Today, the former administrative manager of a carpenters’ union pension fund admitted embezzling approximately $140,000 and making false statements on a required report to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Federal officials said George R. Laufenberg, 72, of Wall Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin R. McNulty in Newark federal court.
He admitted to two counts of an indictment charging him with embezzling approximately $140,000 in pension benefits (Count One) and making false statements to the DOL (Count Five).
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Laufenberg was the administrative manager of the Northeast Carpenters Pension Fund, which was subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Laufenberg was a fiduciary and participant in the pension fund. He admitted to stealing $140,000 paid to him under a deferred compensation agreement to which he was not entitled.
Laufenberg also admitted that he made false statements in a form required under ERISA that he filed to the Department of Labor on behalf of the pension fund.
The maximum penalty for each count is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2022.