United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to addressing financial abuse and embezzlement within labor organizations. In this case, Forbes abused his fiduciary duties and squandered the funds of his fellow union members for his own personal benefit.”
“Labor union officials occupy positions of trust, and have a duty to manage the funds and property of the union solely for the benefit of the union and its members,” said Takiia L. Anderson, U.S. DOL-OLMS District Director. “The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards is committed to protecting union members from internal financial abuses and ensuring that labor unions maintain high fiduciary standards.”
Forbes was sentenced to 8 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $35,952.57. Forbes was convicted of these charges on August 28, 2012, upon his plea of guilty to embezzlement of funds from a labor organization.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Forbes was the secretary-treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 1129, from 2005 through 2010. As the secretary-treasurer, Forbes was issued a credit card that was to be used for authorized union purchases only. Forbes was prohibited from making personal purchases on his Local 1129 credit card, but he used it 285 times to make unauthorized purchases and withdrawals. In addition, Forbes spent money on personal items, including several computers, using Local 1129 funds. Forbes also wrote unauthorized salary checks to himself from Local 1129's bank account, using a forged signature, and he submitted false fuel and travel claims for reimbursement. Forbes’ theft totaled over $60,000.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Assistant United States Attorney Shanya J. Dingle prosecuted the case.
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