Former President of Ypsilanti Steelworkers Union Pleads Guilty to Stealing $58,000 in Union Funds

DETROIT - The former President of Steelworkers, Local 2513, in Ypsilanti has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $58,000 in union funds, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining Ison in the announcement is Thomas Murray, District Director of the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office of the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Dilanjan Miller, 37, pleaded guilty to the one count of bank fraud charged in an information filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. United States District Judge Laurie Michelson accepted his guilty plea and set the matter for sentencing on February 6, 2025.

According to the facts alleged in the information and further developed at the plea hearing, USW Local 2513 represented machine operators, inspectors, stock chasers, and rackers at Marsh Plating in Ypsilanti. Miller was elected President of Local 2513 in April 2018. Miller also assumed all financial duties of Local 2513 as acting Financial Secretary and Treasurer. While President, Acting Financial Secretary, and Acting Treasurer of the union, Miller embezzled approximately $47,347 of union funds in the custody and control of the Bank of Ann Arbor by issuing approximately 38 unauthorized checks to himself and forging the signature of the second signatory on 20 of those checks; issuing approximately 4 unauthorized checks made payable to a family member; and making approximately 2 unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union's bank account.

Miller also used the union's Bank of Ann Arbor debit card as his own personal debit card. He made at least 184 unauthorized personal purchases, totaling approximately $11,259. His purchases with the union's debit card included flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, and retail purchases. For example, Miller used the debit card to pay for five flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Atlanta and for rental cars in Florida and Atlanta. Miller also used the debit card at a jewelry store and several footwear shops.

Miller is facing a maximum of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge.

U.S. Attorney Ison commended the work of the Department of Labor in conducting this criminal investigation of a corrupt union officer and said, "Union officials are expected to serve with integrity. This prosecution demonstrates that we will not tolerate union officers who abuse their authority and line their own pockets at the expense of the union's membership. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corruption and fraud involving unions."

"Dilanjan Miller violated the trust placed in him to be a good steward of union funds by embezzling over $58,000 from Steelworkers Local 2513 that should have been used for its members' benefit," said Thomas Murray, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. "OLMS is committed to holding accountable anyone who unlawfully exploits their position in a union for personal gain at the expense of their fellow union members."

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen. The investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards.