GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Florida Boss Got $100,000 as "Consultant"
Fla. union boss Walter "Buster" Browne,
a target of a two-year federal probe of labor law violations, reportedly
received illegal monthly payments totaling over $100,000 from Hvide Marine,
Inc., during 1993-98. President of the Nat'l Fed'n of Public & Private
Employees, Browne was paid as a "consultant" to Hvide on government issues.
The allegations came June 6 in U.S. Dist. Court in Ft. Lauderdale, where Hvide pled guilty to a single count of making $60,000 in illicit payments to Browne. Under the plea, the company will cooperate with the on-going probe. Prosecutors and failed to prosecute Browne for tax evasion and mail fraud in 1992, but in 1996 he pled guilty in a rigged union election case.
Browne's union represents county detention deputies, school bus drivers and other local public employees. Numerous friends and associates of Browne have received subpoenas from federal investigators looking into union and political corruption in Broward County. Browne told the Sun-Sentinel he expects to be indicted.
Earlier this year prosecutors charged William J. Coleman, the owner of a Port Everglades cargo-handling company, with violations similar to those of Hvide involving Browne. Coleman also pled guilty. [Broward Daily Business, Sun-Sentinel 6/7/00]
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