Tea Woman Sentenced for Labor Union Embezzlement

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Tea, South Dakota, woman charged with Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union Assets was sentenced on August 1, 2011, by Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier. Terri Dunkelberger, age 53, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution exceeding $11,000.

Dunkelberger was indicted for Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union Assets by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2010. Dunkelberger has been a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1356 since 1997. The ATU Local 1356 is a labor organization representing Sioux Falls Transit (or Sioux Area Metro) employees. In 2004, Dunkelberger was elected financial secretary of the Local 1356. While in that position, she embezzled funds belonging to the union. She pled guilty to the charge on April 21, 2011.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.