(The Houston Chronicle posted the following story on its website on January 28.)
HOUSTON — The former president of the nation’s largest railroad operating union has pleaded guilty to charges that he and other union officials sought bribes from attorneys in return for access to union workers injured on the job.
Charles Leonard Little, 69, of Leander, former international president of the United Transportation Union, pleaded guilty last week before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake to labor racketeering conspiracy.
Little is the second of four current and former officials indicted in September to plead guilty. Ralph John Dennis, 51, of Boone, Iowa, former director of insurance, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in October and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
UTU International President Byrone Alfred Boyd Jr., 57, of Seattle and Boyd’s assistant, John Russell Rookard, 57, of Olalla, Wash., are free on $100,000 bond each.