Carpenters’ Union Agent Guilty Of Racketeering

A former business agent of the District Council of New York City and Vicinity of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners has pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to participating in a racketeering scheme and other offenses.

From approximately May 2004 until his arrest in August 2009, Brian Hayes was a District Council business agent appointed to Local 608.

Hayes was also an elected officer of Local 608 and, prior to being appointed a business agent, he was a longtime shop steward with Local 608. In these capacities, Hayes owed the District Council, Local 608, and their members a fiduciary duty of loyalty and honest services.

In pleading guilty, Hayes admitted to participating in the affairs of the Carpenters Union through a pattern of racketeering activity, to taking a cash bribe payment from at least one contractor, and to obstructing and giving false testimony in a civil case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to address a history of union corruption and organized crime influence within the District Council.

Hayes pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of racketeering, which also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on Dec. 3.

Hayes is the ninth of 10 defendants in the case to plead guilty. Trial as to the remaining defendant, Joseph Olivieri is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18 before Judge Marrero.