United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

Former American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Union President Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Cynthia Wright, former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 1298, and an employee at the Federal Medical Center, Bureau of Prisons, in Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced this morning in federal court in Fort Worth. The Honorable Terry R. Means, United States District Judge, sentenced Wright, age 45, to 24 months imprisonment and ordered her to pay approximately $32,000 in restitution to her victims, including the Fort Worth Federal Medical Center, Bureau of Prisons and the AFGE. In October, Wright pled guilty to a one-count indictment that charged her with making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

According to documents filed in court, Wright admitted that while she served as president of the AFGE she charged personal expenses to the Union’s American Express credit card, paid her government issued credit card with Union funds, and wrote numerous checks from the Union’s checking account to herself. Wright also admitted that she charged personal items to the Union, such as items from Home Depot, Victoria’s Secret, Wherehouse Music, and other vendors which did not benefit the Union in any manner and that were not associated with the Union’s business. She also admitted that she submitted travel vouchers for reimbursement of travel expenses and certified that she had not received payment or credit, when she had actually previously charged the Union’s American Express card for those costs.

U.S. Attorney Roper said, “I commend Judge Means’ tough sentence imposed today on Ms. Wright. She was placed in a position of trust, and her corrupt, self-serving actions cannot and will not be tolerated.” Roper continued, “I commend the Department of Labor - Office of Labor - Management Standards and the Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General for taking strong and appropriate action upon learning of Wright’s corrupt deeds.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wolfe.

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