Longtime Treasurer for Bradenton Postal Workers’ Union Faces Prison Time Over Alleged $100K Misuse
A Bradenton woman who for more than a decade handled the finances of a local chapter of the American Postal Workers Union now faces serious criminal charges after prosecutors accused her of diverting more than $100,000 of union funds for her personal use.
Kathleen Rita Kaplan, 53, served as secretary-treasurer of the Bradenton local postal workers union, a position that entrusted her with oversight and disbursement of members’ dues and other union funds.
According to prosecutors, Kaplan arranged for funds to be routed into accounts under her control, using forged checks and unauthorized Zelle transfers. The misconduct reportedly spanned years, rather than a single instance, and was characterized by repeated misuse of her fiduciary role.
If convicted, she could face multiple years in prison due to the scale of the alleged theft and the breach of trust involved. The case underscores the vulnerabilities that labor organizations may face when financial controls are weak and oversight is insufficient.
Prosecutors have not yet announced a schedule for the trial, and Kaplan’s legal team has not released a public statement in response to the allegations.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing as union members await clarity on how the misused funds will be recovered or accounted for.