Buffalo, N.Y.—A shocking tale of corruption has unfolded in the city of Buffalo, New York, as former Union Official Betty Martin, 54, pleaded guilty to bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford on September 21, 2015.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine. Martin, who served as the President of the Transportation Aides of Buffalo Union, also known as ‘TAB,’ a public employees union, comprised of school bus aides employed by the City of Buffalo, stole approximately $61,746 of union funds.
Assisting Martin in this heinous crime was Duane Rush, 44, who served as the Vice President of the union. Together, they accomplished the thefts through the use of an M&T Bank debit card, drawn on the union’s bank account, to pay for personal expenditures; by withdrawing cash from the account for personal use; and by writing checks from the union account to themselves.
TAB’s treasury was funded by dues paid by union members. The plea is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York Regional Office.
The case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in union finances. As the investigation revealed, the union officials took advantage of their positions to line their own pockets with hard-earned union funds. This is a betrayal of trust and a devastating blow to the union members who rely on their leaders to manage their finances responsibly.
The sentencing is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2015, before Judge Wolford. As the court prepares to deliver justice, the people of Buffalo are left to wonder how such corruption could have gone undetected for so long.
Betty Martin, 54, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to bank fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine. Martin stole approximately $61,746 of union funds. She will be sentenced on September 21, 2015, before Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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