Violation of Trust Second Edition

About the Book

From former special agent in charge for the Office of Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering, Miami Organized Crime Strike Force and Secretary of Labor for the State of Florida Hugo D. Menendez comes an intriguing fiction that provides a true picture of illicit activities. Violation of Trust is a vivid portrayal of how organized crime individuals and organized crime connected labor union offi cers cooperate to embezzle union and health welfare funds to the disadvantage of union members and employers—as well as forcing unions on employees.

Based on actual criminal investigations of Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering conducted by Mr. Menendez and members of his staff for the U. S. Department of Justice’s Miami Organized Crime Strike Force, this book follows the story of Giovanni Pelusa or “Pel” whose life changes forever when he became entangled in the world of organized crime and labor racketeering. From birth, Pel’s future had been predetermined. First, by his size and secondly, the infl uence his father’s profession had on him. Though he was a loving son and outwardly a decent individual, he was a born enforcer. He had no regard for the pain or even the death he infl icted on others. In trying to become his father, he became entangled in the world of organized crime and labor racketeering.

Pel sold his services as other professional individuals sell theirs. His success in the field of muscle for the racketeers provided him with a measure of wealth. His height and strength turned out to be his undoing. Like a ghost, the tall man appeared to be present at many crime scenes. Trying to save himself by turning as an informer cost him dearly instead. His actions led to the unraveling of one of the largest organized crime and labor racketeering conspiracies in the United States.

About the Author

Mr. Menendez was employed by the U. S. Department of Labor's Labor Management Services Administration. He enforced the provisions of the Taft Hartley Act. He was later transferred to the U. S. Department of Justice's Miami Organized Crime Strike Force. He became the Special Agent in Charge of the Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering Section . Special Agent Menendez was appointed to President Reagan's Commission on Organized Crime a s a Staff Investigator. Mr. Menendez served as Secretary of Labor for the State of Florida , 1987 to 1992 Mr. Menendez participated in a joint venture with the Law Firm of Holland and Knight, a national law firm . providing investigative services to the law Firm . Upon n his retirement. his federal service history was read into the Congressional Record of the first session of the 100'" Congress. He was featured in a Reader's Digest article , "Uni on in Bond age", August 1987 , Mr. Menendez was a visiting lecturer a t the F. B. I. Academy at Quantico, Virginia on the subject of labor racketeering.