Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)
Criminal Enforcement Actions 2010

On November 29, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.), was sentenced to two years probation, and she was ordered to make restitution of $3,340. On September 1, 2010, Means-Swanson pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records so that her theft of union funds would go undetected. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On November 3, 2010, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, John McGovern, former Secretary Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, NJ), pled guilty to violations of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and 18 U.S.C. 371. McGovern admitted that he conspired with former Local 190 President Gary Weightman to embezzle between $120,000 and $200,000 in union funds. Weightman, as a result of a plea agreement, has already pled guilty to criminal tax evasion and is awaiting sentencing. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and with the aid of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

On October 6, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Lance Hinerman, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 189 (located in Little Rock, AR), was sentenced to two years probation and a $200 assessment. On July 6, 2010, Hinerman pled guilty to wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343, a Class C Felony. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office and the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

On September 23, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Donald Kister, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 307 (located in Detroit, MI), was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,137.35 between August 2006 and October 2007 and one count of making false statements. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On September 1, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mozelle E. Means-Swanson, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 7139 (located in Aurora, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of willfully failing to maintain union records. On May 6, 2009, Means-Swanson was indicted on one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,900. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On August 18, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Sharron Dixon Haynes, aka Sharron A. Haynes, former election candidate of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 217 (located in Jackson, Miss.), was indicted on three counts of making and causing to be made, and using and causing to be used, a false writing or document in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States Government.. Haynes is alleged to have submitted a false certification of her eligibility for election to Branch 217, which she knew falsely certified that she had not served as a supervisor within two years prior to October 2008, when in fact she had served as a supervisor in May 2008. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.