Guess what? Union officials have been up to no good again. Shocking, right?
In the past couple of months, we’ve seen a slew of convictions and charges against union leaders who can’t resist the lure of corruption. The laundry list of offenses includes everything from embezzlement and wire fraud to cooking the books and dodging taxes.
Some have been busy stealing union funds, filing phony tax returns, and masterminding multi-million-dollar fraud schemes.
Here are some of the dubious highlights:
Brian Burrows Sentenced
On June 26, 2024, Brian Burrows, the former President of IBEW Local 98 in Philadelphia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of $135,689. Burrows was found guilty in December 2023 of conspiracy to embezzle, embezzlement of union funds, filing false reports, falsifying records, and filing false tax returns. His conviction results from an investigation by multiple federal and state agencies, highlighting the severe consequences of betraying union members’ trust.
Marcus Asay and Antonio Gastelum Convicted
Marcus Asay, founder of the American Labor Alliance (ALA) in California, was found guilty on June 18, 2024, of running a multi-year pension fraud scheme that caused losses over $3 million. On the same day, Antonio Gastelum, a former officer of ALA, was also convicted of a related pension fraud scheme causing $750,000 in losses. These convictions followed extensive investigations by several federal agencies, illustrating the complex and far-reaching nature of such fraudulent activities.
Robert Anthony Mozee’s Guilty Plea
In Alabama, Robert Anthony Mozee, former Treasurer of SMART LU 622 TD, pleaded guilty to theft, which resulted in a probation sentence and an order to pay restitution.
Andra Parker Indicted
In Washington, D.C., Andra Parker, former Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) DOC Labor Committee Chairman, was indicted on June 4, 2024, for wire fraud.
Tyler Brown’s Racketeering Case
Tyler Brown, former Chief of Staff of the International Boilermakers Union, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy on May 23, 2024. This plea follows his earlier charges in May.
Additional Noteworthy Cases
- Donald Byers pleaded guilty to embezzlement and record falsification in Pennsylvania.
- Christen Woods faced multiple charges, including conspiracy and theft, in Pennsylvania.
- Andy Meserve was charged with theft in Kentucky.
- Randal Dunlap pleaded guilty to embezzling $86,000 in union funds in Kansas.
These cases collectively paint a disturbing portrait of certain unions as entities where corruption and retaliation can flourish, unchecked by the principles they supposedly uphold. They also offer insight into why employees should think twice before committing a portion of their hard-earned wages to organizations often tainted by corruption and bad conduct.
