Ex-Detroit Fire Union Official Accused Of Stealing Union Funds

Detroit MI

28 September, 2021

9:43 AM

Description

DETROIT — A former Detroit Fire Department Union Treasurer is accused of stealing over $220,000 in union funds, Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin said. Verdine Day, 62, has been charged with bank fraud and wire fraud. She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge and up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge. "This prosecution demonstrates that we will not tolerate union officers who abuse their authority and line their own pockets at the expense of the union's membership." Mohsin said. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corruption and fraud involving unions." Live in Detroit? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. During her four years as treasurer, Day wrote checks in her name and used the fire department's credit cards for her own personal use, according to a news release. Day fraudulently obtained approximately $167,900 of union funds by issuing checks in her name and then changing the name of the payee in the Union's Quickbooks software, cashing checks that were voided by her in Quickbooks and writing checks made payable to cash, according to a news release. In addition, Day charged approximately $52,143.65 in personal expenses that included flights, hotel rooms, cruises, car insurance premiums, satellite and cable TV service, national and state parks fees and furniture, according to a news release. Day was hired by the fire department in 1986, where she worked as a firefighter, an engineer as well as other positions in the union before she was elected by her peers to treasurer in November 2015. She retired from the position in 2019.