Updated: Thursday, July 29th 2010
Corrupt Carpenter's union bigwig Michael Forde leaves Manhattan Federal Court after making a plea.
Nailed!
The drinking-and-drugging ex-boss of the city's carpenters union copped a plea to corruption charges Wednesday and is looking at nine years in federal lockup.
Michael Forde, 56, admitted selling out his membership by taking bribes from contractors, stealing union money - and then lying about it.
He cut a deal with prosecutors after a parade of lower-level union officials sold him out, including his former right-hand man.
"I along with other union officials accepted bribes including cash payments from contractors," Forde said in a loud, clear voice before a Manhattan federal magistrate.
"I made efforts to obstruct investigation into my conduct."
Forde was one of the city's most politically powerful labor leaders - and mugged for pictures with Mayor Bloomberg right before he was indicted.
Prosecutors said he used his position with the District Council of Carpenters to line his pockets at the expense of his 25,000 members.
He took thousands from contractors to look the other way when they hired illegal aliens, paid non-union wages and withheld payment to union benefit funds.
Forde pleaded guilty to bribery, racketeering and perjury - charges that carry up to 20 years.
He'll likely get 9-to-11-1/4 years as part of his cooperation agreement with the U.S. attorney's office, and has to pay back $100,000.
"Forde has admitted his guilt and it's about time," said dissident carpenter and blogger John Musumeci.
"But they still need to clean house in the District Council. Too many of Forde's cronies are still working there."
Forde was among 10 union heavies indicted a year ago.
Seven have already pleaded guilty, including reputed Luchese crime family associate Finbar O'Neill.
Reputed Genovese soldier Joseph Olivieri is scheduled for trial.
Feds who raided the District Council's headquarters found pills and a stun gun. Seven of the suspects tested positive for drugs.
Forde had pot and cocaine in his system and said in court that he's recovering from a booze and drug problem.
He was convicted of bribery in 2004, but the state court verdict was tossed out and he was acquitted at a 2008 mistrial.
Since he was busted last year, there's been a massive shakeup at the union.
His second-in-command resigned amid revelations of reckless spending of dues on steak dinners, junkets and parties.
More criminal charges could be coming, said Dennis Walsh, a mob-fighting ex-prosecutor appointed as a review officer last month.
"The union still has significant problems and, above all, needs to have its infrastructure, policies and procedures reconfigured," Walsh said.
BY Brain Kates and Scott Shifrel
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
JOHN DALY NEXT.........
ReplyDeleteOh poor baby-he's recovering from alcohol & drug addiction. LOL LMFAO
ReplyDeleteDRUGS THAT WERE PURCHASED WITH KICKBACK MONEY that should have been in the union funds. FUCK HIM.
AND ALL HE HAS TO PAY BACK IS 100k?
WTF IS THAT? He made more that 100K in 6 months in the Union.TAKE HIS PENSION & EVERY DIME HE HAS & MAKE HIM GO THRU APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL FOR 4 YEARS & THEN FIRE HIM.
After jail of course.
Mike Forde was in Nova Scotia when the news broke, at a meeting with the president of his union's international, Douglas McCarron, and other top officials. He arrived late in the day wearing a summery, striped blue polo shirt. He slumped forward in a chair, his big chin hanging on his chest. He was released on a $750,000 bond. Lead prosecutor Lisa Zornberg also asked that the union leader be subjected to drug tests. "He tested positive today for both cocaine and marijuana," she told the judge.
ReplyDeleteDoug.How Did you not notice he was whacked on coke and weed