The former president of the ironworkers union, Jake West, has been charged with embezzling more than $50,000 in union funds. Federal prosecutors claim he used this money to cover costs of golf outings, dinner parties, vacations, liquor shipments and other personal expenses. West pleaded not guilty yesterday to embezzlement and other charges in a 49-count indictment.
See "Former Ironworkers President Indicted", Bill Miller, The Washington Post, August 29, 2001