Ex-union officer sentenced for embezzling $145,675

The East Liverpool woman pleaded guilty and was convicted earlier this year.

Staff report

CLEVELAND — The former secretary-treasurer of a Poland-based labor organization has been sentenced to a year of electronically monitored home confinement and four years’ probation for embezzling union funds.

Betty Illig, 64, of East Liverpool, former secretary-treasurer of the Graphic Communications Tri-State District Joint Council and the union’s Local 638-S, Poland, also was ordered to pay restitution for embezzling $145,675 in union funds. Illig also was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service as a result of the conviction.

Illig had been indicted for falsification of records and embezzlement after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards’ Cleveland District office, and the department’s Office of Inspector General.

Illig had pleaded guilty to and was convicted of the charges earlier this year. She was sentenced last week.

Vindicator files show that Illig’s indictment alleges that she embezzled $145,675 for her own use from the labor unions and made false statements in reports and documents required to be filed with the Secretary of Labor, and falsely represented that the president of the labor organizations had approved the payments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roberts in Cleveland.

OLMS is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for administering most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The agency’s criminal enforcement program includes investigations of embezzlement from labor organizations and other violations related to unions.