(1) Former-U.S. District Judge Robert P. Aguilar. In 1987, federal agents were investigating health care fraud in Northern California and targeted an ex-Teamsters boss, Rudy Tham, and an organized crime boss, Abe Chapman. The agents saw Aguilar leave the courthouse with Chapman, a family friend. When a fellow judge heard about the incident from the agents, he told Aguilar that Aguilar’s name “had come up” on an application for a wiretap. Judges are obliged by law to keep such information confidential but Aguilar warned Chapen about the possibility of a wiretap. The agents also learned that Chapman and Tham’s attorney met with Aguilar to discuss how they could influence another judge who was set to rule in a Tham case. Aguilar then approached the other judge. Later, when the agents interviewed Aguilar, he lied about both the wiretap and the Tham conversation. Prosecutors brought an eight-count indictment against Aguilar, and a jury convicted Aguilar in 1990 on two counts: obstructing a grand jury inquiry and disclosing a wiretap. See: David G. Savag, “Justices Reinstate Conviction of U.S. Judge in California,” L.A. Times Jun. 22, 1995. Luskin represented Aguilar on several appeals throughout the 1990s.Luskin’s ties to organized-crime bosses, drug dealers and Arthur A. Coia’s virtual law partner raise strong concerns of his independence and how he was selected by Coia to head the LIUNA “internal reform effort.” By themselves, these tainted legal ties do not justify Luskin’s removal; however, in conjunction with other concerns cited within this report, Luskin’s representation and connections to these individuals should at least trouble DOJ.(2) Ronald “Ronnie” Lorenzo. In 1993, reputed mobster Lorenzo was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in Los Angeles for drug trafficking. A federal jury convicted Lorenzo of conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in two 1990 deals with FBI informant Robert Franchi. Lorenzo reportedly trusted Franchi due to their mutual friends in Raymond L.S. Patriarca’s organized-crime family in New England. Authorities believe Lorenzo is a member of the Bonnano crime family. See: Paul Lieberman, “Inside Hollywood Mike’s Crew,” L.A. Times Apr. 14, 1996. According to DOJ’s draft RICO complaint against LIUNA, “The Bonnano family...is headquartered in New York City and operates in various other locations in the United States. The Bonnano family is [a] New York City LCN family...” Luskin represented Lorenzo on an appeal that Lorenzo lost on Oct. 8, 1998.
(3) Peter Chong. Chong, a reputed leader of the Wo Hop To crime organization "triad" in San Francisco, is currently a fugitive. Luskin represented Chong before the U.S. Senate Government Operations in November 1991 where Chong repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions about burgeoning Asian organized crime in California. At the hearing, Chong admitted that he was a citizen of the People's Republic of China. Chong refused to state whether he was the head of the Wo Hop To gang or whether he was involved in the murder Danny Wong, reputed leader of the rival Wah Ching gang. See: “Reputed Asian Gang Chief Takes Fifth,” L.A. Times Nov. 6, 1991.
(4) Thanong “Thai Tony” Siriprechapong. Siriprechapong is Southeast Asia businessman and a former member of the Thai parliament. Siriprechapong was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury in 1991 for smuggling over 45 ton of hashish. Siriprechapong was the first citizen ever extradited by the the Thai government. Luskin was working for Siriprechapong in Oct. 1998 to get the criminal charges dropped. See: Bill Wallace, “Customs Conviction Muddies Drug Trial,” S.F. Chronicle Nov. 9, 1998.
(5) Matthew A. Kilroe. Kilroe was one of seven Boston police officers convicted in 1988 on 56 counts of bribery, extortion and racketeering. See: Elizabeth Neuffer, “New trial sought for 7 in police extortion case,” Boston Globe Dec. 7, 1989. Luskin was co-counsel on Kilroe’s appeal with Anthony M. Traini. Traini a lawyer who works closely and out of the offices that used to be Arthur A. Coia’s Providence law firm, Coia & Lepore. Coia’s relative, Raymond C. Coia, replaced Arthur A. Coia in 1996. Traini has done extensive legal work for LIUNA over the years including the “botched” pension investigation of Dominick Lopreato of Connecticut Laborers' District Council. Lopreato was later indicted and convicted in 1995 and Traini actually represented Lopreato after his indictment. See: Dan Barry, “A Textbook Case of Union Corruption,” Providence Journal-Bulletin, Jun. 11, 1995; and Mark Pazniokas, “Labor Leader Enters Plea of Not Guilty,” Hartford Courant Oct. 1, 1994.
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Organized Labor Accountability Project