BATH, Maine (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Maine man has been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of embezzling more than $280,000 for a machinists union.
Prosecutors say 34-year-old Ryan Jones of Bath is charged with embezzling the money from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge S6. They say Jones was an officer in the union at the time.
Jones faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers declined to comment, but said it will likely have a statement later on Thursday. A phone call and email to Jones were not immediately returned.
The Machinists Union on S6 released the following statement Thursday:
“The IAM Grand Lodge discovered the missing funds that are involved in this case and promptly conducted an internal investigation in accordance with our union’s constitution and the law. The union found that the former officer misappropriated these funds and barred him from holding union office. The union then on its own initiative informed the Department of Labor of this theft and turned over all documents to the DOL, which resulted in this indictment. The IAM investigation concluded that no other current or past officers were involved in the loss.
“The union has filed a claim with its bonding company and expects full restitution to be paid back to the members of IAM Local S6. The IAM has and will continue to cooperate with authorities.”
-Machinists Union on S6