NEW YORK - Warren Annunziata, the former President and Executive Director of Local 91 of the United Craft and Industrial Workers' Union ("Local 91"), pleaded guilty today in Manhattan federal court to one count of using his official position at the union to commit extortion.

From approximately 1992 through 2009, Annunziata used his position as a high-ranking Local 91 official to solicit and collect cash payments from various bus company owners whose employees were members of Local 91. In total, Annunziata obtained over $500,000 in illegal cash payments from the bus company owners, who paid Annunziata out of fear that Annunziata would inflict economic harm on their businesses. In pleading guilty today, Annunziata admitted that he used his position of authority at the union to obtain the payments, and that he abused a position of public and private trust in doing so.

Annunziata, 75, of Roslyn Heights, New York, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28.