A former labor union treasurer was sentenced Monday to five years probation for embezzling about $15,200.
Cedric Earl Hughes, 36, of Los Angeles, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder to repay nearly $15,200 to United Union Professionals at a rate of $250 per month.
Hughes pleaded guilty in September to a federal count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
He admitted that, in 2010, he embezzled the money from the union by writing unauthorized checks to himself, making unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and conducting unauthorized debit-card purchases.
Hughes then used the cash for his personal use, including vacations, limousine service, and an automobile sound system, prosecutors said.
To conceal the fraud, he made false notations on union checks to make it appear as if the checks were reimbursement for legitimate union expenses.
The UUP is also known as Service Employees International Union Local 721, and represents local health care workers.
Hughes was indicted in December 2013 on five counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement following a probe by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.
— City News Service