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Union President Lied for $39,049 in Travel Expenses
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–Mark Valerio, 57, of Macedon, N.Y., a former union president, has been sentenced to one year of probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to repay more than $39,000 in restitution to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Valerio, who served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union, Local 249, in Geneva, N.Y., between 2003 and 2012, lied about his travel expenses to both Local 249 and IBEW System Council U-7, a labor organization affiliated with four IBEW locals in matters of collective bargaining and contract negotiations.
During this time, Valerio prepared and submitted false claims for reimbursement, claiming expenses for instances when he was already being compensated by his employer. He recklessly disregarded his obligation to submit true and accurate documentation regarding his expense records.
As a result, Valerio obtained reimbursements in the amount of $39,049 to which he was not entitled. The defendant resigned as the President of Local 249 in 2012 as a result of the federal investigation.
“Today’s sentencing – besides bringing closure to this successful prosecution – means that union members who work so hard for their wages will now be made whole,” said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. “Similar to public officials, union officers have a fiduciary duty to their organization and members, and this Official will certainly not tolerate any breach of that duty.”
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Investigators with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, under the direction of District Director Mark Neylon.
Valerio was convicted of violating the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. He was also barred from holding a leadership role in a labor organization for a period of 13 years. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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