Former corrections officer pleads guilty to embezzling over $30,000

WASHINGTON — In a case of personal luxury funded by public trust, Andra Parker, a former D.C. Department of Corrections officer, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges after embezzling more than $30,000 from a labor union he chaired. Parker, 65, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, admitted to misusing union funds for extravagant personal expenses, including travel, concert tickets, and Broadway shows.

From June 2018 to April 2019, Parker served as Chairman of the Labor Committee, the union representing D.C. Department of Corrections employees. In this role, he had full access to union funds and wielded a debit card intended solely for union expenses. Instead, he treated the union account as a personal piggy bank, racking up thousands of dollars in expenses unrelated to union business.

According to his guilty plea, Parker funded a lavish New York City trip with friends, using more than $7,000 in union funds. The expenses included $4,000 in hotel accommodations in Times Square, over $370 for tickets to a Knicks game, and $616 for seats at "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical." Not stopping at New York, he also spent over $2,000 of union money to purchase four tickets to a Diana Ross concert in North Bethesda, Maryland.

“This case is about an egregious breach of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Union members deserve leaders who put them first, not personal indulgence. Mr. Parker’s actions eroded that trust and diverted resources meant for the betterment of D.C. corrections officers.”

In accepting Parker’s plea, a judge scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. Wire fraud charges can carry serious penalties, and Parker faces the possibility of both prison time and restitution obligations.