Los Angeles Firefighters Union Leadership Suspended Amid Financial Scandal
LOS ANGELES — The leadership of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City has been suspended following an audit revealing over $800,000 in questionable credit card expenditures. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which oversees firefighter unions nationwide, placed the local union under conservatorship for financial oversight.
Union President Freddy Escobar and two vice presidents, Chuong Ho and Doug Coates, were suspended after a review flagged thousands of undocumented transactions. Escobar defended himself on Instagram, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated and that he has "nothing to hide."
Concerns were initially raised in October 2024 regarding improper record-keeping, leading to a deeper investigation. It revealed a former secretary, Adam Walker, had unauthorizedly funneled over $80,000 from the union’s nonprofit into his personal accounts. This misuse of funds included personal debts and gambling expenses.
The audit further disclosed that Escobar incurred over $300,000 in credit card spendings without adequate documentation, while former treasurer Domingo Albarran similarly spent more than $300,000 over five years without receipts. IAFF President Edward Kelly condemned the financial malpractice, stating it has severely harmed the union’s membership.
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