Michael Townsend, Bribery and Conspiracy, Michigan 2008
Former Teamsters Official Charged with Bribery in Michigan
A former business agent and trustee of Teamsters Local 337, Michael Townsend, has been indicted on bribery and conspiracy charges in connection with a scheme to prevent the unionization of employees at LaGrasso Brothers Produce, Inc., a Detroit-based produce company.
According to the indictment, from April 2003 through August 2008, Townsend conspired with others to create a front company, Sam LaGrasso Produce Company, to pose as employees of the company and enroll them as union members of Teamsters Local 337. In exchange for his actions, Townsend took bribes in the form of cash payments from LaGrasso Brothers Produce, Inc.
Townsend, 68, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
The case was investigated by agents and officers of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.
It is the latest development in a long-running investigation into corruption within the Teamsters union. In 2013, Sam LaGrasso Produce, Inc. pleaded guilty to making and agreeing to make prohibited payments to a labor official and faces a fine of up to $12,600,000.
Michael Townsend is currently awaiting trial and has not entered a plea. An indictment is only a charge and it is the government's responsibility to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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