Three LAFD Union Leaders Suspended after Suspected Mishandling of $800,000 in Funds
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The union representing Los Angeles City firefighters was placed in emergency conservatorship Monday after an audit uncovered what its umbrella organization called misuse of union funds by top leaders.
According to a letter released by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the organization had voted to suspend United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) President Freddy Escobar, along with former Secretary Adam Walker and former Treasurer Domingo Albarran Jr. The letter accused the men of violating their fiduciary duties and failing to account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending.
'The leadership of UFLAC has abdicated its fiduciary responsibilities and placed Local 112 in ill repute,' wrote IAFF General President Edward Kelly. 'The financial malpractice by the leadership of UFLAC has dealt serious harm to the membership.'
According to the IAFF, a six-year audit of UFLAC's finances revealed widespread financial misconduct totaling more than $800,000. Escobar alone allegedly made 1,372 credit card transactions amounting to $230,465.67 without providing receipts or documentation. Even after receiving warnings in 2024, he continued to charge union cards, with totals racking up $71,671.44 across 339 undocumented transactions.
Walker and Albarran Jr. collectively spent over $530,000 using union credit cards with little to no supporting documentation. 'The auditors could not ascertain the purpose of these transactions,' Kelly wrote.
In response to the audit, IAFF has appointed a conservator to seize control of UFLAC's accounts. 'This conservatorship is necessary to restore responsible financial stewardship,' the letter said.
Escobar disputed the findings in an Instagram post.
View the original article to see embedded media.
'These false allegations are disgusting and politically motivated by those who want to attack the union and me personally,' he wrote. 'I have nothing to hide and I have always worked for the benefit of our membership for the greater good.'
The audit's findings follow a series of reports on questionable overtime payments to Escobar and other UFLAC officials.
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