Man gets nine months for stealing $278K from Hanover union [Maryland Gazette (MD)]

A Frederick man was sentenced to nine months in jail Tuesday for stealing more than $278,000 from a Hanover-based union pension fund.

Mario Enrique Meyers, 36, was trying to support his family, two children from previous relationships and a habit of overspending when he stole from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades pension fund, defense attorney Christopher Flohr said Tuesday.

The union, with a headquarters on Parkway Drive, represents more than 160,000 people working in industries ranging from commercial and industrial painting, drywall finishing and glazing, to floor covering and sign and trade-show convention displays.

Meyers had authority to initiate payments and wire transfers on behalf of the union pension fund while working for the union. He stole at least $151,078 through wire transfers and another $127,489 through forged checks between January 2011 and November 2012, Assistant State's Attorney G. Arthur Robbins said.

All transfers and checks were made payable to accounts under Meyers' control.

Investigators are still trying to determine if any more money was stolen.

Meyers apologized to the court on Tuesday, saying he was ashamed of his actions. He didn't know how much money he had stolen.

"Through therapy, I've realized my life was spiraling out of control," he said.

Flohr asked the judge to consider house arrest for Meyers. He has a wife and two children depending on him, along with child-support payments for two other children.

Meyers had no prior criminal history and has been working at a car dealership in Frederick since he was fired from the IUPAT in November 2012.

But Judge Paul Hackner said jail time was appropriate, given the consequences of stealing from employees' pension funds. The money has yet to be reimbursed by the union's insurance company, Robbins said.

"When you steal over a quarter-million dollars, it is quite logical to expect, for the court and in the community, for you to go to jail for some time," Hackner said. "I don't have any doubt Mr. Meyers is an otherwise decent chap. I don't have any doubt he's going to do better in the future, but that doesn't make what he did go away."

Hackner sentenced Meyers to seven years, suspending all but nine months, plus five years of probation.

Meyers also must pay $278,576 in restitution. About $30,100 from Meyers' 401K will go to the union's pension fund as part of that restitution payment.

Robbins said Meyers' theft has caused a "continuing ripple" within the union, which has been making a concerted effort to make its pension fund transparent. Other employees had unknowingly been a part of Meyers' scheme, he said.

Meyers acknowledged that fact when speaking to the judge.

"All these people I called my friends have suffered for the actions I have taken," Meyers said.

A union attorney declined to comment after the hearing Tuesday.

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