John Francis Songer Charged With $50,000 Union Fund Theft

Orlando, FL – In a stunning revelation of white-collar crime, former apprenticeship coordinator John Francis Songer (44, DeBary) has been charged with eight felony counts of theft from the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 15’s fund.

United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced the unsealing of an indictment against Songer, who faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each count if convicted.

The indictment alleges that over nearly six years, Songer, while serving as the Apprenticeship Administrator and Coordinator of the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee and Trust Fund, misused a credit card belonging to the fund. He is accused of unauthorized charges totaling more than $50,000, which were personally incurred for adult entertainment, dining at restaurants, and gambling. Additionally, he amassed travel-related expenses that the fund was not responsible for covering.

According to the DOJ USAO, this crime does not constitute a conviction; instead, it is merely a formal charge of violation of federal criminal laws. Songer is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation into these charges was led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), with support from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg is prosecuting this case.