Hudson Valley Union V.P. Accused of Bribery

A Vice President Of a Teamster's labor union is accused of receiving tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments.

Last Thursday, an indictment unsealed in Southern District of New York Court charged John Ulrich, 48, of Newburgh, former VP of a Teamsters Union and Trustee to Union’s Health Fund, with soliciting tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments from an executive with the Plan’s Third Party Administrator (TPA-1) in exchange for using his influence to ensure the Union’s continued retention of TPA-1 as its Plan administrator.

“As alleged, John Ulrich abused his position as the vice president of a labor union and trustee for its health plan by selling his influence to the Union’s health care administrator. As part of this alleged scheme, Ulrich betrayed the trust of the Union members who elected him in order to line his pockets with bribe money. This Office is committed to prosecuting those who abuse their positions of trust for their own financial benefit," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a press release.

According to the indictment, Ulrich was a member and officer of the Union and a trustee of the health care plan. In 2013, Ulrich was experiencing financial difficulties and solicited bribe payments to use his influence to make sure the union continued using the health care plan.

"Instead of advocating for the best possible benefit programs for the union members he represented, Ulrich allegedly entered into a quid-pro-quo arrangement that served to advance his needs and the needs of the Plan’s third-party administrator," FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeny Jr. said. "In his official role, he was charged with protecting the interests of his fellow union employees, but as we allege today, this trustee couldn’t be trusted.”

Ulrich was charged with four counts with conspiracy to solicit and receive bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, soliciting and receiving bribe payments to influence the operation of an employee benefit plan, conspiracy to commit honest services health care fraud and honest services health care fraud.