JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND – U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Tuesday that the president and secretary-treasurer of Jersey City-based Local 148 of the Production Workers Union were arrested this morning on charges that they embezzled $375,000 from the union by giving themselves unauthorized salary increases, bonuses, and paid vacations.
Fishman said Stephen P. Arena, 55, of Nesconset, N.Y., and David J. Caivano, 55, of Bloomfield, N.J.,were arrested at their residences by special agents from the Department of Labor–Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations. Both men are charged in a 29-count indictment unsealed today.
The men are charged with giving themselves $300 a week salaries and year-end bonuses.
The maximum potential penalty per defendant per charge is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. – Ricardo Kaulessar