Feds indict 11 Construction Union officials

[Bklyn21]

https://nypost.com/2020/10/01/suffolk-c ... ry-scheme/

[Bklyn21]

Wonder who the other 10 are that were indicted ?

[Clark]

I am 99% certain that James Cahill is the brother of Mickey Cahill, who was identified as a Westies' associate with construction interests. He is also the son of Mickey Sr who was a long time shop steward at the Javits with the Exhibition Workers union.

[Bklyn21]

I am 99% certain that James Cahill is the brother of Mickey Cahill, who was identified as a Westies' associate with construction interests. He is also the son of Mickey Sr who was a long time shop steward at the Javits with the Exhibition Workers union.

Your right , I'm in the Plumbing industry and a few guys at the shop are saying the Irish Mob was just taken out and was in control of union affairs etc. I said there is no Irish mob , We agreed on Westies after alotta back n forth

[Bklyn21]

I said who do you think the Irish work with ? It's all the same

[Bklyn21]

I said if there's an Irish mob I'm definitely not aware of it

[Clark]

Yeah, agreed. Not saying there is any connection to anything like the Westies (in fact, I am sure there is not), but rather the arrest just shows how certain unions can be infiltrated for long periods of time, and the same people/families can cling to power. Mickey Cahill Jr. passed away almost a decade ago. At that time, he was still identified as a Gambino associate. Cahill, Leahy, and Murtha (until he cooperated) were heavily involved in construction/labor unions going back to the late 70s.

[Bklyn21]

Yeah, agreed. Not saying there is any connection to anything like the Westies (in fact, I am sure there is not), but rather the arrest just shows how certain unions can be infiltrated for long periods of time, and the same people/families can cling to power. Mickey Cahill Jr. passed away almost a decade ago. At that time, he was still identified as a Gambino associate. Cahill, Leahy, and Murtha (until he cooperated) were heavily involved in construction/labor unions going back to the late 70s.

I do think there's Irish OC and maybe some Organized Irish Crews that are connected down the line going back to the beginning in some form that alot of people keep referring to as the "Irish Mob" but nothing with a formal structure or hierarchy . Over the last 20 plus years I constantly hear of the Westies, Or the New Westies from lots of people . The Unions/Union guys is where I hear the most noise , Some of the locals over the last 20 years have huge Irish contingents and alotta power and influence and some of the cases/indictments show that, But nothing of an Irish Mob or anything . If there is an Irish Mob or Gang of any kind they'd most likely be working with the Westside first and foremost

[Wiseguy]

Plumbers Local 638 was actually Gambino-connected back in the 1980's. But at first glance there doesn't appear to be any criminal organization (including the non-existent Westies) behind this. Simply corrupt union officials running their own scams. But yes, James Cahill is the brother of Michael Cahill.

Press release out of the Southern District is below and the actual indictment is at the link.




Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 1, 2020

11 Union Officials Charged With Racketeering, Fraud, And Bribery Offenses

Defendants Allegedly Agreed to Accept Dozens of Bribes to Corruptly Influence the Construction Industry At the Expense of Labor Unions and Their Members

Ilan Graff, Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, and Timothy D. Sini, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced today the return of an indictment charging JAMES CAHILL, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, and ROBERT EGAN with racketeering, fraud, and bribery offenses, in connection with their acceptance of payments in their roles as current and former union officials to corruptly influence labor-management relations in the construction industry. SCOTT ROCHE and ARTHUR GIPSON are charged with fraud and bribery offenses. The defendants are current and former union officials with Local 638 of the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters (“Local 638”) and Local Union 200 of the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (“Local 200”). CAHILL is the president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council (the “NYS Trades Council”), which represents over 200,000 unionized construction workers, and a member of the executive council for the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (the “NYS AFL-CIO”). As alleged, since in or around October 2018, the defendants agreed to accept dozens of bribes, totaling over $100,000, in exchange for which they used their authority to corruptly influence the construction industry at the expense of labor unions and their members.

All of the defendants were arrested yesterday afternoon or earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. The case is assigned to Chief United States District Judge Colleen McMahon.

