EX-FEDERAL CORRECTION OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MAIL FRAUD BY SECRETARY/TREASURER OF UNION FOR FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on September 4, 2009, DON C. PADGETT, age 39, of Granite City, Illinois, was sentenced to serve twenty-one [21] months in federal prison for his conviction of Mail Fraud By Secretary/Treasurer of a Union, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The violation took place between November 20, 2001 and May 23, 2008,in Wayne County, Illinois. PADGETT was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $185,042.89.

The conviction is the result of DON C. PADGETT’s conduct as the Secretary Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1304, where he issued unauthorized checks to himself, made unauthorized purchases on the union’s credit card, falsified information in the union’s financial reports and falsified reports filed with the Department of Labor. AFGE Local 1304's members consist of correctional officers at the Federal Correctional Institution in Greenville, Illinois. DON C. PADGETT misappropriated approximately $185,000 of union funds over a seven year period. The union is funded by union dues by correctional employees of $18 every two weeks.

The investigation of the case was handled by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Norman R. Smith.

If you suspect any union official is misappropriating funds or is involved in any other illegal activity involving a misuse of his/her position you may contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards at (314) 539-2667.