Posts tagged Johnny Doc Dougherty

    Philadelphia Union Member Receives Probation for Unlawful Payment Demands and Assault

    February 6, 2025 // August 19, 2020, was not a banner day for Fiocca, having received a paycheck reflecting less than the full-time hours he expected, it was then he accosted the project manager from Local 98, and his response was not measured but aggressive and loaded with physicality. He slapped, choked, and spat on the project manager, which contributed to his current predicament. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero highlighted the incident saying, "Fiocca, as the nephew of then-Local 98 Business Manager John Dougherty, abused his power and influence and resorted to violence to unlawfully claim wages he did not rightfully earn." She emphasized the importance of maintaining lawful conduct among union members, steering clear of intimidation tactics.

    Former IBEW head Johnny ‘Doc’ Dougherty heads to prison to begin 6 year sentence

    October 3, 2024 // On Tuesday, former labor leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty reported to federal prison in Lewisburg to begin a six year sentence after being convicted of embezzling funds from the union he formerly led

    Philadelphia labor union powerbroker gets 6 years for bribery and theft

    July 18, 2024 // Dougherty was a longtime power broker in Democratic politics, steering tens of millions in union campaign contributions to candidates for office, including his brother, who was elected to the state's high court in 2015. Federal prosecutors said Dougherty also used the union’s money to buy groceries, restaurant meals, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and other personal items. He paid contractors with union funds for work on his house, his relatives' houses and a neighborhood bar he owned, and arranged for friends and family members to be on the union payroll, according to the indictment. A co-defendant in last year's trial, former union president Brian Burrows, was sentenced last month to four years in prison. Dougherty also was convicted of bribing Philadelphia council member Bobby Henon. Prosecutors said Dougherty gave Henon a no-show union job.

    Ex-Philadelphia union leader John Dougherty sentenced to 6 years in prison for federal bribery, embezzlement

    July 12, 2024 // Dougherty's sentencing hearing began in Reading, Pennsylvania, at 10:30 a.m. The courtroom was packed with Dougherty's supporters and people wearing union shirts. Former Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Dougherty's brother, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, and City Councilmember Jim Harrity were there as well.

    Former Local 98 President Brian Burrows Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Embezzlement of Union Funds, Filing False Government Reports, and Tax Fraud

    June 28, 2024 // United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Brian Burrows, 64, of Mount Laurel, NJ, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 48 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of $135,689.11, an $1,800 special assessment, and restitution to be determined later, for crimes arising from his embezzlement of funds belonging to Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“Local 98”). Burrows had served as the President of Local 98 since 2008. The only person who held a higher office in the union was his codefendant, Business Manager John Dougherty.

    3 former Local 98 employees sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing union assets

    February 23, 2024 // PHILADELPHIA - The fate of three former Local 98 employees' futures was set by a U.S. District Court judge this week after they previously pleaded guilty to stealing union funds for their personal use. United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced Michael Neill, 57, Marita Crawford, 54, and Niko Rodriguez, 32, all former employees of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Local 98) were sentenced this week by United States District Court Judge Jeffrey Schmehl.

    Ex-Philly labor leader John Dougherty found guilty in embezzlement trial

    December 7, 2023 // Former Philadelphia labor leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty and his co-defendant Brian Burrows were found guilty on multiple counts in their federal embezzlement trial. Federal prosecutors had alleged that Dougherty -- the former business manager of IBEW Local 98 and the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council -- spent the money on home renovations, meals, concerts and groceries for himself and his family and friends.

    Closing arguments are underway in John Dougherty embezzlement trial

    December 4, 2023 // Dougherty threatened to “beat up,” “run over” and put potential witnesses “under the water” in a speech secretly recorded by an FBI informant. Costello, addressing the jury Monday morning, pointed to the frequency with which those supposed mistakes occurred. “This conduct was not a one-time mistake,” he said. “It was something that was done all the time. It was pervasive. It was intentional. In fact, it was so pervasive it just became routine.”

    Trial of Philadelphia labor leaders exposes the rampant corruption plaguing the country’s unions

    November 16, 2023 // On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Grenell showed evidence of Burrows billing the union for more than $65,000 “for renovations done on his New Jersey home and other properties he owned,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Last week, lawyers showed the jury proof that Dougherty spent $7,000 of union dues on a birthday party and lavish gifts for his wife and mistress, the union’s political director, “at separate Atlantic City shindigs within weeks of each other." Union corruption is nothing new, and Burrow’s and Dougherty’s trial details are relatively unsurprising. Those organizations have a long track record of dishonesty and exploitative tactics, such as forcing a company’s employees to pay union dues or strong-arming the city of Philadelphia to use union contractors for projects.

    Ex-union boss John Dougherty’s embezzlement trial starts this week. He could get jail time.

    October 31, 2023 // Dougherty, who was once a hugely influential political force in the city and statewide, is trying to avoid another loss in court — and possible jail time — following his conviction on corruption charges two years ago. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has already secured guilty pleas in the embezzlement case from four former employees of the union he led, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). They’re now trying to convict Dougherty and a codefendant, former union president Brian Burrows, who will be tried separately.