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NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announces that Matthew Cuomo, age 55, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced on April 21, 2021 to three (3) years of probation following his previous guilty plea to Forge1y, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 513, before the Honorable Judge Lance M. Africk.

Cuomo was the fo1mer president of a local labor union for employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and worked at multiple airports in Louisiana and Mississippi. An audit in 2017 revealed that union funds were missing, and a subsequent investigation revealed that Cuomo forged checks from the union’s bank account and used union funds for personal expenses. Cuomo forged approximately 50 checks, resulting in a loss of $15,000 to the local union. As part of his sentence, the defendant must make restitution of $15,000 to the local union.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Labor and the Transportation Security Administration for their investigation in this case.

“While the vast majority of union officers and employees do their· work diligently and without incident, unfortunately civil and criminal violations do sometimes occur and, when they do, the union is the victim. The U.S. Department of Labor will continue to protect unions and their· member s by seeking appropriate punishment of, and restitution from, anyone attempting to use their· position for personal financial gain at the expense of union members,” said Office of Labor­ Management Standards Supervisory Investigator Tara Thibodaux in New Orleans, Louisiana. “This sentence and restitution order sends a clear message that there are consequences for individuals who breach the trust placed in them to be good stewards of union funds. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the financial integrity of labor unions.”

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier.