Posted on 01/31/2004 5:37:33 AM PST by summer
January 30, 2004
Teachers Union Chief Sentenced in Scandal
By BRIAN WESTLEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) - The former president of the Washington Teachers' Union was sentenced Friday to more than nine years in prison for a scam in which she embezzled millions of dollars in union dues.
The judge sentenced Barbara A. Bullock, 65, on charges of conspiracy and mail fraud in a case that prosecutors described as "nothing short of brazen greed."
U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon also ordered Bullock upon her release to spend three years in a halfway house and to perform 3,000 hours of community service. She also must repay $4.6 million to the union and turn over luxury items - including artwork, fur coats, and electronics - purchased with the stolen union funds.
Bullock pleaded guilty last fall.
Appearing solemn before the judge Friday, Bullock asked his forgiveness.
"I stand before you a broken and changed person," she said. "When I think about what happened - and I've had a year to do it - I would change things."
Prosecutors said the illegal activity took place over more than six years, after Bullock became the union's president in 1994. During that time, the attorneys said, Bullock siphoned money from the union to make a number of lavish purchases. The haul included $100,000 in season tickets to games of the NFL Washington Redskins and the NBA Washington Wizards.
The scam was first discovered in July 2002 during an audit by the union's parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers. The scandal didn't become public until late 2003 when the FBI seized a number of luxury items from the homes of several former union officials.
Two of those officials were indicted by a federal grand jury in November on charges they conspired to steal millions of dollars in union funds. Three other people have pleaded guilty to lesser charges, including Bullock's former chauffeur.
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underlying all this moral superiority is the notion that nothing is really bad or wrong. as long as you are a liberal, you can't really do anything WRONG, nor would you ever really MEAN to hurt anyone, because your HEART is in the right place.
a crook is a crook.
You are absolutely right! In all my years, living in the DC area, I have never heard a newscaster or a radio reporter blame any of the local government's failures on the fact that democrats are in charge of everything. People just shrug their shoulders and elect more democrats.
Items Seized From Barbara Bullock's Home
288 piece Tiffany Silverware Trotter 535 treadmill William Tolliver artwork, semi-nude female Five William Yeoward Glasses 13 William Yeoward Glasses, One William Yeoward bowl Mink hat, no identifying marks Baccarat vase with spiral steps on side Crystal punch bowl Two bronze candelabras Onkyo 6-disc CD changer, model DX-C540, with remote Onkyo receiver, model TX-8410, with remote Business cards, receipts for return to Nordstorm's of St. John Washington Teachers' Union credit card for Office Depot Three fur coats: 1) Rosendorf Evans, 2) Sitka, 3) Miller's furs mahogany bomber Royal crown derby English bone china set Four Fendi handbags Two Judith Lieber handbags; two Kielstein Cord handbags One Gucci, two Dolce Gabena, one Bally, one Ferragamo, one Kielstein Cord handbag(s) Two Saint Louis wine glasses William Yeoman crystal: Six wine glasses with grape pattern William Yeoman crystal "Bowl with Plate" Two serving spoons; set of four hotel silver napkin rings Two Chanel handbags Three Fendi, one Louis Vuitton, one Dolce, two Kielstein handbags One Kleinberg & Sherrill, one Escala, one Kate Spade, one Bally handbag Large serving plate Serving Bowl Herend brand serving plate Herend brand bowl with top St. John's collection clothing Herend brand vase Twelve fishbone Herend plates Red folder containing WTU correspondence, two blue folders with WTU membership info Photographs including paintings, sculptures, six place settings Four Yves Delorme bath towels and three wash cloths Copy of lease from 1974 for 1221 Massachusetts #1021 Two Nordstrom scarves St. John's collection clothing Eleven boxes of shoes: Three Bruno Magli, Eight Salvatore Ferragamo Myong Lim clothing and one Eskandar article Large butterfly pin Box of St. John clothing Tiffany white pearl necklace Myong Lim clothing Saint Louis goblets (two) in