The president of a national labor union was arrested Tuesday for allegedly taking $20,000 in bribes from a St. Louis lawyer, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Edward W. Rodzwicz, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, was supposed to kick the lawyer off a list of lawyers who are recommended to union members for use in dealing with work-related injuries. That lawyer had allegedly violation of the union's code of conduct prohibiting contact with another lawyer's clients.

Instead, federal prosecutors say, Rodzwicz approached the lawyer in Little Rock, Ark. and  asked for "an envelope" to keep that lawyer on the list.


The lawyer, who is not identified in court filings, went to the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.


Rodzwicz and the lawyer met in St. Louis and a Las Vegas casino and Rodzwicz received two $10,000 bribes - one in Las Vegas and one in Kansas City, Mo., prosecutors say.


Rodzwicz, 63, of Avon, Ohio, now faces federal charges of bribery in connection with a federally funded program and interstate travel to carry on unlawful activity and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.


The union has 55,000 railroad employees members throughout the country and is a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, prosecutors said.