A New York woman who served as the president of the union representing U.S. Department of Homeland Security workers in Vermont and New York is facing a criminal charge for allegedly embezzling from that union, resulting in a $36,000 “out-of-pocket” loss.
Leticia Russi-Shareno is set to plead guilty to a single felony count of wire fraud next month in federal court in Burlington, where the case was filed against her this week, according to court paperwork.
The charge carries a possible maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. However, under the terms of a plea deal, federal prosecutors agreed to seek a sentence at the low range of the federal sentencing guidelines, provided certain conditions are met.
A guideline range for Russi-Shareno in this case is expected to be completed ahead of her sentencing hearing. The federal guidelines are advisory, though judges often take them into consideration in sentencing.
Russi-Shareno will also be required to make full restitution of the $36,000, the plea agreement stated.
The charging document stated that between August 2019 and December 2020, Russi-Sharenon, who lived in the Buffalo, New York area, served as president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2076.
That union represented employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who worked in Vermont and upstate New York and it had a bank account at the Vermont Federal Credit Union in Vermont, according to the document.
In her role as president, the filing stated, Russi-Shareno had check signing authority on that bank account and also had a debit card that allowed her to make purchases.
“As part of the embezzlement, Russi-Shareno made many ATM withdrawals from the VFCU account and used those moneys for her personal benefit,” according to the charging document.
“She also used her Local 2076 debit card to purchase goods and services for her own benefit.”
Also, the filing stated, she cashed checks intended for the union into a personal bank account and used the proceeds for her own benefit.
To cover up the embezzlement, the filing stated, Russi-Shareno falsified expense reports and records.
The “Russi-Shareno scheme caused Local 2076 to suffer an out-of-pocket loss of approximately $36,000,” according to the charging document.
Mark Kaplan, a Burlington attorney representing Russi-Shareno, could not immediately be reached Thursday for comment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont, through a spokesperson, declined comment Thursday on the case.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Ex-head of union for Homeland Security workers in Vermont to admit embezzling from the organization.