a box William Yeoward - six glasses in a box Dolce & Gabbana handbag 18K gold elephant pin 9mm white baroque pearl necklace and 8 1/2 mm gray baroque necklace, both from tiny jewel box Labradorite necklace Myong Lim clothing Fax transmitted to WTU containing a resume Jeweled Christmas tree broach from Neiman Marcus Chanel scarf St. John collection clothing outfit Two Sun Trust bank registers Myong Lim & St. John's clothing Box - Myong Lim & St. John's clothing Seven pair Salvatore Ferragamo and two pair Bruno Magli shoes One Fendi handbag Buccellati silver smiths anti-tarnish bag Silver and gold Tiffany ring Chanel earrings One St. John, one Nordstrom, two Amalfi, two Via Spiga, two Bruno Magli, two Salvatore Ferragamo pairs of shoes Ramee Art - African art - watercolor of two ladies Eight English plates with green border, flower in the middle Silver Tiffany ring Chanel necklace Flower table settings Herend vase Four egg-shaped table settings Tolliver print Two small leaf-shaped plates, Herend brand Herend bowl Herend brand salad dish Five William Yeoward brand flute glasses Tree-shaped Herend brand bowl Six Herend tea cups Herend brand large serving plate Gray Herend bowl Eight small Herend plates Herend brand teapot with lid Six tea plates Ten Herend plates Check book duplicates Check book Duplicates Bank statements and check book duplicates Two Donald Pilner, one Stuart Weitzman, one Bruno Magli, seven Salvatore Ferragamo pairs of shoes William Yeoward glasses Tax returns, receipts, invoices Herend brand serving plate/bowl set Six Herend brand plates Notes and list of contributions Silver Tiffany watch William Yeoward glassware Three St. Louis wine glasses Tax documents Nine wigs Check book duplicates and receipt Chanel handbag Apartment notice of rent increase Tax documentation Sun Trust bank account statements Invoices and receipts Two boxes Chanel designer handbags Four Chanel handbags One Chanel handbag Day planner Joseph Holston Jr. "Function at the Junction," Ramee Art Gallery Six William Yeoman Plates Shoes bearing Nordsrom price tags Painting from Ramee Art Gallery, log #034, "Child Playing Guitar" Notepad with AFT notes, transaction information, Sun Trust deposit receipt Receipt from William Tolliver's Art Gallery & certificate of authenticity 2001 W-2, SSA correspondence, North Carolina deed of trust, Receipts, TWU Constitution and by-laws Two brown wigs Herend brand large serving dish in Neiman Marcus box Joseph Holston Jr. "The Art Show," Ramee Art Gallery Bose subwoofer Four Bose speakers Myong Lim clothing Herend red elephant Herend green rabbit Herend blue ducks Herend green fruit dish Palm Vx Three pairs of shoes: one Sperry, one Bruno Magli, one Stuart Weitzman Mayor Anthony Williams stamp Receipt from Nordstrom; price tag from Neiman Marcus One double Barrel shotgun
Items Seized From Gwen Hemphill's Home
Phone numbers, notebook with references to investigation, postal receipt Orchard Bank Master Card receipt, loan application, Home Depot receipt Bank statements, credit card receipts Onkyo CD changer, cassette player and receiver Burlwood writing desk Business cards, credit cards and receipts Low tag list (veh. Ownership), fax with Erika Bullock's Clark name, Charles Schwab statements, phone list, list of contributors RCA warranty, Pentagon Federal Credit Union loan correspondence desk pad folder with Business Inc., sales receipts, disks, fax journal and documents Articles of incorporation of GLT, Inc., corporate records book of GLT, Inc. Verizon bill - WTU, misc. business cards box of misc. receipts notebook full of Charles Schwab account information Louis Vuitton handbag WTU related documents, bills, invoices (FedEX, Bell Atlantic, etc.) receipts, business cards, memo regarding WTU Staff Retirement Plan, WTU mailing list, advertising book: Louis Vuitton Tolliver Artwork - "Picking Cotton" misc. business cards, phone numbers, check duplicates, receipts, misc. William Tolliver Painting - "Sunday Service" Three bronze candle holders, labeled "a teleflower gift" Large silver candle holder from Restoration Hardwood videotape labeled "My Alaskan Vacation 2001" various receipts Tombolini Wool Suit Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Nassau Buggy" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Just the Two of Us" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Bus Stop" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Symphonic