Two more Ironworkers plead guilty to arson, extortion

Two more members of the Ironworkers Local 401, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy, arson, extortion and related charges in federal court Tuesday.

James Walsh and Greg Sullivan entered their pleas in front of U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson just a day after fellow union members Sean O’Donnell and William Gillin did the same. Their pleas come and a month after four others — leader Joseph Dougherty; ex-business agents Christopher Prophet and William O’Donnell; and member Richard Ritchie — pleaded not guilty.

The remaining four Local 401 members who were indicted are scheduled to enter pleas at two separate hearings next week.

In February, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia indicted 10 members of Ironworkers Local 401 on charges of allegedly participating in a conspiracy to commit extortion, arson, destruction of property, and assault, in order to force construction contractors to hire union ironworkers. Two more Local 401 members were later added to the indictment.

Among the criminal acts laid out in the indictment is the December 2012 arson of a Quaker Meetinghouse under construction in Chestnut Hill.

In late July, five former Ironworkers received two additional counts of extortion. Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, said those allegations concerned 14 additional acts of extortions, or “night work,” committed at various construction sites in the Philadelphia area, including several local schools.

Walsh, 49, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy, two counts of maliciously damaging property by means of fire, conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, two counts of use of fire to commit a felony, and attempted maliciously damaging property by means of fire.

Prosecutors said Walsh participated in a series of incidents on behalf of the Ironworkers Local 401 as part of the plan by the defendants to force non-union contractors to hire union labor. Specifically, Walsh admitted that he participated in the Quaker Meetinghouse arson as well as another on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia, an attempted arson in Malvern as well as other episodes – all in retaliation for the contractors failure to hire union ironworkers. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 12.

Greg Sullivan, 49, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and Hobbs Act extortion. Prosecutors said Sullivan participated in the Grays Avenue arson and the attempted arson in Malvern. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal