Teachers Union Chief Gets Prison for Fraud
The longtime leader of the Miami-Dade County teachers union agreed to a two-year prison sentence for charging $650,000 in luxury cruises, first-class vacations and other luxuries to union accounts.
Pat Tornillo, 78, president of United Teachers of Dade, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return in exchange for the prison term, full restitution, $160,000 in back taxes and a $25,000 fine. The maximum term could have been eight years.
U.S. Atty. Marcos Jimenez called the plea and recommended two-year term “a good resolution.”
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