James Rose, Local 372 grievance representative and son-in-law of the local's indicted ex-boss, Charles Hughes, pled guilty to grand larceny and conspiracy charges on Sep. 21 for his role in a scam to steal $670,000 by billing personal expenses to union credit cards. He admitted to embezzling $3,000, but court records indicate that the embezzlement was much larger. He also admitted that he, with three other indicted bosses, used the credit cards for personal purposes, "including, but not limited to, charging for sporting events, clothing, airline tickets, dinners and visits to topless clubs." The terms of the deal were not released.
Daniel Rivera, ex-president of AFSCME Local 1503, pled guilty Sep. 23 to a scam in which a local restaurant, Gee Whiz, allegedly paid kickbacks in return for union catering business. He will get no jail time under the plea; no other terms were released. [Newsday 9/25/99]
Lola McBryde, ex-president of Local 1597, pled guilty Sep. 27 to second-degree grand larceny in the theft of $6,500 through inflated food invoices for 1993 union march on Washington. McBryde was also accused of stealing $110,000. The indictment alleged that she kept the difference between the real cost of holiday gift turkeys and what the union was billed. Another charge alleged that Ms. McBryde stole $16,000 over two years by overpaying a travel agency for trips, and refunding the money to herself. McBryde faced 15 years in prison but will receive no more than nine years as part of the deal. Her sentencing is Nov. 18. [N.Y. Times 9/28/99]
Francine Autovino, ex-president of Local 384, pled guilty Oct. 6 to embezzling from the local. In Mar., Morgenthau indicted Autovino and said she and treasurer Connie Lango, had embezzled over $240,000. They allegedly stole the money by writing unauthorized checks to themselves, by submitting invoices for fake expenses and by billing their own and their relatives' vacation expenses to the local. Lango previously pled guilty and will be sentenced Nov. 16. Autovino will not go to jail under the plea, but she will be sentenced to five years probation and only $25,000 in restitution. She will be sentenced Nov. 29. She ran the local for 20 years. [N.Y. Times 10/7/99]
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