Attorney for the United States Ilan Graff said: “As alleged, the defendants exploited their labor organization positions to line their own pockets. They did so at the expense of the unions and their members by accepting bribes to favor non-union employers and corruptly influence the construction trade. Today’s indictment reflects our commitment to rooting out corruption and bringing to justice those who abuse positions of power out of personal greed. We thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this case.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini said: “As alleged in today’s indictment, these union officials – who purported to be the ones looking out for workers and their rights – were in fact engaged in an enterprise of corruption at the expense of the hardworking men and women they claimed to represent. This was a complete betrayal of these unions and their membership. Our two-year wiretap investigation uncovered a shocking level of greed and corruption, and the investigation is very much ongoing. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for partnering with my office on this investigation and for working with us to hold these alleged bad actors accountable in federal court.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[[1]]:

JAMES CAHILL, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, and ROBERT EGAN, are members of an enterprise (the “Enterprise”) comprising current and former officials of Local 638, a union with jurisdiction over pipe fitting in New York City and Long Island. The Enterprise was a criminal organization whose members agreed to engage in, among other activities, honest services fraud, receipts of bribes as labor union officials, and unlawful receipt of payments to labor organizations. Members of the Enterprise conspired to accept cash bribes, as well as bribes in the form of “loans” that were never repaid, free meals and drinks, free labor on personal property, and purchases of home appliances. Since in or around October 2018, the defendants accepted dozens of bribes, totaling over $100,000.

JAMES CAHILL was the leader of the Enterprise. In addition to being president of the NYS Trades Council and a member of the NYS AFL-CIO’s executive council, CAHILL is also a former business agent of Local 638, and a former international representative of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. As the Enterprise’s leader, CAHILL influenced Local 638’s elections and installed loyal associates into official positions within Local 638. CAHILL initiated several Local 638 officials into the Enterprise so they could accept bribes and expand their influence. For example, after CAHILL brought defendant PATRICK HILL into the Enterprise as a union official who would – and did – accept bribes, CAHILL told a non-union employer from whom CAHILL and HILL had received bribes (“Employer-1”): “Here’s the thing. I give you Paddy [HILL]. But if Paddy fucks up and does stupid things, you have to tell me . . . I got my guys, I got the guys who come to me, and you know that, and everyone knows who comes to me.” CAHILL told HILL, following HILL’s receipt of a bribe from Employer-1, “Welcome to the real world.” NORTON similarly stated in a meeting at which NORTON, CAHILL, and HILL received bribes: “The real world is the real world and there’s . . . always wiggle room as long as everyone . . . understands each other, and everyone’s taken care of.”

CAHILL and the other members of the Enterprise used their positions of power with respect to Local 638 to receive bribes in exchange for taking actions favorable to non-union employers, and exercising corrupt influence within the construction trade, all to the detriment of Local 638 and the union members’ interests. For instance, in one meeting with Employer-1, CAHILL urged Employer-1, in sum and substance, not to sign with a union, but instead to “tell everyone to go fuck themselves” because “if you become union, you’ll have 12 fucking guys on your back.”

All 11 defendants are also charged with participating in conspiracies to commit honest services fraud and violate the Taft-Hartley Act, based on, among other things, their agreement to accept bribes in exchange for acquiescing in the bidding and performing of construction work with non-union labor for plumbing and pipe fitting projects that would otherwise have potentially been awarded to companies whose employees were represented by Local 638 or Local 200.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/11 ... y-offenses

[Clark]

You are right, Wiseguy. Local 638 has been surrounded by corruption for years. Hughie Mulligan had a no-show job with them and influenced the union through his friendship with Frank Fitzpatrick, the then Business Agent who was later indicted with Mulligan in the 1970s. A lot of Mulligan associates and West Side people had work with 638. Even though it was a Queens/Long Island based local, I assume it passed to the last of the Irish when Mulligan died, and then the Gambino family when the Westies went the way of the dinosaur. I wasn't aware that a Cahill controlled it, but it doesn't suprise me as I am sure he got into the union back then.

[Bklyn21]

Plumbers Local 638 was actually Gambino-connected back in the 1980's. But at first glance there doesn't appear to be any criminal organization (including the non-existent Westies) behind this. Simply corrupt union officials running their own scams. But yes, James Cahill is the brother of Michael Cahill.

