Twice this week the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) made claims of corruption in government or by nominees for an appointment.
In June of 2015, FedSmith published my article titled, AFGE Leads All American Unions in Criminal Misconduct by its Officials Since 2014. The union testified that FEMA was subject to corruption unless it hired permanent career employees versus temps and charged George Nesterczuk (Trump’s nominee for OPM Director) with nefarious conduct.
Of course, AFGE offered nothing but allegations. In both cases, the opinions offered were extremely self-serving as, in the first case, FEMA temps are less likely to pay dues if eligible, and Mr. Nesterczuk has been a long-term critic of the current Federal Sector labor law. On the FEMA issue, see this FedSmith article.
As you will see below, AFGE lacks credibility to make an allegation about anyone.
Sad State of Affairs
AFGE has, without doubt, proven itself the most corrupt union in the United States among both public and private sector labor organizations. I’m not alleging this. It is a proven fact.
Below you can read not the indictments but the convictions of AFGE for corruption copied directly from the Department of Labor Criminal Enforcement Webpages. Please don’t rely on my statements, read the conviction information for yourself.
The statistics are even more damning.
In 2017 (and it isn’t even the end of the year), eleven AFGE elected officials have either been convicted or pled guilty to corruption offenses. That’s more than all the Federal sector unions put together including the postal unions. Postal unions had six convictions and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) had one. That means that 60% of all criminal corruptions reported for Federal sector unions were committed by AFGE. If you leave out the Postal Service unions, AFGE accounts for over 90% of union corruption in the Federal government. The highest number in the private sector was earned by the Machinists with four convictions or pleas. The Teamsters, who carry a bad rep for past problems, had one conviction in 2017.
By the way, after my June 2015 FedSmith article was published, Joe Davidson (in his August 25, 2015 Washington Post column) asked the national AFGE President the following: “What is your reaction to articles in FedSmith (an online publication), using Labor Department statistics, about problems with AFGE’s elections and criminal misconduct among AFGE officials?”
AFGE’s President replied: “I haven’t had a chance to see those articles.”
Maybe Mr. Cox will take his head out of the sand and read this article. Who knows? Perhaps plausible deniability applies if you don’t read such stuff. Maybe one of the AFGE represented employees who reads this and pays the dues that are repeatedly stolen by its officials will send him a copy.
So, what’s the score since 2015? I thought AFGE might go to work cleaning house after all those convictions but if you don’t know about them, I guess you can’t do anything about them.
Below are the cases listed by the Department of Labor since my last article. So far in 2017, 11 convictions or pleas; in 2016, 10; and in the last half of 2015, 7 for a total in 2015 of nine.
Department of Labor Cases
2017
On July 18, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,067 in restitution. On May 31, 2017, Ray pled guilty to false writings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On July 11, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Jeffrey Davies, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 183 (located in Anchorage, Alaska), was sentenced to one year in a federal penitentiary and three years of federal probation, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $92,766 and a $100 fine. On June 7, 2016, Davies pled guilty to one count of embezzling over $92,000 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office and the FBI.
On June 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Lon Sullivan, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 644 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was sentenced to three years of probation and 200 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay the remaining balance of restitution in the amount $59,809. Sullivan previously paid $37,000 in restitution. On February 28, 2017, Sullivan pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The subject union is comprised of Department of Labor employees. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On June 22, 2017, in the Nassau District Court in Hempstead New York, Jeanette Willoughby, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2009 (located in Garden City, N.Y.), was charged with petit larceny, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law 155.25, for diverting $2,487 in union funds for personal use. She then pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge. She was also ordered to pay $2,487 in restitution. The charge, guilty plea, and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
On May 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray , former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), pled guilty to a superseding information of false writings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On May 12, 2017, in the Suffolk County, 10th Judicial Circuit Court, David Diaz, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 387 (located in Northport, N.Y.), was sentenced to 280 hours of community service in lieu of 60 days in jail and three years of probation. Diaz was also ordered to pay $17,149 in restitution. On March 16, 2017, Diaz pled guilty to Petit Larceny, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.25. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.
On March 16, 2017, in the Suffolk County First District Court of New York, David Diaz, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 387 (located in Northport, N.Y.), pled guilty to Petit Larceny, in violation of New York Penal Law 155.25. His sentencing is set for May 11, 2017. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.
On February 28, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Lon Sullivan, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 644 (located in Baltimore, Md.), was charged in an information with one count of wire fraud in the amount of $8,647, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. He then pled guilty to the charge. Sullivan agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $96,809. The subject union was comprised of DOL employees. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
On February 14, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Clementine T. Ray , former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2109 (located in Temple, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On February 6, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Wanda Rosenboro-Correa, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2798 (located in Washington, D.C.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $13,803. On November 22, 2016, Rosenboro-Correa pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On January 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, John Kauffman, Jr., former President of National Federation of Government Employees (NFFE) Lodge 1442 (located at Chambersburg, Pa.), was sentenced to one month of imprisonment followed by seven months of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,062. On September 26, 2016, Kauffman pled guilty to mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.
