James T. Callahan, the International President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, has pleaded guilty to filing false annual reports with the United States Department of Labor. These reports, known as LM-30s, are required by law to be truthful and complete.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia.
Callahan, a resident of Lindenhurst, NY, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes in Washington, D.C., who accepted his guilty plea. Judge Reyes will determine Callahan's sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025.
The Operating Engineers union represents nearly 400,000 heavy machinery operators across the United States and Canada. Callahan has served as General President since 2011 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In his guilty plea, Callahan admitted to omitting from LM-30 reports his receipt of goods and services from an advertising firm used by him and the Union for ad placements. From 2015 through 2023, he requested and received free tickets worth at least $315,000 to various events from this firm without disclosing them or obtaining authorization from the Union’s Executive Board. He used many tickets personally and gave others to family members and non-members of the Operating Engineers.
As part of his plea agreement, Callahan agreed to repay $315,000 to the Operating Engineers for these tickets and resign immediately as General President.
The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Labor's Office of Labor Management Standards and Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Kelly and Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering section.