FIREFIGHTERS
Illinois Boss Settles Embezzlement Suit for $275,000
Ex-Aurora, Ill., firefighter and union boss Patrick
Stiles agreed Apr. 26 to pay $275,000 to two union groups, Aurora Firefighters
Local 99 and the Aurora Firefighters Relief Ass'n, that accused him of
embezzlement. Though Stiles did not admit any wrongdoing, an order entered
by Kane County Circuit Court Judge Michael Colwell stated Stiles "misappropriated
and used for his own purposes" more than $300,000 from Local 99 and $65,000
from the Relief Ass'n. He was secretary-treasurer of the Relief Ass'n from
1995-99 and of Local 99 from 1992 until Jan. 2001.
The order did not state that Stiles denies wrongdoing, but the only aspect of the order to which Stiles reportedly agreed was the $275,000 payment. Colwell denied a motion by Fred Morelli, Jr., Stiles' attorney, to have a prior default judgment set aside so he could contest the suit's allegations. Morelli also failed in his demands that the two groups urge law enforcement not to pursue criminal charges and to state specifically that Stiles denies wrongdoing. The two groups filed the civil suit against Stiles in Feb. 2001, about a week after filing police reports that led to an ongoing criminal probe.
Colwell's order satisfied the objectives of that suit, Local 99 President Gregory Frieders said. "We came to court to get our money back, and that's what this hopefully will do. He used our money for his personal agenda, and we want it back."
Under the order, Stiles' retirement funds held by the Aurora Firefighters Pension Fund Bd. will be paid to Local 99 and the Relief Ass'n. Wade Joyner, attorney for the Relief Ass'n, said those funds now total about $64,000. In earlier court proceedings, a lien was placed on Stiles' home and other assets were frozen. The two groups do not believe Stiles' assets will cover the full amount. Additional hearings will be held to determine if the assets held by Stiles' wife, Tracey, can be used to satisfy the judgment. Stiles also is required by the order to produce federal income-tax returns and other financial documents each year until he pays off the full $275,000. [Chi. Trib. 4/27/01]
Union Corruption Update is made possible by the generous contributions from readers like you. NLPC, P.O. Box 6273, McLean, VA 22106-6273. Thank you.
In addition to the unions and organizations covered in this Union Corruption Update, readers can look forward to news and information on other corrupt and abusive unions in future editions.
All back issues of the Union Corruption Update can be viewed at NLPC's website (www.nlpc.org). Also available is a union-by-union and state-by-state index of all Union Corruption Update articles.
If you have story ideas or suggestions for future editions of Union Corruption Update, please email NLPC at nlpc@nlpc.org. Thank you.
Union Corruption Update is part of NLPC's Organized Labor Accountability Project which is investigating and exposing corruption and extremism in the Teamsters, LIUNA, AFL-CIO and many other union organizations. NLPC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation promoting ethics and accountability in government through research, education and legal action.
Union Corruption Update Article Index (by Union)
Union Corruption Update Article Index (by State)
Organized Labor Accountability Project