Criminal Enforcement Actions Against Postal Union Officials

NALC: On September 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of embezzlement in the amount of $14,081.51. Wyda was then sentenced to two years probation, a substance abuse evaluation, and was ordered to pay a $250 fine, a $100 special assessment, and restitution in the amount $316.51 for remaining funds owed. Additionally, the court ordered that Wyda is prohibited from incurring any credit card charges until all payments are received by the court. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

Mail Handlers: On August 31, 2011, 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, Mich.), was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Kister previously made restitution in the amount of $4,137.35. On March 14, 2011, Kister pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the same amount between August 2006 and October 2007. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Grand Rapids Resident Investigator Office.

APWU: On August 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Bobby Harrison, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 979 (located in Gainesville, Ga.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $21,737.11. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Office and the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.

APWU: On August 16, 2011, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, a complaint was filed against Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), charging her with felony theft of $1,240, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

APWU: On August 4, 2011, in the 187th District Court for Bexar County, Texas, Eddie De Hoyos, former District Vice President for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Texas State Association (located in McAllen, Tex.), was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and a probation period of five years. De Hoyos was also ordered to pay an administrative fee of $60 per month, each month, court costs/fine of $1,793, restitution of $15,761.21, and a crime stoppers fee of $50. De Hoyos is to serve a term of imprisonment in the Bexar County Jail for 180 days, or until restitution is paid in full. The order of deferred adjudication follows an investigation by the OLMS Houston Resident Investigator Office.

NALC: On July 13, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, Wanda Jackson, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 4065 (located in Plano, Tex.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $41,246.95, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

NALC: On June 21, 2011, in the United Stated District Court, District of Kansas, Lanny Pauley, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1412 (located in Garden City, Kans.), was indicted on 23 counts of embezzlement for embezzling $6,515, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Kansas City Resident Office. More on this charge released September 12, 2011:  WICHITA, KAN. – A former secretary/treasurer of the Letter Carriers Branch 1412 in Garden City pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $20,000 from the union. Lanny F. Pauley, 67, Garden City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a labor organization officer. In his plea he admitted that from 2002 to 2007 he embezzled $20,325 from the union by writing checks to himself or misusing the union credit card. Sentencing is set for Nov. 28. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Department of Labor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation or charge based on a finding by a Grand Jury that it is likely that the person charged committed the criminal offense described in the indictment and is the means by which an accused person (defendant) is brought to trial. An indictment raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

An information is a formal accusation of a crime by a government attorney rather than a Grand Jury. An information raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A charge is an accusation of criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each count is a separate and distinct offense charged in an indictment or information.

A guilty plea is a defendant’s admission to the court that he or she committed the offense charged and an agreement to waive the right to a trial.

A conviction is a judgment based on a jury’s verdict, judge’s finding, or the defendant’s admission that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.

A sentence is a judicial determination of the punishment to be imposed on an individual who has plead guilty or has been convicted by a jury or judge of a criminal offense.

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