Former Union Leader Sentenced for Theft of Union Funds

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph R. Grygorcewicz , 63, of Amherst, N.Y., who was convicted of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, was sentenced to three years probation by Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who handled the case, stated that
while working as the elected Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1566, a union which represents railroad workers in the transportation industry, Grygorcewicz embezzled $39,989.72 in union funds. As Secretary-Treasurer, Grygorcewicz had check writing authority and access to the checking account of Local 1566. The defendant wrote checks to himself and forged the signature of the president of the union to illegally obtain the money. Of the amount that Grygorcewicz embezzled, $14,020.94 was paid back to the union before the crime was discovered.

            The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of investigators from the United States Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, under the direction of Joseph Wasik, District Director of the Buffalo District Office.