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Local 533 union treasurer charged with stealing from 2,000 fellow members
Page Last Updated: Wednesday July 28, 2010 2:17am PDT
News 4 -- Andrew Del Greco
The former treasurer of Local 533 Teamster's Union is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his fellow members.
Local 533 represents about 30 industries. From UPS to Waste Management, there are about 2,000 local members who pay their dues. And now, one of their own, is charged with stealing about $125,000 of their money.
On Tuesday, Mark Tracy made a brief appearance in U.S. District Court. Tracy is charged with embezzlement, filing false financial reports, and destructing financial records.
The U.S. District Attorney's Office nor the Local 533 publicized this story, but I received a news tip, I obtained court documents which state that Tracy allegedly began taking union money from general funds in February 2006 through April 2009. I was the only reporter in court today. Next to me was the current Local 533 president, Frank Thurston. He told me Tracy left the state last year when Thurston and another member noticed inaccuracies within the union's financial records, and reported their suspicions to authorities.
Thurston says it took almost a year to catch Tracy when he was arrested near Orlando, Florida last month.
He is now indicted for embezzlement.
We asked Thurston if there is now mistrust within his union?
"Absolutely, and we're trying to rebuild that trust, myself and the current secretary treasurer," said Thurston. "I'll tell ya, it's a shame this had to happen because it's a black eye for the union and it shouldn't happen."
So what about the $125,000? Thurston says he has secured that amount through a bonding company, so local members will see their money go back into the general fund. And then he says the bonding company plans to go after Tracy to recoup the money.
Page Last Updated: Wednesday July 28, 2010 2:17am PDT
News 4 -- Andrew Del Greco
The former treasurer of Local 533 Teamster's Union is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his fellow members.
Local 533 represents about 30 industries. From UPS to Waste Management, there are about 2,000 local members who pay their dues. And now, one of their own, is charged with stealing about $125,000 of their money.
On Tuesday, Mark Tracy made a brief appearance in U.S. District Court. Tracy is charged with embezzlement, filing false financial reports, and destructing financial records.
The U.S. District Attorney's Office nor the Local 533 publicized this story, but I received a news tip, I obtained court documents which state that Tracy allegedly began taking union money from general funds in February 2006 through April 2009. I was the only reporter in court today. Next to me was the current Local 533 president, Frank Thurston. He told me Tracy left the state last year when Thurston and another member noticed inaccuracies within the union's financial records, and reported their suspicions to authorities.
Thurston says it took almost a year to catch Tracy when he was arrested near Orlando, Florida last month.
He is now indicted for embezzlement.
We asked Thurston if there is now mistrust within his union?
"Absolutely, and we're trying to rebuild that trust, myself and the current secretary treasurer," said Thurston. "I'll tell ya, it's a shame this had to happen because it's a black eye for the union and it shouldn't happen."
So what about the $125,000? Thurston says he has secured that amount through a bonding company, so local members will see their money go back into the general fund. And then he says the bonding company plans to go after Tracy to recoup the money.
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