Posts tagged Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council
Former Philly union leader Chris Woods found not guilty of fraud
June 11, 2026 // Christen “Chris” Woods, the former leader of one of Philadelphia’s largest labor unions, was acquitted of theft and conspiracy charges Wednesday by a judge who rejected prosecutors’ allegations that he used a union-funded renovation project to secretly funnel money into local political campaigns. In delivering her verdict, Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman said prosecutors had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Woods — who once led District 1199C of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees — acted criminally when he hired longtime political operative Tracy Hardy to oversee the renovation of a bar inside the union’s Center City headquarters in 2019. The case against him, she said, relied on circumstantial evidence that did not definitively tie Woods to any wrongdoing.
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
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.