Attia Little, Embezzlement, District of Columbia 2022

WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, a former union officer pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal more than $500,000 from the labor organization, using the money for personal expenses.

Attia Little, 43, of Temple Hills, Maryland, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy and one count of theft from a labor organization.

The crime was committed between November 2015 and October 2017, during which time Little used her access to a work-issued credit card and travel booking platforms to embezzle approximately $503,600 from SEIU. In total, she kept approximately $460,900 in SEIU funds for herself, and her co-defendant, Melba Norris, kept approximately $42,700.

The investigation revealed that Little used the SEIU credit card to purchase personal items, including purchases for a baby, personal parties hosted at her residence, personal travel, furniture, watches, clothing, and video games. She also used the credit card to purchase gift cards for personal use.

Little’s co-defendant, Melba Norris, 36, of Powder Springs, Georgia, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to charges of conspiracy and theft from a labor organization. She is to be sentenced on October 7, 2022.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and Mark Wheeler, District Director, Washington District Office, Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Under federal sentencing, Little faces a likely range of 30 to 37 months in prison and potential financial penalties. The plea agreement calls for Little to pay restitution.

The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability within labor organizations. The guilty plea serves as a reminder that embezzlement and theft will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Little is to be sentenced on November 4, 2022, by the Honorable Amit P. Mehta.

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