Leticia Russi-Shareno, a 60-year-old resident of Kenmore, New York, has entered a guilty plea to wire fraud charges in the United States District Court in Burlington. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss released Russi-Shareno under certain conditions pending her sentencing, which is set for May 22.
The charge stems from a one-count information filed on November 20, 2024, accusing Russi-Shareno of wire fraud. During court proceedings today, she admitted guilt to the allegations. According to the filed information, between August 2019 and December 2020, Russi-Shareno held the position of president at Local 2076 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). This labor union represents employees from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security based in Vermont and upstate New York. In her role as president, she had authority over check signing for Local 2076's bank account in Vermont and was issued a debit card for official union purchases.
The information further details that during her tenure as president, Russi-Shareno misappropriated approximately $36,000 from Local 2076's funds. She reportedly used the union's debit card for personal ATM withdrawals and purchases and falsified documents to secure duplicate reimbursements for expenses related to Local 2076 activities. Additionally, she allegedly cashed or deposited checks intended for Local 2076 into her own account.
Russi-Shareno could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine reaching $250,000; however, her actual sentence will be determined by the District Court following guidelines from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
The investigation into this case was conducted by both the Boston and Buffalo Regional Offices of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and the Department of Homeland Security.
Russi-Shareno is being represented by attorney Mark Kaplan. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.