TRENTON -- The founder of an organization created to combat the "betrayal and exploitive behavior of other unions" was convicted Tuesday of embezzling hundreds of thousands in union funds, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Assane Faye, 61, of Toms River, was convicted on all counts of an indictment charging him with two counts of embezzling union funds and seven counts of mail fraud, following a three-week federal trial before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan.

The jury delivered its verdict after five hours of deliberation, Fishman's office said.

Faye faces years in prison: Each count of the embezzlement charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while each count of mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines.

The verdict is a dramatic fall for Faye, who bills himself on the United Security and Police Officers of America's web site as the "best negotiator in the Washington, D.C. and Metropolitan area."

The site describes the organization's success as "the result of Security Officers who decided to end the betrayal and exploitive behavior of other unions. There is no power greater than that of union members and that is the secret of our success."

According to a news release from Fishman's office, Faye in 2010 put on the union payroll an unnamed woman with whom he had a prior romantic relationship, it said.

The woman was paid $800 a week and given $1,500 for monthly health coverage and other allowances, it said. Over the course of more than three years, the union paid her $244,000 for no services -- including payments for when she resided abroad in her home country, it said.

The woman lacked labor experience and did not own a car, even though she was paid for mileage, it said.

Fishman's office also said Faye had access to her bank accounts, and withdrew about $180,000 of union funds paid to her for his personal use.

In addition, Faye submitted inflated reimbursement vouchers for mileage, even though he used rental cars or, in some cases, wasn't even in the country, it said.

Faye also committed mail fraud, it said, when he misrepresented his employment status and collected more than $7,000 in unemployment payments from the state.

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.