GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Washington Boss Accused of Stealing $6,000
Tacoma police arrested ex-union boss Sharon K. Kocha Oct. 5 on charges
that she embezzled nearly $6,000 from the Tacoma Food Service Union, a
local chapter of the Public School Employees of Wash. In Jun. 1999, an
audit by the union reportedly found that she embezzled at least $5,818
from TFSU. Kocha allegedly took the money by writing 27 checks to herself,
her personal creditors and for cash from Jun. 1998 to Apr. 1999. TFSU reportedly
determined none of the checks were for reimbursements.
When union bosses confronted Kocha, she said she would refund the money. A police report said that after Kocha said she would put money into TFSU's account, $3,000 was deposited on Jun. 9. Bosses assumed the deposit was made by Kocha, but there was no documentation that she did. When she was confronted again, she said she thought she only owed "another $700." TFSU pursued criminal charges after members asked them to do so in a vote on Sep. 9. Kocha pled not guilty Oct. 6 and was released on $10,000 bail. [News Trib. 10/8/99]
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