WCNYH
FORMER INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S UNION OFFICER
ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT
Date: September 15, 2011
NEWARK, N.J. – The former secretary treasurer of Longshoremen’s Local 1233 in
Newark has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 in union funds for his
personal use, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Gregory “Ronnie” Taylor, 56, of Edison, N.J., was arrested this morning at his residence
by special agents of the Department of Labor and detectives of the Waterfront Commission of
New York Harbor on a criminal Complaint charging him with one count of embezzlement.
Taylor is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp this afternoon in
Newark federal court.
According to the Complaint unsealed today:
From January 2005 until his termination in May 2010, Taylor was the secretary treasurer
and chief financial officer of Local 1233 of the International Longshoremen’s Association. He
is charged with embezzling over $100,000 in union funds for personal purposes, authorizing the
issuance of $62,700 in unauthorized salary payments to himself; $13,650 in improper “petty
cash” disbursements; and approximately $25,000 in credit and debit card disbursements for
personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, airport fees and car rentals. Taylor allegedly
traveled to Colombia, South America and the Ivory Coast of Africa at the union’s expense. He
also improperly took hundreds of gift cards – purchased for distribution to his members during
the Thanksgiving holidays – which were redeemed at ShopRite stores near his residence using
his personal ShopRite Price Plus Card.
If convicted of the embezzlement charge, Taylor faces a maximum potential penalty of
five years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Department of Labor’s Office of
Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of
Special Agent in Charge Robert L. Panella; detectives of the Waterfront Commission of New
York Harbor, under the leadership of New Jersey Commissioner Jan Gilhooly; and special agents
of the Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, under the leadership of
District Director, Ralph Gerchak. The investigation is continuing.
The government is represented by V. Grady O’Malley, Senior Litigation Counsel of the
U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime\Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the
defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
--------------------------------
Download Press Release: 
