ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS (IUEC)
New York Probe May Bring Charges to Stop Union Corruption
at Site of September 11 Massacre
According to the N.Y. Post, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn
is on the verge of charging up to 75 individuals linked to Int'l
Union of Elevator Constructors Local 1 in order to stop the allegedly
mob-tainted local from illegally lining their pockets or inflating construction
costs in the devastated World Trade Ctr. site. Local 1 operates temporary
construction elevators, which will be required on the rebuilding of damaged
buildings around Ground Zero. Members of the local have allegedly doled
out no-show jobs to union cronies and members of two Mafia crime families.
Additionally, the prosecutors will reportedly seek a court monitor to oversee
the local, whose membership list reportedly includes Joseph Gotti, nephew
of imprisoned Gambino crime family boss John Gotti.
Four Local 1 members were charged in Sept. 1999 on mail-fraud charges for allegedly taking no-show checks, but in a rare move, prosecutors dismissed charges while retaining the right to reinstate them later. Among those charged was Terence Carr, the son-in-law of Local 1 president John Green. In 1997-98, Carr allegedly clocked 32-hour days at different locations around NYC and took no-show paychecks in his own name. Carr is now in Fla., working as an IUEC organizer Also charged were Leonard Capozzoli, Frank Walker and Thomas McCarthy, who were allegedly paid for numerous 25-hour days. The four allegedly ripped off several big-name construction firms. At least one of those companies is helping to clean up the WTC site. [N.Y. Post 12/30/01]
Charges are already pending against one Local 1 official. Matthew Downey was indicted in Oct. on witness tampering and obstruction of justice charges related to an alleged $2 million falsified hours scam. [USAO E.D.N.Y. 11/14/01]
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