2016
On November 30, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Violet Lamorie, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 695 (located in Denver, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, for embezzling over $70,000 from the union. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General.
On November 22, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Wanda Rosenboro-Correa, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2798 (located in Washington, D.C.), pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for stealing $13,803 from the union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On October 19, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Patrick Remigio, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2859 (located in Tucson, Ariz.), pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. In addition, Remigio agreed to pay $95,000 in restitution. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Phoenix Resident Investigator Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the FBI.
On October 6, 2016, in the Dubois Superior Court in Dubois County, Indiana, Carlton Woodcox, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2150 (located in Jasper, Ind.), was sentenced to 368 days in jail (360 days suspended and credit given for eight days previously served), 360 days of probation, and 80 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay full restitution of $30,859. On September 7, 2016, Woodcox pled guilty to one count of theft in the amount of $30,859. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati-Cleveland District Office.
On September 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Benjamin Stancil, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 451 (located in Havelock, N.C.), was sentenced to 120 days of home confinement and three years of probation, and was ordered to pay $13,308 in restitution, a $2,500 fine, and a $400 special assessment. On June 13, 2016, Stancil pled guilty to four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 21, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), William Davis, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1119 (located in Montrose, N.Y.), was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release, in connection with embezzling approximately $150,000 in union funds. Davis was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000 and a $100 special assessment. On April 6, 2016, Davis pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General. ollows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On July 15, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Marcella Champion, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1831 (located in Landover, Md.) was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Champion was also ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and pay $19,152 in restitution. Champion had previously paid $2,000 in restitution. On May 3, 2016, Champion pled guilty to one count of theft within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Washington District Office.
On May 17, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Mark P. Durinski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 294 (located in Limestone, Maine), was sentenced to one month of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $53,544. On September 14, 2015, Durinski pled guilty to three counts of making false statements and entries on LM-Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On May 4, 2016, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Shelly Sutton, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 477 (located in Wichita, Kans.), was sentenced to three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $78,778. On February 17, 2016, Sutton pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
On January 5, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, Edward Mason, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2274 (located in Saginaw, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $21,077 in restitution and a $25 special assessment. On September 17, 2015, Mason pled guilty to one count of making false statements in an official certificate or writing, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
2015 After March 31
On November 17, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Stephanie Hicks, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2207 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was sentenced to six months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, and five years of supervised probation. Hicks was also ordered to pay $83,927 in restitution and a $1,600 fine. Hicks previously paid restitution in the amount of $8,000. Hicks pled guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344, and eight counts of passing a forged security, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513, for a loss of $91,927. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.
On September 14, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Mark P. Durinski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 294 (located in Limestone, Maine), pled guilty to three counts of making false statements and entries on LM-Reports, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3). Durinski agreed to make restitution in the amount of $53,544 as part of this plea. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
On September 9, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement, five years of probation, and was ordered to pay $44,878 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. On June 10, 2015, Florez pled guilty to a one-count indictment for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing following follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On July 7, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Curtis Bullick, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3254 (located in Bunker Hill, Ind.), was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $2,107 and a special assessment of $25. On March 31, 2015, Bullick pled guilty to a one-count information for taking away with intent to steal property of another within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
On June 10, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), pled guilty to theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction in the amount of $44,878, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.
On May 18, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Shiryll Durham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1687 (located in Mountain Home, Tenn.), was sentenced to time served and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,640 and a $25 assessment. On January 21, 2015, Durham pled guilty to one count of knowingly taking and carrying, with the intent to steal, the personal property of another within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office.
On May 11, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Aide Spade, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 (located in Littleton, Colo.), was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $14,234 plus an additional $5,000 fine. Spade previously paid $44,935 in restitution. On October 14, 2014, Spade pled guilty to one count of making and using a false document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.
What is Most Amazing
This information is organized and published for all to see on the Labor Department website.
The Washington Post’s website today carries the slogan/ad: “The story must be told. Your subscription supports journalism that matters.” Apparently not this story, although I just got a Post Most email story about a wedding photographer law suit. Man bites dog is news, but Federal union corruption certainly isn’t. Perhaps the establishment media doesn’t want to run afoul of its unionized reporters, printers and technicians. Shame on those in the media.
Without attention, it seems, AFGE may continue to refuse to address corrupt officials who steal members’ money without policing by the union. Shame on you AFGE. By the way, the union should be careful about throwing stones at nominees for government positions from that glass house on F Street.
I usually do a disclaimer about my writing, if an opinion is present, being my sole responsibility. That’s true here with the huge exception that all the cases cited are a matter of a court decision, not a mere claim on my part.
