Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Corpus Christi resident has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a local labor union, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Robert Cirilo, a former president of the United Steelworkers Local 13-1647 in Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization.
Cirilo admitted he made approximately 430 unauthorized transactions from union accounts for personal purchases. He also concealed those transactions by lying to union members. As part of his plea, he acknowledged the embezzlement totaled over more than $280,000.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Aug. 12. At that time, Cirilo faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for wire fraud and up to five years and a possible $10,000 fine on the embezzlement count.
The FBI and Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and John Marck are prosecuting the case.