FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: April 3, 2003
Nancy G. Herrera
Executive Assistant United States Attorney
Phone: 713/567-9301 Fax: 713/718-3415
or
Kesha Handy
Phone: 713/567-9335 Fax: 713/718-3390
E-Mail: usatty.txs@usdoj.gov
CONTACT AUSA: Edward Gallagher
PHONE: (713) 567-9343
(HOUSTON, TX) United States Attorney Michael Shelby announced the return of a superseding indictment today charging Neil Francis Babineaux, 50, Katy, Texas, with obstruction of justice and making false declarations to a federal grand jury relating to testimony he provided to a federal grand jury in October 2001. Babineaux, formerly employed by the United Transportation Union in Cleveland Ohio, denied soliciting and accepting cash contributions from designated legal counsel and others seeking to be designated counsel for the United Transportation Union before and after the July1995 election of Charles Little as international president of the United Transportation Union. Babineaux is charged with obstructing the grand jury�s investigation into these payments and with making false statements to the grand jury. He will soon appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcia Crone who will set conditions of release pending trial to be scheduled before U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas.
Babineaux faces up to ten years imprisonment and $250,000 fine for obstructing justice and up to five years imprisonment and $250,000 fine for making false declaration to a grand jury.
Investigation of other former and current officers of the United Transportation Union continues and is being handled by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Labor, and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Gallagher and Richard Hanes.