FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2000
CONTACT: Dan Rene, 703-847-3088 or drene@nlpc.org
WASHINGTON -- The National Legal and Policy Center, a union corruption watchdog, today condemned ex-Laborers’ Union boss, Arthur A. Coia, who reportedly plans to plead guilty next week on charges related to union corruption. NLPC also demanded that the judge reject the soft plea deal and send Coia to prison.
“Coia’s guilty plea further illustrates that the Laborers’ ‘internal reform effort’ is a sham,” said Ken Boehm, NLPC Chairman. “Since 1995, Coia and the union have perpetuated the myth that Coia is ‘squeaky clean.’ Today, finally, it is confirmed that Coia is just another dirty union boss. The Clinton-Reno Justice Department should be embarrassed that it has taken so long to bring Coia to partial justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Donald K. Stern in Boston, Coia engaged in a scheme to defraud the state and local governments of approximately $100,000 in taxes. The indictment alleges that from 1991 through 1997, Coia, with the assistance of a group of car dealers operating under the name of Viking (a Laborers’ International Union of North America vendor), purchased various expensive Ferrari automobiles that ranged in price from $215,000 to $1,050,000 and engaged in a scheme to avoid state and local taxes due on the purchases and ownership of those automobiles.
In Coia’s plea, the government recommends two-year probation term, full restitution and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, Coia is barred from any future role in LIUNA or its subordinate entities in any capacity, and to be barred from being an employee of any other union for a period of only five years. Coia retired as General President of LIUNA on Jan. 1, 2000. He now serves in an honorary position that involves no service as a consultant or advisor. He reportedly was set to get $335,000 a year from the union. The plea agreement is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole
“The agreement is an outrage. It doesn’t go far enough. In the interest of justice, Judge O’Toole must reject this soft plea deal and require Coia serve time in federal prison,” demanded Boehm. “For years Coia has avoided justice. Now that he’s caught, the government should not go soft on him. Coia is a corrupt union boss who should get what he deserves -- prison.”
Through its Organized Labor Accountability Project, NLPC is investigating and exposing corruption in the Teamsters, LIUNA, HERE, AFL-CIO and other labor organizations. NLPC publishes Union Corruption Update, a fortnightly newsletter. NLPC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation promoting ethics and accountability in government through research, education and legal action.
Organized Labor Accountability Project