Steven Thomas

Former Business Manager for Northern Ohio Laborers Local Sentenced

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:44

Laborers logoOn August 24, Steven Thomas, former business manager for Laborers International Union of North America Local 500 in Toledo, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to five years probation, three months home detention and 250 hours of community service for embezzling roughly $28,500 in union funds. As Union Corruption Update had indicated in prior articles, he and local recording secretary Thomas Leonard earlier this decade made unauthorized use of their union credit cards to pay for expenses during visits to various strip clubs. The LIUNA parent union removed both from office. Steven Thomas pleaded guilty in May. In addition to the sentence, the court required him to make outstanding restitution in the amount of $14,324.84. The action follows a probe by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Ex-Laborers Business Manager in Ohio Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 15:51

LIUNA logoIf Shawn Clark believes he's innocent, then the case of Steven Thomas won't provide too much encouragement. Thomas for a while served as business manager of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 500 in Toledo, Ohio until he and local recording secretary Thomas Leonard were charged with making unauthorized use of their union credit cards to pay for visits to strip clubs. Leonard last October pleaded guilty in Toledo federal court to racking up unauthorized cumulative charges of $4,386. Now his partner is facing the same music. This past May, Steven Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $17,500, plus another $11,000 in illegal travel allowances.

Ex-Ohio Business Manager Sues Local for Back Compensation

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 01:00

Steven Thomas accepts the fact that he’s no longer business manager of Laborers International Union of North America Local 500.  What he doesn’t accept is that the Toledo, Ohio union has a right to shortchange him out of back vacation pay.  At least that’s how he frames the issue.  On January 13, Thomas filed suit in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, alleging the construction union owes him more than $20,000.  This may be a case of bad timing, given that he’s facing trial in Toledo federal court this May on two counts of embezzlement.  

 

Former Secretary of Ohio Local Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 00:00

Visiting a strip joint can provide some fleeting pleasures.  Thomas Leonard found out that the tab can be more long-lasting, especially if the money to pay for them comes out of union funds.  Leonard, former recording secretary for Laborers International Union of North America Local 500 in Toledo, Ohio, pleaded guilty on October 2 in federal court to using his local credit card in 2004 to pay for visits to strip clubs totaling $4,386.  He already has paid restitution, which should lighten the sentence.  Former local business manager Steven Thomas is facing similar charges. 

Two Ex-Officials of Toledo Local Charged with Embezzlement

Submitted by Carl Horowitz on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 00:00

The lure of nightlife and travel can be hard to resist.  And sometimes people pay the tab at someone else’s expense and without permission.  Steven Thomas and Thomas Leonard are learning the downside of this.  Until 2006, the pair had served, respectively, as construction manager and recording secretary for Laborers International Union of North America Local 500 in Toledo, Ohio.  That’s when the union removed the pair from their posts for allegedly using funds to pay for more than $30,000 worth of strip club visits and personal travel.  Now prosecutors have gotten into the act.  On July 23, the two men were charged in federal court with embezzlement.  The action follows a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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