An Iowa man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly embezzling more than $45,000 over a three-year span. The defendant is the former president of the United Dairy Workers of Le Mars, the organization from which he stands accused of embezzling the funds. Embezzlement, a class B felony, can carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison if a conviction is ultimately secured.
According to reports, the man’s recent arrest was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department Office of Labor-Management Standards. Documents from a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa allege that the embezzlement occurred between 2012 and June 9, 2015. An arrest warrant was executed by federal marshals on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
After his arrest, the man was booked into a local jail. The following day, he pleaded not guilty in federal court regarding charges of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets. The United Dairy Workers of Le Mars union represents workers at Wells Enterprises, which is the largest U.S. family-owned ice cream manufacturer. With 2,500 employees, Wells Enterprises produces 150 million gallons of annually.
Iowa individuals who are facing charges for embezzlement or other white collar crimes cannot afford to take the allegations lightly. Anyone facing such accusations is doubtlessly feeling scared and overwhelmed, perhaps even confused about the complexity of the law and the charges of which they have been accused. Such individuals may wish to begin by finding a criminal defense lawyer willing to fight zealously on their behalf and prepare a strong defense to present in court.
Source: dailycaller.com, “United Dairy Workers President Indicted For Stealing $45,000“, Ted Goodman, April 2, 2017