NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARK DOUGLAS, age 72, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on Sept. 17, 2019 to a one-count bill of information for embezzlement of union funds before the Honorable Greg G. Guidry, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2019.
According to court documents, between Nov. 11, 2011 and Jan. 17, 2015, DOUGLAS acted as President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1101. DOUGLAS was responsible for the local’s grievances with the Domino Sugar Company and running the day to day operations of the union.
Union officers were permitted to file “lost time" claims to be reimbursed for conducting union business. Lost time is generally taken for arbitrations, attorney visits, accountant visits, or negotiations with Domino Sugar Company. During his time as President, DOUGLAS filed fraudulent “lost time" claims with the union, totaling approximately $6,280.91.
DOUGLAS faces 5 years of imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the U.S Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Supervisor, General Crimes.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
