⏱ 2 min read
James Burke, a 56-year-old Kentucky man, has been sentenced to prison for embezzling over $40,000 from a labor union in Huntington, West Virginia. Burke, who served as the financial secretary of the union, issued unauthorized checks and diverted dues for his personal use between July 2022 and October 2023.
The embezzlement scheme involved Burke issuing nine unauthorized or altered checks payable to himself and withholding portions of checks payable to the labor organization as cash. He also diverted six dues checks payable to the labor organization for his personal use, totaling $40,011.46 in stolen funds.
Burke’s sentence includes three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and an order to pay $40,011.46 in restitution to the labor union. The case was investigated by the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price.
The sentencing was imposed by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers, with United States Attorney Moore Capito announcing the outcome. The case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in labor union management.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: West Virginia
- Location: WV
- Source: DOJ Press Release
