Former Treasurer For Steelworkers Local 635 Charged With Falsifying Records

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the filing of an Information in U.S. District Court in Scranton today charging Bernard C. Nolter, Jr., age 45, of Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, with falsification of financial records.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Nolter was responsible for the financial records of Steelworkers Local 635 during 2010-11 when he falsified those records in order to conceal the fact that he had embezzled approximately $7,047 from the union.

     The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lorna N. Graham.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is one year imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.