 Union members were even more outraged when they learned DeFries and five other union officers paid themselves more than $2 million in severance payments.During the course of their findings, a group of MEBA members (Led by Alex Shandrowsky, Jesse Calhoon, and Don Keefe) peacefully occupied MEBA's Headquarters in Washington, DC after DeFries refused to disclose information to union members.DeFries and others were later indicted for crimes relating to their manipulation of union elections and misuse of union offices.