I am shocked — I say shocked — to hear there is mob influence in the unions.
Posted on 07/27/2004 9:22:50 PM PDT by nuconvert
Union Official Charged in New York Waterfront Mob Extortion Case
By Michael Weissenstein/Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - A reputed mob associate was charged Tuesday with conspiring to extort money and power from waterfront businesses and officials of the International Longshoreman's Association. Law enforcement authorities described the arrest of union official and alleged Genovese crime family associate Harold Daggett as part of a broader effort against a union deeply under the sway of organized crime.
Daggett is the third ILA official to face federal criminal charges in recent months. He was arraigned on a federal extortion conspiracy charge and released on $350,000 bail Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Daggett, the international union's assistant general organizer and president of North Bergen, N.J.-based ILA Local 1804-1, conspired to install himself and other Genovese crime family associates in high-ranking union positions.
Daggett and Arthur Coffey, the ILA's vice president, also conspired to extort money from businesses on the piers of New York, New Jersey and south Florida, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn. Coffey, who prosecutors said earned more than $370,000 last year from at least five union jobs, was arrested at his North Miami condominium last month by FBI agents and charged with extortion and mail fraud.
The criminal complaint against Coffey alleges that the Genovese family boosted him into union leadership so he would do its bidding. That work included getting jobs for Genovese associates, steering contracts their way and organizing meetings with union leaders, according to the complaint.
An ILA spokesman declined to comment on the charges, saying he had not seen the indictment. Daggett's attorney, Kenneth O'Connor, said he could not comment at length on the charge, saying only: "He's presumed innocent. At this point this is just a charge against him."
Coffey's attorney did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
A third union official, Louis Saccenti, an ILA vice president and reputed Gambino family associate, was indicted for perjury earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty.
Well, knock me over with a feather.
I find this hard to believe. The mob and unions hand in hand?It can't be.
Is THAT why he wasn't speaking at the democrat convention? They only had little Jimmy Hoffa today.
I am shocked — I say shocked — to hear there is mob influence in the unions.
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