Two former leaders of a Florida teachers union have been indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges, accused of stealing more than $2 million from union members.
The charges, unsealed Monday, stem from alleged misconduct during Terrie Brady and Ruby George’s tenure as president and executive vice president, respectively, of Duval Teachers United.
The indictment outlines a series of fraudulent activities spanning nearly a decade, from 2013 to 2022. Brady and George are accused of stealing more than $1.2 million each by claiming excessive unused vacation time and authorizing fraudulent bonus payments. According to federal prosecutors, the two women collaborated by signing off on each other’s union checks to facilitate the scheme.
Brady faces additional charges, including two counts of money laundering for allegedly using nearly $44,000 in stolen funds to pay off personal credit card debt. The indictment also claims the pair submitted falsified documentation to a union auditor to conceal their actions.
The charges come months after a high-profile raid by the FBI and IRS on the union’s San Marco headquarters in September 2023. Agents were seen removing computers, financial records, and other evidence from the building, according to a report by the Daily Wire. Weeks later, both Brady and George announced their resignations after 24 years of leadership, citing a desire to focus on family.
If convicted, the former union leaders could face decades in prison. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud, and three counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud.
Previously, Brady had complained about Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts to impose requirements for financial transparency on unions.
“We think we’re pretty transparent in the work that we do,” Brady said at the time.
