Former head of Norristown State Hospital union charged in theft of its funds

The former president of a union representing workers at Norristown State Hospital has been charged with stealing more than $22,000 of its funds.

Montgomery County prosecutors say Thomas Lee Wicker, who headed American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2348, withdrew thousands of dollars from the union's account through ATMs and checks made out to local vendors for food, gas, and other expenses he claimed were incurred on union business.

When pressured to provide documentation or receipts proving the work-related nature of the expenses, Wicker could not, according to court documents. He also submitted a $500 check to the local labeled "Reimbursement" with no explanation once investigators started asking questions, prosecutors said.

"The AFSCME Local 2348 financial standards code states that ATM withdrawals on its bank accounts are not permitted, and checks must receive proper authorization," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said in a statement. "Wicker lacked authorization to withdraw any of these moneys."

Wicker, 51, of Pottstown, served as president from 2007 to 2009, during which time he allegedly made more than 200 ATM withdrawals from the group's account.

He was unseated in 2009 by Frank Rittenhouse, who opened an investigation into the organization's finances and discovered the irregularities.

Wicker, a maintenance worker at the hospital, was released on $100,000 personal recognizance bond and is to make a preliminary appearance in District Court on Feb. 9. He could not be reached for comment.