AZLE, TX – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has sentenced a former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 620 in Azle for embezzlement after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.

On Jan. 29, 2021, the court sentenced Edward C. Davis, Jr. to 6 months incarceration and 3 years supervised release. Davis must also pay $61,386 in restitution.

OLMS opened an investigation after an internal union audit that revealed, from 2016 through 2019, Davis wrote approximately 86 checks to himself totaling the amount of the restitution. BLET Division 620 represents about 130 locomotive engineers employed by the Union Pacific Railroad in Fort Worth.

“The U.S. Department of Labor will continue to protect unions and their members by seeking punishment of, and restitution from, anyone we find who abused their position for personal financial gain at the expense of union members,” said Office of Labor-Management Standards District Director Michelle Hussar in Dallas. “Our investigation and the court’s action send clear signals that consequences exist for individuals who illegally divert, and breach their trust as good stewards of union funds.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson of the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted the case.

OLMS administers and enforces provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. The LMRDA promotes union democracy and financial integrity in private sector labor unions, and transparency for labor unions and their officials, employers and others. Report union fraud such as embezzlement, filing false reports, maintaining false records, destroying or concealing records and other criminal activity by email to OLMS-Public@dol.gov to the OLMS National Office at 202-693-0143, or to your local OLMS field office.

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