A Dickinson County man admits to embezzling railroad union funds.

According to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom’s Office, a former secretary-treasurer of a railroad union pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling union funds. 62-year-old Dale T. Hull of Herington, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. In his plea,

Hull admitted the crime occurred while he was secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 261, which represented employees of the Union Pacific Railroad who work in the Herington terminal and the Salina hub. Starting in 2008 Hull made unauthorized and illegal account transfers from the union’s account to his personal checking account totaling more than $17,000. He also filed false reports to the U.S. Department of Labor in which he understated his earnings as secretary-treasurer of the union.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 5, 2015. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and restitution.