A former union official for the Jersey City Medical Center and her daughter have been charged with embezzling over $40,000 from the group’s checking and savings account, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Linda Rogers, 71, and her daughter, Jennifer Rogers, 38, both of Jersey City, were indicted by a federal grand jury with one count each of conspiracy to embezzle and embezzlement, Carpenito said in a statement.
They allegedly embezzled $40,455 from Local 2254 of the American Federal State County and Municipal Amalgamated Transit Workers Union (AFSCME).
The defendants made their initial appearances today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson and were released on bond. They will be arraigned on August 19th via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler.
Linda Rogers was formerly employed at the Jersey City Medical Center as a medical clerk. During this time, she also held a part-time position at Local 2254 as its secretary treasurer.
She had sole control over the union’s checkbook and savings account.
From July 2016 through August 2017, she and her daughter, also a former employee at the hospital, deposited 112 unauthorized checks from the Local 2254’s checkbook to their joint checking and savings accounts, totaling $35,267.
Additionally, from October 2016 through December 2016, Linda Rogers made six telephonic wire transfers from the Local 2254’s savings account, totaling $5,188, into her personal credit card account.
None of the expenditures were authorized or for legitimate union purposes and the total loss to AFSCME Local 2254 was $40,455, authorities said.
The counts of conspiracy to embezzle and embezzlement each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
