Wasilla man sentenced for embezzling money from a union

WASILLA — A Wasilla man was sentenced to eight months in a federal prison and is required to pay nearly $81,000 in restitution, penalties for embezzling money from a labor union over the course of about five years.

The sentence of Timothy Smith, 49, came on Oct. 19, in Anchorage, about six months after the Wasilla man pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement. Smith, according to court documents, was the treasurer and president of Alaska Chapter 84 of the Association of Civilian Technicians at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Smith held the volunteer positions from 2007 to 2015, and embezzled about $80,000 during that time.

Smith was responsible for managing funds for the association, which includes about 70 dues-paying members, who are Army National Guard civilian technicians throughout the state, according to a release issued the office of the U.S. Attorney.

According to court documents, Smith used the chapter’s bank card to make more than 200 unauthorized cash withdrawals during a four-year span. That total was nearly $60,000. Another 300 unauthorized transactions totaled about $20,000.

The money was used for personal expenses, according to court documents.

Following the eight-month sentence, Smith will also have three years of supervised release.

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