Press release out of the Southern District is below and the actual indictment is at the link.




Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 1, 2020

11 Union Officials Charged With Racketeering, Fraud, And Bribery Offenses

Defendants Allegedly Agreed to Accept Dozens of Bribes to Corruptly Influence the Construction Industry At the Expense of Labor Unions and Their Members

Ilan Graff, Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, and Timothy D. Sini, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced today the return of an indictment charging JAMES CAHILL, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, and ROBERT EGAN with racketeering, fraud, and bribery offenses, in connection with their acceptance of payments in their roles as current and former union officials to corruptly influence labor-management relations in the construction industry. SCOTT ROCHE and ARTHUR GIPSON are charged with fraud and bribery offenses. The defendants are current and former union officials with Local 638 of the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters (“Local 638”) and Local Union 200 of the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (“Local 200”). CAHILL is the president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council (the “NYS Trades Council”), which represents over 200,000 unionized construction workers, and a member of the executive council for the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (the “NYS AFL-CIO”). As alleged, since in or around October 2018, the defendants agreed to accept dozens of bribes, totaling over $100,000, in exchange for which they used their authority to corruptly influence the construction industry at the expense of labor unions and their members.

All of the defendants were arrested yesterday afternoon or earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. The case is assigned to Chief United States District Judge Colleen McMahon.

Attorney for the United States Ilan Graff said: “As alleged, the defendants exploited their labor organization positions to line their own pockets. They did so at the expense of the unions and their members by accepting bribes to favor non-union employers and corruptly influence the construction trade. Today’s indictment reflects our commitment to rooting out corruption and bringing to justice those who abuse positions of power out of personal greed. We thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this case.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini said: “As alleged in today’s indictment, these union officials – who purported to be the ones looking out for workers and their rights – were in fact engaged in an enterprise of corruption at the expense of the hardworking men and women they claimed to represent. This was a complete betrayal of these unions and their membership. Our two-year wiretap investigation uncovered a shocking level of greed and corruption, and the investigation is very much ongoing. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for partnering with my office on this investigation and for working with us to hold these alleged bad actors accountable in federal court.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[[1]]:

JAMES CAHILL, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, and ROBERT EGAN, are members of an enterprise (the “Enterprise”) comprising current and former officials of Local 638, a union with jurisdiction over pipe fitting in New York City and Long Island. The Enterprise was a criminal organization whose members agreed to engage in, among other activities, honest services fraud, receipts of bribes as labor union officials, and unlawful receipt of payments to labor organizations. Members of the Enterprise conspired to accept cash bribes, as well as bribes in the form of “loans” that were never repaid, free meals and drinks, free labor on personal property, and purchases of home appliances. Since in or around October 2018, the defendants accepted dozens of bribes, totaling over $100,000.

JAMES CAHILL was the leader of the Enterprise. In addition to being president of the NYS Trades Council and a member of the NYS AFL-CIO’s executive council, CAHILL is also a former business agent of Local 638, and a former international representative of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. As the Enterprise’s leader, CAHILL influenced Local 638’s elections and installed loyal associates into official positions within Local 638. CAHILL initiated several Local 638 officials into the Enterprise so they could accept bribes and expand their influence. For example, after CAHILL brought defendant PATRICK HILL into the Enterprise as a union official who would – and did – accept bribes, CAHILL told a non-union employer from whom CAHILL and HILL had received bribes (“Employer-1”): “Here’s the thing. I give you Paddy [HILL]. But if Paddy fucks up and does stupid things, you have to tell me . . . I got my guys, I got the guys who come to me, and you know that, and everyone knows who comes to me.” CAHILL told HILL, following HILL’s receipt of a bribe from Employer-1, “Welcome to the real world.” NORTON similarly stated in a meeting at which NORTON, CAHILL, and HILL received bribes: “The real world is the real world and there’s . . . always wiggle room as long as everyone . . . understands each other, and everyone’s taken care of.”

CAHILL and the other members of the Enterprise used their positions of power with respect to Local 638 to receive bribes in exchange for taking actions favorable to non-union employers, and exercising corrupt influence within the construction trade, all to the detriment of Local 638 and the union members’ interests. For instance, in one meeting with Employer-1, CAHILL urged Employer-1, in sum and substance, not to sign with a union, but instead to “tell everyone to go fuck themselves” because “if you become union, you’ll have 12 fucking guys on your back.”

