A "shadow gang" of union ironworkers, directed by
their leaders, broke into construction sites at night, causing thousands of
dollars in damage to equipment and buildings - all payback for using nonunion
contractors, according to new charges filed Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's
office in Philadelphia.
The new charges, which include 14 additional allegations of
extortion and "night work," come in an indictment that supersedes one
filed against Ironworkers Local 401, headquartered in Philadelphia, in
February.
Since then, the union local has been taken over by the
union's national organization with New Jersey Senate President Stephen M.
Sweeney, a union ironworker and union leader, now in charge of the troubled
Philadelphia local.
He was not immediately available for comment Wednesday when
contacted by e-mail.
Vandalized construction sites include elementary schools in
Wallingford and Sharon Hill, a firehouse in Eddystone, and an assisted living
facility in Horsham, according to the indictment.
Named in the new indictment were Joseph Dougherty, who, as
business manager, headed the union, along with union official Richard Ritchie
and business agents Edward Sweeney, Francis Sean O'Donnell, Christopher
Prophet, and William O'Donnell.
Two defendants, James Walsh and William Gillen, both union
ironworkers, were also identified in the indictment as members of "shadow
gangs" accused of actually committing the vandalism.
Walsh and Gillen for example, were accused of arson and
vandalism at the construction site of the Chestnut Hill Friends Quaker meeting
house.
All have pleaded not guilty to charges in the first
indictment.
Dougherty denied committing any acts of vandalism and arson.
In court papers filed earlier this year, he sought a
dismissal of the indictment, saying that the tough talk and threats
investigators picked up on tape was merely talk, meant to fulfill his
responsibilities as a union leader to maintain work for Local 401's members.
Source: Philly.com
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