Juneau Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Theft of Labor Union Funds

Anchorage, Alaska- A Juneau man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage for embezzlement of labor union assets.

United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that Jonathan H. Smith, 42, of Juneau, Alaska, was charged in a one-count indictment that between April 16, 2007 and May 8, 2012, while acting as a Financial Secretary employee and officer of LU 2247, did embezzle and unlawfully convert to his use money, funds, property and other assets of LU 2247 totaling approximately $40,000.00.

The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Leslie C. Longenbaugh on June 19, 2014, and was ordered released with conditions pending trial.  Trial is currently scheduled for August 24, 2014.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt, Smith faces a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for the embezzlement of labor union funds. The actual sentence of the defendant will depend on the actual circumstances of the case and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The case was investigated by special agents of Department of Labor.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.