The former president of the American Federation of Railroad Police has entered a plea of guilty to one count of embezzling from the union.

Dennis Chiocchi of Villas, N.J., who served as union president and as secretary-treasurer between 1995 and 1998, admitted Thursday (Feb. 22, 2001) in U.S. District Court in Trenton, N.J., that he converted at least $40,000 of the union�s money to his own use, according to John McGlynn, regional inspector general for investigations with the Labor Department�s Office of Inspector General.

Chiocchi admitted to District Court Judge Garrett Brown that in 1998 he chartered a jet to fly from Long Island to Atlantic City to attend a bachelor party for his nephew, charging the $3,200 fee to the union�s credit card. He said he also put $800 for the party at Caesar�s Hotel on the card, and admitted using union funds to pay for a vehicle, a Florida vacation, and hotel suites in Long Island.

The American Federation of Railroad Police, based in Woodbury, New York, represents about 300 Amtrak police officers throughout the United States.

Sentencing for Chiocchi, 47, is scheduled for June 4 in the Trenton federal court. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000, plus full restitution to the union.

The case was investigated by special agents on the U.S. Labor Department�s Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by V. Grady O�Malley, a senior litigator for the U.S. Attorney�s Office in Newark.