Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
James T. Callahan, the General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, has pleaded guilty to filing false annual reports with the U.S. Department of Labor. These reports, known as LM-30s, are legally required to be accurate and complete.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia.
Callahan appeared before Judge Ana C. Reyes in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where his guilty plea was accepted. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, with Judge Reyes considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Operating Engineers union represents nearly 400,000 heavy machinery operators across construction and industrial sites in the United States and Canada. Callahan has been serving as General President since 2011 at their headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In his guilty plea, Callahan admitted to omitting from LM-30 reports his receipt of goods and services from an advertising firm used by him and the Union for placing ads. Between 2015 and 2023, he received free tickets worth at least $315,000 to nearly 100 sports events, concerts, theater performances, and associated hospitality packages from this firm without authorization from the Union’s Executive Board or disclosure on LM-30 forms.
As part of his plea agreement, Callahan will repay $315,000 to the Operating Engineers for these tickets and resign immediately as General President.
The case is being investigated by both the Office of Labor Management Standards and Office of Inspector General within the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Kelly and Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo are prosecuting this case.
