United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

POSTAL UNION SECRETARY-TREASURER
INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT OF UNION FUNDS

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on August 15, 2007, against Bridgett Cardall Hooks, a 35-year-old Enterprise, Alabama, resident and a former postal union Secretary-Treasurer, Leura G. Canary, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, announced today.

The indictment charges that Hooks, while acting as the Secretary-Treasurer of the American Postal Workers Union, Local 332 in Dothan, Alabama, embezzled money belonging to Local 332. According to the indictment, Hooks accomplished this (1) by writing herself unauthorized and improper checks drawn on the labor organization’s checking account, and (2) by conducting unauthorized and improper purchases and withdrawals with her union debit card. In total, the indictment alleges that Hooks embezzled approximately $10,820.17 of Local 332's funds.

This indictment was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. Hooks was arrested yesterday morning without incident with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Hooks appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Terry F. Moorer and was released on bond pending trial.

Hooks’s trial is currently set to begin on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mark E. Fuller. If convicted, Hooks could receive up to five years incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher A. Snyder will prosecute the case.


Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.