LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Ex-Fire Captain Gets 5 Years for Siphoning Union Funds
A former Los Angeles County Fire Department captain was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for siphoning more than $125,000 from the Firefighters Union over five years.
Ronald J. Creath, 55, of Big Bear Lake used the money to maintain “an extravagant lifestyle,†said Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Wenke.
Wenke said the 33-year firefighter served as treasurer of Firefighters Union Local 1014. He retired from the department after the charges came to light.
The prosecutor said Creath used union funds to pay off his personal credit cards each month, and charged personal items on the union credit card.
During trial, Creath claimed that he put an extraordinary number of hours into union work and felt he was inadequately compensated.
Other union officials denied that Creath worked an unusual amount of time, Wenke said.
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