Toms River union founder convicted of embezzlement

The Toms River man who founded the United Security and Police Officers of America (USPOA) risks decades in prison, convicted of siphoning union funds in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Assane Faye, 61, was convicted in a Trenton federal courtroom on two counts of embezzling union funds and seven counts of mail fraud, according to the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. His sentencing is scheduled for August 22.

Each mail fraud charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Each embezzlement charge has a penalty of up to five years. Fines as high as $250,000 apply to all counts.

The jury needed just five hours to return the verdict, authorities said.

One of Faye's responsibiilites as USPOA founder, national president, director and checking-account signatory was to tend and distribute union funds for members.

Investigators said that in February 2010, with no Executive Board approval, Faye added a Senegalese ex-girlfriend to the staff as a New York organizer, at $800 per week, along with $1,500 montly for medical coverage, and extra cash for mileage, tolls and car expenses.

Authorities characterized her as lacking effective communication skills in English, lacking labor organization experience, and lacking a car. Investigators said that Faye fabricated her capabilities for the Executive Board and had access to her personal data and bank accounts.

In a three-and-a-half-year span, she received more than $244,000 worth of union funds and performed no functions, and Faye withdrew about $180,000 of it, investigators said. She testified that she spent at least half of every year she was on the payroll in her native country.

Fay was also accused of inflating reibursement vouchers for mileage and depreciation of his personal car, despite using rented transportation, and submitted vouchers related to trips to Paris, Dubai, China and Milan.

The mail fraud charges related to the collection of unemployment benefits totalling more than $7,000 between April 5 and June 30, 2010 by misrepresenting his job status, authorities said.