Harry Keil Press Release (Sentencing)

October 29, 2009
For Immediate Release

FORMER PENSION BENEFIT MANAGER SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

St. Louis, MO: Harry Keil was sentenced to 27 months in prison on federal charges of embezzling money from a union pension and health and welfare plans which he served as the plan manager, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

Keil was hired in August 2006 by the Trustees of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 9 as the Administrative Manager of the pension and health and welfare funds. The Plans’ offices are located on St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri. According to documents filed with the court, Keil caused a series of payments to be made from the pension plan and the health and welfare plans based on false invoices which he created. In some instances, he supported the illegal payments with invoices which bore the names of entities which did legitimate business with the plans and, as a result the false invoices appeared to be valid. Some of the payments were made to his personal bank accounts and loans. Keil admitted with his plea that between August 2006 and August 31, 2008, he embezzled $341,000 from the Plans.

Daniel R. Petrole, Acting Inspector General, United States Department of Labor, stated, "Theft of union-sponsored pension, health and welfare fund assets jeopardizes the retirement security and health benefits of its members. This indictment reaffirms my agency’s commitment to investigate this type of crime. We will continue to work cooperatively with the Department of Justice and the Employee Benefits Security Administration to protect the pensions and health and welfare benefits of union members."

HARRY KEIL, St. Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty in May to one felony count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and one felony count of mail fraud. He appeared this morning for sentencing before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton, who also ordered that Keil pay $341,000 in restitution to the District 9 funds.

Reap commended the work performed on the case by the Department of Labor-Office of Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Crowe, Jr., Charles Birmingham and Julie Wright who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI MICHAEL W. REAP Acting United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
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October 29, 2009 For Immediate Release FORMER PENSION BENEFIT MANAGER SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT St. Louis, MO: Harry Keil was sentenced to 27 months in prison on federal charges of embezzling money from a union pension and health and welfare plans which he served as the plan manager, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today. Keil was hired in August 2006 by the Trustees of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 9 as the Administrative Manager of the pension and health and welfare funds. The Plans’ offices are located on St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri. According to documents filed with the court, Keil caused a series of payments to be made from the pension plan and the health and welfare plans based on false invoices which he created. In some instances, he supported the illegal payments with invoices which bore the names of entities which did legitimate business with the plans and, as a result the false invoices appeared to be valid. Some of the payments were made to his personal bank accounts and loans. Keil admitted with his plea that between August 2006 and August 31, 2008, he embezzled $341,000 from the Plans. Daniel R. Petrole, Acting Inspector General, United States Department of Labor, stated, "Theft of union-sponsored pension, health and welfare fund assets jeopardizes the retirement security and health benefits of its members. This indictment reaffirms my agency’s commitment to investigate this type of crime. We will continue to work cooperatively with the Department of Justice and the Employee Benefits Security Administration to protect the pensions and health and welfare benefits of union members." HARRY KEIL, St. Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty in May to one felony count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and one felony count of mail fraud. He appeared this morning for sentencing before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton, who also ordered that Keil pay $341,000 in restitution to the District 9 funds. Reap commended the work performed on the case by the Department of Labor-Office of Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Crowe, Jr., Charles Birmingham and Julie Wright who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.