Ex-president of Jackson County union admits embezzling funds

A former union president who represented Jackson County Department of Corrections employees pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to embezzling at least $70,000 from his local.

Jesse E. Morgan, 39, admitted in his plea that he committed wire fraud for most of his tenure as president of Local 1707 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, from November 2008 through October 2012.

Court records pegged the loss at more than $185,000, though Morgan admitted in his plea agreement only that the loss exceeded $70,000.

Mark Morris, mmorris@kcstar.com