The Philly electricians union leader is accused of threatening his nephew’s boss.
John Dougherty exits federal court after pleading not guilty at a 2019 arraignment KIMBERLY PAYNTER / WHYY
By Max Martin, BillyPenn
Philly labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty is now facing not one, but two federal indictments.
Authorities charged the head of the Local 98 electricians union on Wednesday in a new federal criminal matter, according to court documents. Dougherty was arrested at his South Philadelphia home on Wednesday morning and released under supervision in the afternoon, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.
A 19-count indictment charges Dougherty and his nephew, Gregory Fiocca, with conspiracy and extortion. The duo allegedly threatened “violence and economic harm” on a contractor if he did not continue employing Dougherty’s nephew — even for hours he didn’t work.
Through a spokesperson, Dougherty said the charges were part of a long-term “persecution” against him.
Federal prosecutors say nephew Fiocca was a frequent no-show at his union electrical job. But when the contractor failed to pay him for a full 40 hours a week last August, Fiocca allegedly resorted to violence.
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Fiocca grabbed a project manager identified as “R.G.” by the neck and threw him on a desk, threatening both him and the contractor, identified only as “R.P,” as well as the entire business.
“You owe me, 36 f-king hours before I break your f-king jaw,” Fiocca told the project manager, according to court documents. “Call an Agent. Call the [Union] Hall. There’s nothing you can do to me. I’m getting my money…You think yous are untouchable? I’ll break all of you, I’ll f-king break your face and [R.P.’s] face. How’s that sound?”
Fiocca allegedly said he was “calling my uncle already” and suggested the union leader would be “pulling everyone off the job.” An unnamed Local 98 representative later called Dougherty, according to court filings.
Related news stories:
The FBI sent a dozen agents with a battering ram (BILLYPENN)
‘You Think Yous Are Untouchable?’ (NBC10 video)
John Dougherty charged with extortion (Philly Voice)
The powerful union boss intervened on his nephew’s behalf with “escalating threats of economic harm,” U.S. Attorney Williams alleged outside the federal courthouse Tuesday. Dougherty allegedly threatened to bar Local 98 electricians from working overtime, pull workers from the job site and potentially cut off the contractor’s electrical work with the city unless the spat with his nephew was resolved.
“Fiocca took advantage of his uncle’s position as a powerful leader of an influential union, assaulted a co-worker, and enriched himself at the expense of his employer — and [Dougherty] is alleged to have had his back through all of it,” Williams said.
The contractor continued to employ Fiocca from August through at least mid-January, during which time prosecutors allege Fiocca “did little or no work, and received salary, wages, and credit for employee benefit contributions paid by the contractor,” according to the filing.
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