"This will not be tolerated, it's not the way to do
business here in Philadelphia," said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger.
On Tuesday morning, Memeger announced that more than 100 FBI
agents, prosecutors and Philadelphia Police officers teamed up to arrest 10
members of Ironworkers Local Union 401.
READ: Federal indictment
The indictment against members of Local 401 accuses some of
the suspects of using baseball bats, torching a religious site and threats of
violence to induce employers to hire union workers.
"The defendants used 'goon squads,' which included
union members and associates who committed assaults, arsons and other violent,
and destructive, acts to make their point emphatically clear," said
Memeger. "That point to any contractor or builder was you better hire
local ironworker union members or you will pay a heavy price."
One group even alleged called themselves 'THUG" -- The
Helpful Union Guys," according to Memeger.
The union's treasurer/business manager Joseph Dougherty,
city business agent Edward Sweeney, county business agent Christopher Prophet
were among those arrested.
Also named in the federal indictment were William Gillin,
Daniel Hennigar, Francis Sean O'Donnell, William O'Donnell, Richard Ritchie,
Greg Sullivan and James Walsh.
The indictment also alleges Walsh led a group including
Gillin that set fire to a Quaker meetinghouse site where non-union workers were
being used. Prophet is accused of using a baseball bat to destroy a Toys R US
construction site in King of Prussia, Pa.
The bust was the first that targeted a Philadelphia union
since Memeger took over in 2010.
Source: NBC10.com
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