Steelworkers Union Boss Arnold Sentenced for $33K Theft

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Brian Arnold, 49, of Pine City, NY, won’t be collecting a paycheck from the Steelworkers anytime soon. The former Financial Secretary of Local Union 104M was sentenced today to two years’ probation, including six months of home confinement, for systematically pilfering over $33,000 from the union’s coffers. Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. also ordered Arnold to pay back every penny – $33,224.15 in restitution – to the workers he betrayed.

Arnold, who held the powerful financial post from September 2015 to August 2018, wasn’t just mismanaging funds; he was actively stealing from the approximately 75 members he was sworn to represent at Anchor Glass Container Corporation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire laid out the grim details: Arnold was in charge of *everything* – collecting dues, keeping the books, writing checks, and reporting transparently to the membership. Instead, he treated the union account like his personal ATM.

The scheme ran from April 2016 to August 2018 and involved a trifecta of theft. According to court documents, Arnold brazenly made unauthorized purchases with the union’s debit card, drained the union’s checking account with unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and then compounded the damage by writing himself checks. It was a calculated, sustained effort to line his own pockets at the expense of hardworking families.

This wasn’t some oversight or accounting error; it was deliberate criminal behavior. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) Buffalo Office, spearheaded the investigation, led by District Director Jonathan Russo of the Boston-Buffalo District Office. They dug through the financial records, exposed the discrepancies, and built a case that ultimately led to Arnold’s conviction and sentencing.

While two years of probation and six months of home confinement might seem lenient to some, it’s a clear message that even those entrusted with managing workers’ funds will be held accountable. This case serves as a stark reminder that union leadership comes with a profound responsibility, and those who abuse their positions will face the consequences. The restitution order ensures that the stolen funds are returned, but the damage to trust within the union will take far longer to repair.

Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, (716) 551-3051. This is a developing story. Check Grimy Times for updates.