Union Financial Secretary in Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $143k in Union Funds

Louisiana – The Financial Secretary of a Union in Louisiana has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $143,000 in Union funds.

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Brian Gerald, age 51, a resident of Franklinton, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 24, 2023, to a one-count indictment for embezzling assets of a local labor union in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 501(c) before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk.

Gerald was the Finance Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 13-189, according to court records. Gerald was in charge of arranging Local 13-189’s financial records, keeping track of its earnings, and filing IRS forms and reports. Gerald was also in charge of keeping Local 13-189’s debit card in a safe location. Gerald used the union’s debit card to make 493 ATM cash withdrawals totaling $107,387.90 in cash and fees between January 2015 and September 2020. Gerald also used the union’s debit card to make personal account payments totaling $36,589.41. Gerald stole a total of $143,977.31 in union monies.

Gerald faces up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment cost of $100.

U.S. Attorney Evans applauded the Department of Labor’s investigation into this matter. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit and Troy Bell of the General Crimes Unit.