Strings" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Night Dreamin'" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Rythmic Blues" receipts, invoices (including receipts for electronic items seized in item 35) Onkyo receiver Sony Hi-Fi VCR Plus, Onkyo Dual Cassette player (refer to receipts in item 33) LARGE plasma flat screen Panasonic TV, connecting bracket, 4 screws and washers Herend Brand China Two Rolodex card files Two more Rolodex card files WTU phone lists, vendor phone list, misc. statements and bills fur coat business cards Ramee Art Gallery documentation IRS correspondence, misc. statements, receipts, Burbach catalog, notebook with phone numbers, appraisal for fur coat and diamond bracelet, WTU Staff Retirement plan Two Bose speakers on stands Bose speakers Electronic organizer various check registers, address book, invoices, receipts, bills, Western Union receipt, $2000 donation receipt, request for credit report, Charles Schwab statements, WTU Roster, various bank statements from AB, Capitol One Large Bose speaker Mobe Pearl earrings Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Ladies Holding Plates" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery, "Sheer Essence II" Laptop computer and case misc. receipts, canceled checks, receipt/appraisal for fur coat, paychecks, appointment book for 2001, misc. notes with phone numbers AT&T telephone bill, unsigned WTU check to Verizon Wireless in the amount of $5795.83 Business cards and receipts Notepad containing misc. WTU information Misc. receipts, paycheck stubs, misc. bank/checking account information address/phone list and roster Three Dooney and Bourke purses Two Chanel purses, 1 Louis Vuitton purse Misc. credit card statements, WTU statements, bank statements, Employee W2 statement 22 INCH Mikhail Darafeev barstool with padded seat 22 INCH Mikhail Darafeev barstool with padded seat 22 INCH Mikhail Darafeev barstool with padded seat 22 INCH Mikhail Darafeev barstool with padded seat Four two-piece St. John Ladies Suits Four more two-piece St. John Ladies Suits Three more two-piece St. John Ladies Suits Mink fur hat Onkyo 6 CD changer 1 St. John Ladies 3 piece suit, 3 single pieces WTU check to FedEX WTU correspondence, day planner registration, sales invoice, repair invoices checkbooks, receipts, invoices, bills two Bose speakers on stands misc. records, bank records, canceled checks, tax docs, SS statements, WTU payroll journals WTU mail, containing bills, invoices, payroll statements, etc. Painting - William Tolliver "Woman with Wine Glass" vehicle repair documents, notebook with phone numbers bank records, receipts WTU credit card statements, Ramee Gallery invoices receipts for Teachers Union, bills, notebook with names and telephone numbers receipts Versace leather belt Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery - Ballerina Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery - Ballerina bending over Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery - "The 3 R's" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery - "Concentration" Artwork - Ramee Art Gallery envelope with writing on it, including references to "Amalgamated" receipts, statements, WTU correspondence, check stubs, WTU bank statements, vouchers, bag of receipts Bank statements, credit cards, receipts, business cards receipts and bank statements investment receipts, contact list resignation letter, bank statement bank records shredded paper from shredder basket Computer CPU, keyboard Flatscreen computer monitor, cords Computer printer Onkyo DVD player (see receipt) Artwork, Ramee Art Gallery Denon audio/video receiver JVC DVD Player Panasonic VCR JVC remote control Panasonic remote control Three remote controls to items seized from entertainment center Large pearl necklace, Continental Jeweler's case Bank Records Receipts, canceled checks, bank statements receipts, invoices, name/phone lists Accordion file with receipts, including receipts for Teachers' Union media equipment Dress - Yolana Loreme Four Bose speakers AMEX summary of accounts strand of pearls, white remote control for plasma screen TV and bolts Safe deposit box keys, box 1592 American Express corporate credit card (WTU)
Bullock (l) and Hemphill
I wonder if this would have ever been uncovered if the parent union was the NEA?
(To men, that is.)
Everyone would change things after getting caught.
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