TRENTON, N.J. - The former secretary-treasurer of a Newark union today admitted embezzling $71,000 from Local 1233 of the International Longshoreman’s Association, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Gregory Taylor, 57, of Edison, N.J., pleaded guilty to Count 26 of an Indictment that charged him with issuing a vacation check for $7,852 to himself without authorization. Taylor also admitted to embezzling an additional $63,148 in union funds while he was in control of the union’s finances. Taylor entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court.
According to documents in this case and statements made in court:
Taylor admitted he had been removed from his elected position as secretary-treasurer in April 2010, yet continued to write himself checks, including a $7,852 vacation check to which he was not entitled. Taylor admitted that between 2007 and 2010, while secretary-treasurer, he embezzled a total of $71,000 by improperly cashing duplicate paychecks, as well as other checks from the union’s operating account, including for unauthorized credit card expenditures.
The charge to which Taylor pleaded carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Panella and detectives and auditors from the Waterfront Commission, under the supervision of Assistant Counsel Michelle Demeri, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by V. Grady O’Malley, Senior Litigation Counsel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
13- 066
Defense counsel: Lorraine Gauli-Rufo Esq., Federal Public Defender’s Office, Trenton
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
