Related Federal Cases
- Cole & Simpson Indicted for Mail Fraud, Extortion, Money Laundering · Georgia
- Miami Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft & ID Fraud · Florida
- Miami Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to $5.3M HIV Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Miami Clinic Owners Face Guilty Pleas in $5.3M Medicare Fraud Scam · Alabama
- Miami Clinic Execs Guilty in $5.3M Medicare Fraud Scam · Florida
Teachers Union President Sentenced for Mail Fraud
A former president of the Broward Teachers Union has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for mail fraud. Patrick Santeramo, 68, of Stuart, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Judge William J. Zloch on April 22, 2016.
Santeramo, who previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, was also ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release, upon his release from prison. He must also pay a $4,000 fine and was required to pay restitution in the amount of $93,800.
According to the factual proffer, in support of the defendant’s plea, Santeramo worked full-time for, and was the president of, the Broward Teachers Union (BTU) from 2001 to 2011. During this time, he used the union’s Accountability Program funds for personal gain.
The collective bargaining agreement between the BTU and the Broward County School Board required that the school board provide funding for the Accountability Program, which was designed to support and enrich the professionalism of Broward County public school teachers through training, release time, and guest speakers. However, Santeramo prepared letters stating that the union had used the money from the previous year to defray the costs of having one of the employees released from regular school employment to support the Accountability Program.
Santeramo furthered this fraud by using the mail to request the disbursement of these funds to the union and to deceive the school board. He received monthly payments totaling $34,500 from the Accountability Program funds, which he used for his own benefit. The three other BTU employees also received unauthorized monthly payments, totaling $59,300.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of DOL-OIG, which led to the conviction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry C. Wallace, Jr. and Miesha Shonta Darrough.
The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions. The Broward County School Board and the Broward Teachers Union must now work to rebuild trust with their employees and the community.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
