Union Official Charged With Embezzlement

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Cranberry Township, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of union embezzlement, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment named Duane Rill, 51, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Rill, a Secretary-Treasurer of the Berry Metal Employees’ Association, an independent union, stole approximately $13,496 from the union by writing and cashing unauthorized union checks and by making an unauthorized cash withdrawals during the period from March 23, 2007 to Nov. 20, 2009.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.