The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that a former union official has been sentenced following its investigation into embezzlement of member funds.
Samantha Zirkle, formerly the treasurer for the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 533, was sentenced to six months of probation for singing and cashing 51 unauthorized checks worth $64,663 from 2022 through 2024.
“Samantha Zirkle’s coworkers trusted her to maintain sound fiscal stewardship of their hard-earned dues but instead she treated the union as her personal piggybank,” said Office of Labor-Management Standards Regional Director Megan Ireland in Cincinnati.
“The Office of Labor-Management Standards will continue to protect unions and their members by holding accountable anyone attempting to use their position for personal financial gain at the expense of union members,” Ireland said.