Former Broward Teacher’s Union president Patrick Santeramo has been arrested and theft and racketeering charges.
He is charged with one count of racketeering, charged with six counts of grand theft, five counts of campaign contribution violations, four counts of money laundering, three counts of organized scheme to defraud and one count of conspiring to commit racketeering.
According to the arrest affidavit, after he was elected president of the union in 2001, Santeramo divert $165,500 in union funds to himself through an kickback scheme with a construction company.
One example, according to the affidavit, shows the construction billed the union $89,295 for elevator repairs, but then kicked back $20,000 in cash to Santeramo.
He is also accused making numerous illegal campaign contributions by reimbursing individuals with union funds when they contributed to campaigns and improperly claiming $121,848 in sick leave pay.
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