Former Union President Pleads Guilty to Failure to Maintain Records

         ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Mark Valerio, 57, of Macedon, N.Y., pleaded guilty to violating a provision of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act before U.S. Magistrate Jonathan W. Feldman. The defendant faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge also carries a thirteen year prohibition from holding a leadership role in a labor organization.  

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who handled the case, stated that between 2003 and 2012, the defendant was President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union, Local 249, in Geneva, N.Y. As Local 249 President, Valerio also held a position as an officer on the executive board of IBEW System Council U-7, a labor organization affiliated with four IBEW locals in matters of collective bargaining and contract negotiations. 

During this time, the defendant prepared and submitted duplicate claims for reimbursement of travel expenses to both Local 249 and IBEW System Council U-7. Valerio also claimed reimbursement from the unions for instances when he was already being compensated by his employer. The defendant knew that he had an obligation to submit true and accurate documentation regarding his expense records and that he recklessly disregarded that obligation.

As a result, Valerio obtained reimbursements from the IBEW in the amount of $39,049 to which he was not entitled. The defendant resigned as the President of Local 249 in 2012.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Investigators with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, under the direction of Acting District Director Mark Neylon.