Saturday, December 17, 2011

Miami-Dade former union president arrested on grand theft charges

Posted on Thursday, 12.15.11
By DAVID OVALLE

According to prosecutors, Robert Glover double-dipped by billing two union bank accounts for work trip reimbursements


The former president of one of Miami-Dade’s largest municipal employee union has been arrested on allegations he overbilled the organization’s bank accounts for work trips across Florida.

Robert George Glover, Jr., had been the president of the American Federal, State, County, Municipal Employees Local 199, as well as a member of an AFSCME state board.

Glover surrendered Wednesday and has since posted bail.

According to prosecutors and Miami-Dade police, Glover double dipped by obtaining reimbursements for expenses for six trips from banks accounts from both entities between March 2008 and December 2009. The money comes from union dues paid by members.

In one case, Glover submitted an expense report to the local 199 chapter for a union meeting in Orlando in March 2008. He was paid $405.82.

But Glover later sought, and was paid, $314.50 from the state board account for the same meeting, according to an arrest warrant.

In all, prosecutors say, Glover ripped off more than $2,000. The union conducted a review of his finances and booted him from the organization earlier this year, asking he make repayments.

Glover works for the county’s General Services Administration.

“Robert Glover is a hard-working union leader and county employee. Any errors made in his paperwork were unintentional and have been fully corrected,” said his defense attorney, Ben Kuehne. “He looks forward to continuing his long tenure with Miami-Dade County.”

The AFSCME represents more than a quarter of a million employees in Florida, and some 3,000 in Miami-Dade.

“The union has fully cooperated [with prosecutors] at every step of the way, and while it’s always a disappointment when this happens, ultimately we are prepared to move on and fight for the people we represent,” said AFSCME special counsel Alma Gonzalez.

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