Current:Home > ScamsEx-Philadelphia labor leader on trial on federal charges of embezzling from union -Legacy Profit Partners
Ex-Philadelphia labor leader on trial on federal charges of embezzling from union
View
Date:2025-04-18 19:54:06
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Longtime former Philadelphia labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty is on trial on embezzlement charges, accused of having stolen from the union he led for nearly three decades.
Dougherty and others are accused of having embezzled more than $650,000 from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers between 2010 and 2016. Federal prosecutors allege that Dougherty spent the money on home renovations, meals, concerts and groceries for himself and his family and friends.
“Over and over, again and again, he stole, he lied, and no one stopped him,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Bea Witzleben told jurors in her opening statement Monday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. “He stole money from that union any time he thought he could get away with it.”
She indicated that much of the government’s evidence will take the form of wiretap recordings, telling jurors they will hear Dougherty say he got away with the spending by trying to “keep it within reason so it don’t look too crazy.”
Dougherty, 63, has denied the allegations and expressed confidence of acquittal on the more than 90 counts that include conspiracy, embezzlement, wire and tax fraud, and falsification of union records. Defense attorneys portrayed him as a hardworking leader trying to account for his expenses while working around the clock for union members.
“This is a case of negligence, not fraud,” attorney Gregory Pagano told the panel. “Negligence is not a crime.”
Pagano said the union’s success stemmed from his philosophy that “you have to spend money to make money,” and the money spent to rub elbows with business and political leaders eventually led to increased wages and benefits. But, he said, Dougherty ran the operation like a “mom and pop business” that lacked some policies around spending and credit.
Dougherty, the business manager of the Philadelphia-area IBEW Local 98 and the business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, was indicted in 2019 after a lengthy FBI investigation.
In November 2021, he and a city council member were convicted of conspiracy in a corruption trial. Prosecutors said Dougherty kept Bobby Henon, a union electrician-turned-Philadelphia City Council member, on the payroll to help his union keep a tight grip on construction jobs.
Dougherty was convicted of eight counts, including conspiracy and honest services wire fraud, while Henon was convicted of 10 counts, including conspiracy, bribery and honest services wire fraud. The Inquirer reported that Dougherty was acquitted of three fraud counts and Henon of eight fraud and bribery counts.
veryGood! (21498)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden and 5 others killed in crash in downtown Houston
- A contest erupts in Uganda over the tainted legacy of late dictator Idi Amin
- Former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden among 6 dead after car accident in Houston
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Drought and mismanagement have left a French island parched. That holds lessons for the mainland
- GOP hopeful Chris Christie visits Israel, says the US must show solidarity in war against Hamas
- Taylor Swift Gives Travis Kelce a Shoutout By Changing the Lyrics of Karma During Argentina Show
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Police fatally shoot 17-year-old during traffic stop in North Dakota’s Bismarck
Ranking
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Bradley suspends women's basketball coach for rest of nonconference season
- If You’re Hosting Holidays for the First Time, These Top-Rated Amazon Cookware Sets Are Essential
- Nightengale's Notebook: What happened at MLB GM meetings ... besides everyone getting sick
- Trump's 'stop
- The Pentagon identifies the 5 US troops killed in a military helicopter crash over the Mediterranean
- Myanmar army faces a new threat from armed ethnic foes who open a new front in a western state
- Progressive Minnesota US Rep. Ilhan Omar draws prominent primary challenger
Recommendation
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
Biden to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping Nov. 15 in San Francisco Bay area
5 US service members die when helicopter crashes in Mediterranean training accident
Mac Jones benched after critical late interception in Patriots' loss to Colts
Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
Charity works to help military families whose relationships have been strained by service
Main Gaza hospital goes dark during intense fighting; Netanyahu says no ceasefire possible until all hostages released
Draymond Green curiously ejected after squabble with Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell