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The boss of the Los Angeles firefighters union has suspended allegations of financial misconduct, he said Friday that there are receipts and other documents countering the charges that led to actions by the National Fire Department.
A strong union representing firefighters at the LA City Fire Department was placed in the reserve Monday by the National Umbrella Association. The Umbrella Association has announced to firefighters that the forensic audit revealed a massive misuse of union funding by union leaders. The International Firefighters Association also said it voted to suspend UFLAC President Freddie Escobar and two other union leaders.
At a press conference Friday morning, Escobar said he plans to send receipts and other documents to the national coalition leaders for review. Escobar displayed a stack of papers and thumb drives saying that he showed how much money was spent under his leadership at the United Firefighter in Los Angeles.
“I’ve put together a collection of documents over the years, over 1,500 receipts, minutes and explanations of my expenses,” Escobar said. “They are all here.
“For seven years, I fought hard to improve my members’ pay and benefits, and I always acted honestly for them.
The IAFF letter stated that the auditor looked into union accounts between 2018 and 2024 and found that Escobar had made 1,372 credit card transactions totaling $230,465.67 without support documentation.
“UFLAC leadership has abandoned its fiduciary responsibility and placed the local 112 on a foul reputation,” the letter said. “Financial misconduct by UFLAC leadership has done serious harm to membership.”
“The auditors were unable to confirm the purpose of these transactions,” the letter said, and after warning the UFLAC in 2024, Escobar spent $71,671.44.
Escobar denied the charges.
“I am 100% denial of misuse of union funds or personal misconduct,” Escobar said. “The IAFF leveled serious allegations against me without giving me a fair or full opportunity to respond.”
The IAFF said it had discovered many other contradictions and inexplicable spending totaling over $800,000, and it has appointed a guardian to take control of the union’s account.
“This reserve is necessary to restore responsible financial management,” the IAFF said.
The letter said the audit found that the two former union officials together spent more than $500,000 on union credit cards with no or partial documents.
The IAFF said Friday that the investigation into potentially suspicious finances was launched by a union accounting with full knowledge of Escobar. Escobar has been repeatedly asked to “fulfil his fiduciary duties,” the IAFF said.
“The investigation by the IAFF General Secretary’s office regarding potential financial misconduct with the City of Los Angeles (UFLAC) United Firefighters (UFLAC) has begun with the request of the UFLAC Treasurer and full knowledge of Freddie Escobar,” the IAFF said in a statement. “That investigation, and a review of UFLAC’s 2023 audit conducted by Caliber CPA Group, revealed serious flaws in cost adjustment and record-keeping practices, including Escobar, which violated both UFLAC’s own policies and internal revenue services requirements.
“During the March 2024 presentation, and as in last month, Escobar was repeatedly urged to 112 local members to fulfill their fiduciary duties during their written communications and in-person meetings, submitting appropriate documents for all expenditures. 2018-2024.”
The NBCLA contacted Mayor Karen Bass’s office for comment.
“My office is not involved in the investigation of Freddie Escobar,” Mayor Bass’s office said. “It’s an internal issue for the union. It’s not related to the city, so that’s going to see what it all goes on.”
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