
Two former Florida teachers union leaders face up to 20 years in prison each for allegedly embezzling over $2 million from their own members.
At a Glance
- Terrie Brady and Ruby George, former leaders of Duval Teachers United, indicted on fraud charges
- Accused of stealing over $2.6 million through fraudulent vacation payouts
- Both face up to 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud
- Brady faces additional money laundering charges with 10 years per count
- Scandal raises questions about union financial oversight and transparency
Union Leaders Betrayed Their Members
In a shocking case of greed and corruption, Terrie Brady and Ruby George, once respected leaders of Duval Teachers United in Jacksonville, Florida, have been indicted on serious charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. The duo, who led the union for 24 years, allegedly conspired to steal over $1.2 million each from their own members through a scheme involving unearned leave time.
The indictment, which seeks forfeiture of at least $2,600,235.99 in alleged fraud proceeds, paints a damning picture of financial mismanagement and deceit. Brady, who faces additional charges of money laundering, is accused of using the ill-gotten gains to pay off personal credit card debt. This blatant abuse of power and trust is a slap in the face to hardworking teachers who faithfully paid their union dues, believing their interests were being protected.
A Pattern of Union Corruption
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) faced similar charges of fraud and embezzlement involving top officials. In that case, over $2 million in union funds were misappropriated, with officials indulging in expensive personal purchases including jewels, furs, and designer clothing. This pattern of union corruption raises serious questions about the oversight and accountability of these organizations that claim to represent educators’ interests.
The similarities between these cases are striking and point to a systemic problem within teachers’ unions. Both involved top officials, both saw millions of dollars stolen, and both managed to continue for years before being exposed. This raises serious concerns about the financial controls and oversight mechanisms in place within these organizations.
The Hypocrisy of Union Leadership
Adding insult to injury, Brady had previously criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for proposing financial transparency requirements for unions. In light of the current charges, her statement now drips with irony and hypocrisy:
“We think we’re pretty transparent in the work that we do” Brady
This statement, made while allegedly engaged in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme, demonstrates the urgent need for the very transparency measures Brady opposed. Governor DeSantis’s push for accountability now seems not only justified but prescient:
“Having partisan groups basically get special privileges for deductions and all these other stuff, you know, that doesn’t work and so, I think this will be a huge, huge boon for transparency and efficiency in our school system” DeSantis
The Need for Reform and Accountability
This scandal underscores the critical need for increased scrutiny and reform within teachers’ unions. The Duval Teachers United, which represents about 13,000 teachers and school employees and generates approximately $5 million in annual revenue, clearly failed in its duty to protect its members’ interests. The fact that this alleged fraud continued for nearly a decade before being uncovered is a damning indictment of the union’s internal controls and oversight mechanisms.
As the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation delve deeper into this case, it’s clear that significant changes are needed to prevent such abuses in the future. Increased financial transparency, stricter oversight, and more robust accountability measures must be implemented to ensure that union funds are used for their intended purpose – supporting and advocating for teachers, not lining the pockets of corrupt officials.
The indictment of Brady and George serves as a wake-up call for all teachers’ unions across the country. It’s time for these organizations to clean house, implement stringent financial controls, and rebuild the trust they’ve shattered. Only then can they truly claim to represent the interests of the hardworking educators they’re meant to serve.