An Irish building contractor is one of 10 people at the centre of an FBI probe into a corruption case involving the New York city carpenters' union and is facing charges of acting as a bagman ferrying thousands of dollars in cash to the Irish American head of the union.
Finbar O'Neill, aged 44, and from Co Tyrone, surrendered to the FBI at Newark International Airport on Wednesday after returning from Ireland. O'Neill, a founder of and consultant with the O'Neill Group, which is developing sites in New York, is facing corruption charges related to an alleged bribery scheme involving the New York city carpenters' union. He was one of 10 people named in a 29-count indictment after a federal investigation into the carpenters' union.
The FBI said their indictment charges Michael Forde, the head of the carpenters' union district council in New York City, together with seven other union officials, a construction contractor, and a contractor's representative with a series of offences stemming from a scheme where union officials were alleged to have, in return for bribes, allowed construction contractors to avoid full payment of union wages and benefits at various job sites in New York city.
The FBI indictment charges O'Neill with racketeering conspiracy, where he could face, if convicted, up to 20 years in jail, for conspiracy, wire fraud and deprivation of honest services, and unlawful acceptance of payment by a labour representative. He appeared in federal court on Wednesday and was released on $500,000 bail.
The acting US attorney for the southern district of New York, said leaders of the union were charged with betraying the rank and file of the union they were sworn to protect.
"Instead of protecting the financial interests of union members and their families, corrupt union officials and the contractors who bribed them are charged with betraying the carpenters' union and its benefit funds to enrich themselves, " said Lev Dassin.
He said the indictment showed continuing corruption at the highest ranks of the union's leadership, even after years of dedicated efforts to rid the union of wrongdoing.
He said Forde and his co-defendants lined their pockets at the expense of union members and now they faced criminal charges for their conduct.
"Rather than doing what they were elected to do, safeguarding wages and benefits for union members, they took cash and other bribes to turn a blind eye to contractors schemes to cheat the rank and file," said FBI assistant director-in-charge Joseph Demarest.
"Motivated by self-interest, they sold out the interests of the members," he said.
The O'Neill Group said Finbar O'Neill is a consultant for the company, not an owner. He is married to company CEO Paula O'Neill. The company website says that the O'Neill Group was established in 1993 by the O'Neill family and the group has evolved "into a thriving organisation; now specialising predominantly in real estate development, land acquisition and property management".
- Don Lavery
- Don Lavery
1 comment:
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