Edward Sweeney, RICO Conspiracy, Pennsylvania 2014

PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking turn of events, Edward Sweeney, a 56-year-old former business agent for Ironworkers Local 401, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for his role in a RICO conspiracy involving members of the union.

Sweeney pleaded guilty on September 30, 2014, to RICO conspiracy, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, use of fire to commit a felony, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and attempted maliciously damaging property by means of fire.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Baylson, who also ordered Sweeney to pay restitution of $217,000, serve three years of supervised release, and pay a $600 special assessment.

Sweeney’s crimes were part of a larger plan to force non-union contractors to hire union labor. He was involved in 10 incidents of extortion or attempted extortion and took part in the Quaker Meetinghouse arson, an arson on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia, and an attempted arson in Malvern, all of which were in retaliation for contractors’ failure to hire union ironworkers.

The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, with assistance provided by the Philadelphia Police Department Corruption Task Force, East Whiteland Township Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Employee Benefit Security Administration.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Livermore, with legal assistance provided by Gerald Toner, Acting Deputy Chief for Labor-Management Racketeering, Organized Crime and Gang Section at the Department of Justice.

Sweeney is the 9th defendant to be sentenced in the case, and his sentencing brings the total number of convictions to [insert number]. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for their crimes and ensuring that justice is served.

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