Tag Archives: embezzlement

A Small Sliver Of Our Budget Problems

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This is basically the equivalent of someone stealing the change from your loose change jar, but it is still indicative of the lack of accountability in our government.

On May 4th, Just the News reported the following:

A former State Department senior budget analyst embezzled more than $650,000 from the agency over a two-year time period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. said.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, pled guilty to embezzling the money between March 2022 and April 2024 while working in the department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol.

“She issued 60 checks payable to herself and three checks payable to another individual with whom she had a personal relationship. She printed and signed each check and then deposited all 63 checks, which totaled $657,347.50, into her personal checking and savings accounts,” the Justice Department said in a news release.

It is disturbing that she seemingly made no effort to hide her crime–that is pretty blatant embezzlement. Even though it was over a two-year period, that amount of money flowing out to a personal account should have been noticed. Do routine audits happen in government agencies? If they don’t, they should. This dishonesty should have easily been picked up by a good auditor.

Unfortunately I Don’t Think This Is An Isolated Incident

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Just the News is reporting today that Dennis Williams, the former president of the United Auto Workers, has been charged with conspiring to embezzle money from the union for personal luxury items and travel expenses.

The article reports:

Williams, who was charged Thursday, becomes the 15th person accused of corruption in a years-long investigation into the union.

Williams, 67, served as the union’s president from 2014-2018, during which time he used union money to fund private villas in Palm Springs, top-grade cigars, golfing attire and course fees, as well as luxury dinners.

The article concludes:

Matthew Schneider, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, called the case “disheartening.” He said it is the largest investigation of its kind into the misdeeds of a labor union. Schneider says he does not want the federal government to seek or gain control of the U.A.W., but that “all options are on the table.”

U.A.W.’s current union president, Rory Gamble, said in a statement, “Today’s development is a sad day for U.A.W. members.”

“Any violation of Mr. Williams’s oath of office and his responsibility to oversee our members and their sacred dues money should rightfully face criminal penalty,” continued Gamble.

Schneider said the current union leadership has been cooperative and has made positive changes that have assisted his office in the investigation.

Unfortunately, too many union members have no idea where their union dues are going. Much of the money paid as union dues goes to supporting candidates that the members of the union may not support. It is truly time to reevaluate the role of unions in our society. There was a time when they were sorely needed. This may be a time when they have gotten out of control.