Andrew Ford

@AndrewFordNews

From getting a fictional job for an ex-girlfriend to fake reimbursements for mileage, a man who founded a union for security officers and police was convicted Tuesday of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds.

After a three-week trial, Assane Faye, 61, was convicted of two counts of embezzling union funds and seven counts of mail fraud according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office. Toms River police say Faye lives in Manchester.

Faye founded the United Security and Police Officers of America. He served as the president, director and signatory for the union checking account.

In February 2010, without approval of the union board, Faye hired an unidentified woman with whom he had a prior romantic relationship, according to the statement. She was paid $800 per week, supposedly to act as an organizer in New York. She got up to $1,500 monthly allowances for medical coverage plus reimbursements for mileage.

She had limited ability to speak English, didn't have labor organizing experience and didn't own a car.

But Faye had access to her bank accounts, the statement said.

For 3½ years, the union dispersed over $244,000 to her. For at least six months of every year she was paid, she was actually in Senegal, her home country.

Meanwhile, Faye withdrew about $180,000 for himself, the statement said.

Authorities say Faye claimed reimbursement for mileage on his personal car even though he was using rental cars, and even when he was traveling outside the country.

Between April and June 2010, Faye fraudulently collected more than $7,000 in unemployment payments.

He could be sentenced to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of embezzlement. Each count of mail fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He's scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 22.

Andrew Ford: 732-643-4281; aford3@gannettnj.com