Former Hawkeye Labor Council director pleads guilty to fraud

A former Hawkeye Labor Council executive director who was fired two years ago pleaded guilty to three counts today in U.S. District Court to fraud charges for misappropriating more than $11,000.

Alan Bernard, 57, formerly of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty to one count each of access device fraud, forged securities  and aggravated identity theft as part of the plea agreement. He is accused of using another person's credit card from July 26, 2006 to July 26, 2007 and accessed $6,511 worth of merchandise and of forging a check on the council's account for $5,000.

He was originally charged with 41 fraud counts. The government will dismiss the other charges at the time of sentencing. A sentencing date wasn't set today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Ebinger said according to the sentencing guidelines Bernard faces more than two years in prison for counts one and two, and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft.

U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles told Bernard the aggravated identity theft sentence would run consecutively to other charges.

The possible fines on each charge is up to $250,000.

• PREVIOUS COVERAGE: March 29 -- Former Hawkeye Labor Council head arrested on federal fraud charges