Railroad Union Bribe Caught by FBI Videotape

UTU Bribe on tape read theUTU prez's plea: http://www.utu.org/worksite/houston/boyd_plea.pdf

Racketeering charges "unfounded," says Boyd

Byron A. Boyd, Jr., international president of the 125,000-member United Transportation Union, branded as "unfounded" allegations in a federal indictment charging him with racketeering. "I have every intention to pursue this matter to a final and full conclusion that completely exonerates me," said Boyd in a statement on Sept. 15.

In Houston, Tex., on the same day, U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby announced that an indictment was returned on Sept. 12 charging Boyd and three current or former UTU officers with "racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and commercial bribery." The others mentioned in the indictment were Charles Little, former UTU president, of Leander, Tex.; John Russell Rookard, of Olalla, Wash., special assistant to President Boyd; and Ralph John Dennis of Boone, Iowa, who was director of insurance for the UTU Insurance Association before resigning from the union in July.

The indictment alleges that "the defendants devised and executed a scheme to defraud and to deprive the membership of the UTU of their honest services by soliciting and receiving over $477,000 in cash from various attorneys . . . performing services for the union membership as designated legal counsel."

http://www.railwayage.com/brnewspro/arc8-2003.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• UTU
• Birbe
• undercover
• Racketeering
• Byron A. Boyd
• Byron Boyd
• President
• Charles Little
• John Russell Rookard
• Ralph John Dennis
• corruption