All 11 defendants are also charged with participating in conspiracies to commit honest services fraud and violate the Taft-Hartley Act, based on, among other things, their agreement to accept bribes in exchange for acquiescing in the bidding and performing of construction work with non-union labor for plumbing and pipe fitting projects that would otherwise have potentially been awarded to companies whose employees were represented by Local 638 or Local 200.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/11 ... y-offenses

Thanks Wiseguy , Local 638 is still Gambino controlled , I'm surprised they haven't indicted anyone or made a case in the recent past against any Gambino's regarding 638 . Who knows ? The case is supposedly ongoing, Maybe we'll see a case in the near future ? Plumbing is dominated and controlled by Lcn heavily , The amount of wiseguys involved is staggering , It's like they moved away and we're kicked out of other construction locals over the years and moved heavily into plumbing from politicians and contractors the industry is corrupt as hell

[Philly d]

I don't know unions, Local 638 means it's the local of what? I see that it's steamfitters union.

[Wiseguy]

Thanks Wiseguy , Local 638 is still Gambino controlled , I'm surprised they haven't indicted anyone or made a case in the recent past against any Gambino's regarding 638 . Who knows ? The case is supposedly ongoing, Maybe we'll see a case in the near future ? Plumbing is dominated and controlled by Lcn heavily , The amount of wiseguys involved is staggering , It's like they moved away and we're kicked out of other construction locals over the years and moved heavily into plumbing from politicians and contractors the industry is corrupt as hell

Local 638 certainly is dirty, though I'm not sure it's still Gambino controlled. In 2003, officials from Local 638 and Local 1 (as well as future Genovese soldier Christopher Chierchio) were indicted for labor bribery. In 2015, an official and a few members of Local 638 were charged with selling memberships. Of course, Chierchio was indicted for bid-rigging in 2018. Now this most recent indictment. And there are other areas of the construction industry that have as much or more activity, from what I can tell.

I don't know unions, Local 638 means it's the local of what? I see that it's steamfitters union.

A plumber works primarily with residential and business customers, installing water lines, hot water tanks and sewage lines. They unclog pipes and drains, repair broken fixtures and troubleshoot plumbing-system problems.

A steamfitter works on the same sort of systems and projects as a pipefitter, but they're specialists. The liquids or gases in steamfitter systems flow through the pipes under high pressure, requiring special handling.

https://work.chron.com/steamfitter-job- ... 11064.html

[ng]

How many of these guys are tied to the westies? Just Cahill?

[Philly d]

Thanks Wiseguy , Local 638 is still Gambino controlled , I'm surprised they haven't indicted anyone or made a case in the recent past against any Gambino's regarding 638 . Who knows ? The case is supposedly ongoing, Maybe we'll see a case in the near future ? Plumbing is dominated and controlled by Lcn heavily , The amount of wiseguys involved is staggering , It's like they moved away and we're kicked out of other construction locals over the years and moved heavily into plumbing from politicians and contractors the industry is corrupt as hell

Local 638 certainly is dirty, though I'm not sure it's still Gambino controlled. In 2003, officials from Local 638 and Local 1 (as well as future Genovese soldier Christopher Chierchio) were indicted for labor bribery. In 2015, an official and a few members of Local 638 were charged with selling memberships. Of course, Chierchio was indicted for bid-rigging in 2018. Now this most recent indictment. And there are other areas of the construction industry that have as much or more activity, from what I can tell.

I don't know unions, Local 638 means it's the local of what? I see that it's steamfitters union.

A plumber works primarily with residential and business customers, installing water lines, hot water tanks and sewage lines. They unclog pipes and drains, repair broken fixtures and troubleshoot plumbing-system problems.

A steamfitter works on the same sort of systems and projects as a pipefitter, but they're specialists. The liquids or gases in steamfitter systems flow through the pipes under high pressure, requiring special handling.

https://work.chron.com/steamfitter-job- ... 11064.html

Thanks but Is it part of a larger steamfitters union? Like Teamsters has different locals.