A former Los Angeles labor union secretary faces grand theft charges for stealing $82,914.24 from a charity meant for injured heroes.
When a firefighter gets hurt saving lives, we expect their community to have their back. But police say one trusted leader saw their pain as a way to fund his own habits.
WHAT HAPPENED
Adam Walker was the secretary for the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. He was in charge of a charity that helps injured firefighters.
State and local officers arrested Walker. They say he stole $82,914.24 from the charity over fourteen months.
State officers say Walker set up a secret bank account with only his name on it. He used this account to move charity cash into his personal bank account.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
$82,914.24 taken from the charity between December 2022 and January 2024.
- One secret bank account opened by Walker with himself as the only signer.
- Fake receipts and fake credit card bills used to hide the transfers.
- Cash spent on personal items, including online gambling.
- One deep financial audit by the international union that caught the missing money.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
How did one person manage to control this money with so little oversight? Charities rely on trust, but they also need strict rules to protect every single dollar.
When leaders fail, the public loses faith in the groups that do good work. We must ask if other local charity groups have the right checks to stop this from happening again.
THE OTHER SIDE
Walker has not yet made a public statement about the charges. At his court hearing, his defense lawyers will have the chance to fight these claims and show his side of the story.
Right now, the paper trail of fake receipts and secret bank accounts looks very strong.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
This arrest hurts the trust people have in firefighter charities. Donors might think twice before giving money to help hurt first responders.
Walker will face a judge to answer for grand theft and forgery. The charity is working to make sure its funds are safe and that injured firefighters still get help.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Did anyone else know about the secret bank account before the audit?
- Will the charity be able to get any of the $82,914.24 back?
- What new rules will the union put in place to protect charity funds?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 17, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
Spot an error or missing context? Email hi@kindjoe.com and we will review and correct if needed.