After years of fighting criminal charges, the former head of the union that represents carpenters in New York City pleaded guilty on Wednesday to taking part in a racketeering scheme stretching back over a decade, the authorities said.
The former leader, Michael J. Forde, was accused along with nine other union officials and contractors of stealing millions of dollars from the union and its benefit funds.
The men were named last year in a 29-count indictment that charged that in exchange for bribes, Mr. Forde and the others allowed contractors to pay union members cash wages below union scale with no benefits, to hire illegal and nonunion workers, and to skip benefit contributions.
Mr. Forde had been tried twice before on state bribery charges dating to 2000. His first trial resulted in a conviction that was later overturned. His second trial ended in an acquittal.
But on Wednesday, Mr. Forde became the eighth person in the latest case to plead guilty.
Federal officials announced in New York that Mr. Forde had pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and another count of racketeering conspiracy, charges that each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Forde is scheduled to be sentenced in November.
His lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday night.
A version of this article appeared in print on July 29, 2010, on page A21 of the New York edition
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ex-Leader of Carpenters Union Pleads Guilty to Racketeering
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