Union leaders within Los Angeles Fire Department under suspension due to an audit exposure of $800,000 worth of credit card expenditure.
On Point: The Los Angeles Fire Department's labor union UFLAC, led by President Freddy Escobar, is in hot waters due to a damning investigation unveiling questionable financial practices. Here's the skinny on this scandal:
The Fiscal Fiasco
- Missing funds like a mirage: Unaccounted-for expenses totaling a full million dollars, as detected by the union's parent organization, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)[1][2].
- Escobar's lavish spending: Leading the pack is union president Escobar, who racked up an astonishing 1,957 credit card transactions totaling $311,498.58 between July 2018 and November 2024, with over 70% lacking receipts or supporting documentation[1][4].
- Wide-range of irregularities: The IAFF conducted a thorough audit, uncovering diverse financial irregularities, such as missing records and breaches of fiduciary responsibilities[1][3].
The Cleanup Crew
- Leadership relieves: On May 5, 2025, Escobar and two top UFLAC officers were given the ol' heave-ho by the IAFF for their role in the financial malpractice and unsavory reputation damage[1][4].
- Steward overseeing the sanitarium: The IAFF installed a conservator to take charge of UFLAC's finances and operations, with the goal of re-establishing responsible financial management[1].
- The IAFF's stance: In the wake of these serious financial mismanagement issues, General President Edward Kelly underscored the need for remedial action, asserting the necessity to protect union members' assets[1][4].
In summary, the IAFF's wide-ranging audit uncovered significant financial irregularities within the UFLAC, leading to the suspension of key personnel and the appointment of a conservator to rectify financial mismanagement.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department's union, UFLAC, based in California, is embroiled in a financial scandal, with missing funds amounting to a million dollars and questionable financial practices.
- Union president Freddy Escobar, the leader of UFLAC, has been under scrutiny for lavish spending totaling $311,498.58 on 1,957 credit card transactions, with over 70% lacking supporting documentation.
- The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), UFLAC's parent organization, conducted an extensive audit and uncovered diverse financial irregularities, including missing records and breaches of fiduciary responsibilities.
- In an effort to address these issues, Escobar, along with two top UFLAC officers, were removed from their positions on May 5, 2025, due to their role in the financial malpractice and damage to the union's reputation.
- A conservator has been appointed by the IAFF to oversee UFLAC's finances and operations, with the goal of re-establishing responsible financial management.
- Edward Kelly, the General President of the IAFF, emphasized the need for remedial action, asserting the importance of protecting union members' assets in the face of these financial mismanagement issues.
- This scandal involving UFLAC, a union based in Los Angeles, is significant and falls under categories such as business, finance, politics, and general-news, as well as crime-and-justice, given the allegations of financial irregularities and the removal of key personnel.
