AFL-CIO
Wisconsin Gambler Accused of $40,000 Embezzlement
H. Jeannine Selvaag, bookkeeper for the S. Cent. (Wis.) Fed'n of Labor,
was charged May 22 with embezzling almost $40,000 from the union federation.
She stole the money from SCFL bank accounts in 1998-99, including proceeds
from the SCFL's Labor Day picnic, according to the criminal complaint.
She told Madison police that she used much of the money for gambling, drinking,
and house payments. Selvaag, who worked for SCFL for about 30 years, will
make an initial appearance in Dane County Circuit Court on June 4. SCFL
is an umbrella group for 75 Wis. unions.
James Cavanaugh, SCFL president, told police that the shortages came to light in Dec. 1999 after it was found that some of SCFL's bills had not been paid. He confronted Selvaag three times and each time, she assured him she would take care of them. Cavanaugh and SCFL's treasurer then found an apparent pattern of missing funds. He then spoke to Selvaag again on Dec. 28, 1999, when she allegedly admitted to taking less than $4,000 over the preceding months. She was then fired.
A Madison accounting firm found $39,254 missing from three SCFL accounts. Much of the money taken consisted of checks cashed with Selvaag's hand-written endorsement. Some was also taken as cash at the time funds were deposited. Selvaag told police that she took the 1999 Labor Day picnic cash, put it in her freezer, and used most of it for gambling. She said that in 1998-99 she gambled several days a week and drank heavily. [Wis. State J. 5/23/01]
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