Bureau Of Prisons Employee Who Was Also A Union Official Sentenced For Making False Statements On Documents

DENVER – Aide Spade, age 49, of Evergreen, was recently sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger to 3 years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution of $14,234.18 plus an additional $5,000 fine for making and using a false document knowing it contained fraudulent statements and entries, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) announced. 

Spade was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on June 4, 2014.  She pled guilty before Chief Judge Krieger on October 14, 2014.  She was sentenced on May 11, 2015.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, Spade was the Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 and an employee of the Bureau of Prisons, assigned to the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood.  As Treasurer, Spade was responsible for maintaining all financial records of the union, preparing the union’s annual financial reports, and keeping records of all financial transactions. Spade used her position as treasurer to embezzle over $59,000 that the Union had received in dues payments from its members. Overall, the defendant issued 33 unauthorized cashier’s checks to herself totaling $46.489.18 and made unauthorized cash withdrawals for her own personal use totaling $12,680. She also submitted forms to the U.S. Department of Labor on which she knowingly and willfully underreported the amount of allowances and disbursements the Union paid to her.

Her embezzlement was discovered when, in April 2012, the AFGE Local 709 membership requested financial records from Spade so they could conduct an audit.  Spade delayed, which resulted in AFGE’s National office making an identical request in November of 2012.  She then turned over all the records to the Union President and resigned her post with the union and her position with the Bureau of Prisons.  The records included a folder with copies of checks and withdrawal slips payable to Spade totaling $40,676.86.

On November 18, 2013, agents of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General interviewed Spade. During the interview, it was determined that Spade had embezzled union funds for her own personal use, including car payments, gas, and other expenses.  After resigning, Spade has paid $44,935.00 to the union as restitution for her embezzlement, leaving a total of $14,234.18 as restitution still due and owing.

“Officials who victimize their unions and union members by stealing funds will face felony prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “The consequence in this case is that the defendant is now a felon who had to resign from her union position as well as her career service job.”

“The Office of the Inspector General will continue its efforts to ensure that Department of Justice employees who break the law and fail to act with integrity are held accountable and brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Norman Lau of the DOJ OIG.

“This sentence sends a clear message that there are consequences for union officers who break the trust placed in them to be good stewards of union funds,” said Emily Prosise, Denver-St. Louis District Director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.  “The Department of Labor will continue to protect workers by seeking appropriate punishment of, and restitution from, anyone attempting to use their position for personal financial gain at the expense of union members.”

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.

The defendant was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Burrows and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Edgar.