Latest News - July 2010

July 22, 2010
Nursing union leader gets 3 years probation
Source: Anchorage Daily News

The former executive director of an Alaska nursing union who was convicted of embezzlement has been sentenced to three years of probation, according to the U.S. attorney.

Thomas Renkes, 51, was also fined $2,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $22,547 to the Alaska Nurses Association, a union representing about 1,000 Alaska employees, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say Renkes made more than 80 separate unauthorized credit card charges for personal expenses, including paying personal legal bills and for travel for his family. To hide the spending, Renkes submitted fraudulent check requests to the union that contained false and misleading justifications, prosecutors said.

In sentencing Renkes, U.S. District Judge John Sedwick said Renkes had abused a position of trust.