Two former senior leaders of a Jacksonville teachers union will serve prison time after admitting to a long-running scheme that diverted more than $2.6 million in union funds for personal use, federal prosecutors said.
A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida sentenced Teresa Brady, 70, the union’s former president, to 27 months behind bars. Ruby George, 82, who previously served as vice president, received a sentence of one year and one day, followed by six months of home confinement. Both women were ordered to repay the full amount taken from the organization.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the pair improperly paid themselves through a series of unauthorized benefits. Prosecutors said they claimed leave time they had not earned, issued themselves bonuses that were never approved, and submitted false reimbursement requests. The payments were disguised as legitimate compensation.
Investigators said Brady and George misled the union’s auditor and signed each other’s checks to move funds without scrutiny. Authorities allege they kept the transactions hidden from the union’s treasurer and board members and provided inaccurate information in official financial reports.
Court filings indicate the two overstated their accrued leave balances by hundreds of days. In one example cited by prosecutors, Brady cashed out thousands of days of leave — an amount that would have required more than a decade to accumulate under normal policies.
Federal officials described the conduct as a breach of trust that directly affected union members, including teachers, paraprofessionals and administrative staff within Duval County Public Schools.
“This case shows that those who exploit leadership roles for personal gain will face consequences,” an FBI representative said in a statement, noting that the investigation targeted financial crimes involving misuse of organizational funds.
George pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy and fraud-related charges. Brady later entered a guilty plea that included the same counts along with a money laundering charge.
An attorney representing Brady said the defense highlighted her years of service to educators but respected the court’s decision. Counsel for George did not immediately comment.
The case, filed under U.S. v. Brady et al., was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
