Former union president pleads to bank fraud for embezzling money

CEDAR RAPIDS — A former local labor union president who embezzled funds from the organization pleaded last month in federal court and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Brock A. Willson, who court documents say is also known as Brock A. Cligrow, former president of Roofers Local 182 in Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of bank fraud. He was indicted last year on 10 charges of fraud and embezzlement.

Willson, 42, served in various union positions, including president, business manager/financial secretary and coordinator of its joint apprenticeship training committee from about March 2020 through October 2021, according to court documents.

The labor union covers 18 counties in Iowa and Wisconsin, including Benton, Black Hawk, Iowa, Johnson, Jones and Linn, according to the indictment. He was a full-time employee of the union and had full access to three bank accounts and was a signatory on all three.

Willson had access to the union’s bank accounts because of his “high level” positions within the union, according to court documents. The labor organization entrusted Willson with making authorized payments for certain expenses, including its training committee.

According to the plea agreement, Willson used the union funds for his own personal expenses, including but not limited to payments on a vehicle loan and purchases at department stores. Willson admitted stealing at least $6,500 in union funds.

The indictment included 10 payments for personal expenses.

U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams will set Willson’s sentencing after a presentence report is prepared. Willson remains free on bond pending sentencing.

He faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. He also faces a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release following any prison term.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Vavricek and was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards and the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department assisted.

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