99, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles to embezzling $36,000 in 2003 to help Ludlow get elected to the Los Angeles City Council; she allegedly also used union funds on travel expenses for relatives and a friend.

Ex-L.A. Councilman-Union Boss Ludlow Pleads Guilty

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 03/27/2006 - 01:00

Martin Ludlow read the tea leaves early. On Wednesday, March 8, the former Los Angeles City Councilman pleaded guilty to a charge that he conspired with the head of a school workers union to illegally divert union funds into his 2003 election campaign. The move was no surprise, as Ludlow already had announced his intent to cop a plea. Under the terms of the agreement, he will pay $40,000 in fines and court costs, and accept three years probation, plus a four-year ban on holding elected office. In addition, he agreed to plead guilty to one federal felony charge of conspiring to embezzle funds from Service Employees International Union Local 99 to pay six campaign workers. As part of that deal, he will pay $36,000 in restitution to the union, pay $105,000 in fines to the City’s Ethics Commission, and accept a 13-year ban on serving as a union leader.

Local Labor Boss-Ex L.A. City Councilman to Plead Guilty

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 01:00

On the West Coast as well, things have gotten tough for a prominent labor official holding down a second job as a politician. Until recently, Martin Ludlow was the toast of Los Angeles progressive politics. But right now the former Los Angeles City Councilman and union leader looks more like toast. On Monday, March 6, Ludlow, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, agreed to plead guilty to felony conspiracy to secretly divert more than $36,000 in union funds to his 2003 council campaign. Three days earlier federal and local prosecutors, along with the City Ethics Commission, announced they had worked out a deal. In addition to paying restitution, Ludlow would accept a four-year ban on holding public office and a 13-year ban on leading a union. He may be able to avoid prison time provided he cooperates with the investigation of former Service Employees International Union Local 99 President Janett Humphries, who has pleaded not guilty to a pair of local counts.