Former ATU Local President Charged With Embezzlement
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ A resident of Latrobe, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of embezzlement and theft of union funds, and submitting fraudulent records, in violation of federal labor‑management laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The two‑count indictment named Donald Kotouch, 51, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, between 2005 until 2009, Kotouch, as president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1738, embezzled approximately $18,806.27 in union funds for items such as office rent, membership expenses, and other undocumented or unauthorized expenses which served no union benefit.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of six years in prison, a fine of $20,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Investigators from the United States Department of Labor conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
