Former Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Gladstone Firefighters Union

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former treasurer of the Gladstone, Mo., firefighters union pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $26,000 from the union.

Charles E. Duddy, 58, of Platte City, Mo., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to an information that charges him with the embezzlement and theft of union funds.

Duddy was the treasurer of the Gladstone Firefighters IAFF Union Local 3228 from 2012 through April 2016. In his capacity as treasurer, Duddy had access to Local 3228’s debit card and was authorized to use the debit card only for Local 3228’s expenses.

By pleading guilty today, Duddy admitted that he used Local 3228’s bank account to make $26,479 in personal expenditures, including expenditures for the payment of his property taxes, title loans, groceries and dining.

Duddy has paid $10,000 in restitution to Local 3228 for the stolen funds. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Duddy must pay a money judgment for the remaining balance of $16,479.

Under federal statutes, Duddy is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the FBI.