Union Boss Doan Gets a Year for $200K Heist

KENT, OH – Terry Doan, 61, of Deerfield, Ohio, is trading his pension for prison stripes after being sentenced to one year behind bars for pilfering nearly $200,000 from the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 84. The former financial secretary/treasurer pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an employee benefit plan, and now he’s paying the price.

Court documents reveal Doan, one of six trustees overseeing the union’s training fund, systematically siphoned off $195,147 between 2012 and 2017. The scheme wasn’t some fly-by-night operation; Doan cleverly manipulated the system by removing the requirement for two trustee signatures on checks – a safeguard meant to prevent exactly this kind of abuse. Once that barrier was down, the floodgates opened.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman didn’t mince words, stating, “This defendant betrayed the trust of the men and women in the union and is being held accountable for his actions.” It’s a cold comfort to the workers whose benefits were compromised, but accountability is a start. Doan will also be forced to repay the stolen funds, ordered to pay $195,147 in restitution.

The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) took a dim view of Doan’s actions. Regional Director Joe Rivers, based in Cincinnati, emphasized the damage done: “Criminal acts like this directly impact participants in employee benefit plans by compromising their hard-earning benefits and eroding confidence in those chosen to manage their trust.” The EBSA, along with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation that brought Doan to justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bennett skillfully prosecuted the case, piecing together the evidence that exposed Doan’s years-long scheme. The investigation highlighted the vulnerability of employee benefit plans to internal theft, and serves as a warning to anyone tempted to line their pockets at the expense of hardworking union members.

Doan’s case is a stark reminder that even those entrusted with managing funds for others aren’t above the law. While a year in prison and a hefty restitution order won’t fully undo the damage, it sends a clear message: stealing from workers won’t be tolerated. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of public corruption.