USW Political Director Sentenced And Fined For Embezzling Union Funds

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Cranberry Township, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months probation and a $2,000 fine on his conviction of union embezzlement, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Charles Rocha, 44.

According to information presented to the court, Rocha, the former Director of the Political Department of the United Steelworkers International Union (USW), engaged in misuse of a USW credit card and falsification of semi-monthly USW voucher entries during the period from January of 2008 until June of 2009.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak stated that Mr. Rocha had a "steep, sharp and successful climb from the floor of a tire plant in Texas to the top" of the USW; that the defendant has recognized the harm that he brought on himself and his family; and that this prosecution against a senior member of one of the largest labor organizations in the world would help ensure that union dues are used only for proper purposes.

Assistant United States Attorney Leo M. Dillon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rocha.