DOJ Press Release – August 8, 2019
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former secretary-treasurer of a U.S. Postal Workers Union today admitted embezzling $34,500 of union funds, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Robert Peter, 58, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of embezzling funds from the operating account of the Local 526 Postal Workers Union. Local 526 represents approximately 900 members who work in the clerk, maintenance, and motor vehicle crafts for the U.S. Postal Service in southern New Jersey.

Between May 1, 2018, and June 13, 2018, Peter issued eight checks to himself, totaling $22,500, by fraudulently utilizing the union president’s “signature stamp” to authorize the disbursement of members’ money. He also withdrew, without proper authorization, $12,000 in cash from the union’s account through ATM machines in Atlantic City.

The count of embezzlement carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited the special agents of the Office of Labor Management Standards from the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office, under the direction of District Director Kevin Kennedy, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

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.

Defense counsel: Christopher O’Malley Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Camden

Source: USAO-NJ | Department of Justice