Former union treasurer admits to embezzling $30K

A former treasurer of the union representing employees at the Vienna Correctional Center pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of embezzling about $30,000 from the union.

Jeffrey Magelitz, 44, of Chester, pleaded guilty in federal court to a two-count indictment that charged him with embezzlement and theft from a labor union and for filing a false report with the U.S. Department of Labor, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Magelitz was the former treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 415 in Vienna from January 2012 to June 2013.

He embezzled funds by writing unauthorized checks to himself and to vendors for expenses not related to union business. Also, he forged the signature of the local’s president and vice president on the checks, in part, to conceal his embezzlement, according to court records.

Magelitz also submitted a false annual report which contained the forged signature of the president and falsely reported the amount of money that he received during the year, according to the news release.

Magelitz faces a prison sentence of up to six years and a fine of up to $350,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Former union treasurer admits to embezzling $30K."