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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT |
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK |
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
COMPLAINT |
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Plaintiff, |
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Civil Action No. |
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- against- |
CV-05 |
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INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S |
(_________, J.) |
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ASSOCIATION, AFL-CIO, |
(_________, M.J.) |
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JOHN BOWERS, President, |
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ROBERT E. GLEASON, Secretary-Treasurer, |
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ALBERT CERNADAS, Executive Vice-President, |
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BENNY HOLLAND, JR., General Vice-President, |
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GERALD OWENS, General Organizer, |
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HAROLD J. DAGGETT, Assistant General Organizer, |
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HORACE T. ALSTON, Vice-President, |
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JORGE L. APONTE FIGUEROA, Vice-President, |
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CHAUNCEY J. BAKER, Vice-President, |
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JOHN D. BAKER, Vice-President, |
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JOHN BOWERS, JR., Vice-President, |
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EDWARD L. BROWN, SR., Vice-President, |
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TIMOTHY BROWN, Vice-President, |
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JAMES A. CAMPBELL, Vice-President, |
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RONALD CAPRI, Vice-President, |
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CHARLES CHILLEMI, Vice-President, |
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ARTHUR COFFEY, Vice-President, |
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RAYMOND DESGAGNES, Vice-President, |
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MICHAEL DICKENS, Vice-President, |
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CLYDE FITZGERALD, Vice-President, |
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PERRY C. HARVEY, Vice-President, |
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STEPHEN KNOTT, Vice-President, |
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JOHN H. MACKEY, Vice-President, |
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JAMES T. MCCLELAND, JR., Vice-President, |
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WILLIAM R. MCNAMARA, Vice-President, |
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JAMES H. PAYLOR, JR., Vice-President, |
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LOUIS PERNICE, Vice-President, |
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KENNETH RILEY, Vice-President, |
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RAYMOND SIERRA, Vice-President, |
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HARRISON TYLER, Vice-President, |
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REUBEN WHEATLEY, Vice-President, |
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PETER GOTTI, |
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ANTHONY CICCONE, a/k/a “Sonny,” |
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JEROME BRANCATO, a/k/a “Jerry,”
JAMES CASHIN,
THE MANAGEMENT - INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION MANAGED HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND,
THE METROPOLITAN MARINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION,
THE METRO-ILA FRINGE BENEFIT FUND,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE METRO-ILA FRINGE BENEFIT FUND,
THE METRO-ILA PENSION FUND,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE METRO-ILA
PENSION FUND,
THE METRO-ILA INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT
RETIREMENT FUND,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE METRO-ILA
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT RETIREMENT FUND,
Defendants.
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The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, by its attorney, ROSLYNN R.
MAUSKOPF, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Richard K. Hayes
and Kathleen A. Nandan, Assistant United States Attorneys, of counsel, alleges for its Complaint
herein as follows:
INTRODUCTION
At all times relevant to this Complaint:
LCN Control Of The Waterfront And The ILA
1 The New York/New Jersey waterfront is an integrated commercial marketplace composed of several separate ports, including the Port of New York and the Port of New Jersey, occupying a common harbor and encompassing some 1500 square miles and 234 municipalities. The waterfront harbor plays a critical role in the movement of manufactured, agricultural, and other goods throughout the Eastern seaboard and has a major impact on this nation’s commerce. United States v. Local 1804-1, International Longshoremen’s Association, 812 F. Supp. 1303, 1312 (S.D.N.Y. 1993). For the purposes of this Complaint, the term “Waterfront” is defined as the Port of New York and New Jersey and all businesses and unions involved in commerce in the Port, whether located on Port property or not, including but not limited to container repair and storage businesses, chassis repair and storage businesses, trucking businesses, trucking dispatching businesses, shipping lines and terminals, the International Longshoreman’s Association, AFL-CIO (“ILA”) and all ILA locals and other ILA subordinate labor organizations.
2 Notwithstanding its economic importance to the nation, the Waterfront has been the setting for corruption, violence, and abuse of Waterfront labor and businesses by New York-based La Cosa Nostra families. This pattern of racketeering has been facilitated by La Cosa Nostra’s control and influence over labor unions, including the ILA and its Executive Officers, operating on the Waterfront.
3 In addition to exercising criminal control over the Waterfront, the La Cosa Nostra families have exercised criminal control over businesses and unions elsewhere, including certain businesses and unions operating in the Port of Miami in Florida. For purposes of this Complaint, the term “Port of Miami” includes businesses and unions involved in commerce in the Port, whether located on port property or not, including but not limited to container repair and storage businesses, chassis repair and storage businesses, trucking businesses, trucking
dispatching businesses, shipping lines and terminals, the ILA and all ILA subordinate labor organizations.
4 La Cosa Nostra (“LCN”), a/k/a the “Mafia” or “Our Thing,” is a nationwide criminal organization that has operated throughout the United States through entities known as “families.” LCN figures have used their control of various labor unions to demand and receive payoffs from employers of union members in exchange for labor peace, to embezzle union funds, and to engage in other racketeering acts, including those described below. The existence of LCN was proven in United States v. Salerno, No. 85 Cr. 139 (S.D.N.Y.) (RO), aff*d, 868 F.2d 524 (2d Cir. 1989) (the “Commission Case”), as well as in other cases.
5 Since the late 1950s, two LCN families, the Gambino Organized Crime family (“Gambino family”) and the Genovese Organized Crime family (“Genovese family”), have shared control of the Waterfront. United States v. Local 1804-1, International Longshoremen’s Association, 812 F. Supp. 1303, 1313 (S.D.N.Y. 1993) (LBS). The existence of the Gambino family was proven, among other cases, in the Commission Case and in United States v. Gallo, No. 86 Cr. 452 (E.D.N.Y.) (JBW), aff*d, 863 F.2d 185 (2d Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 109 S. Ct. 1539 (1989). The existence of the Genovese family was proven in, among other cases, the Commission Case and in United States v. Salerno, No. 86 Cr. 245 (S.D.N.Y.) (MJL). The Gambino and Genovese families are headquartered in New York.
6 The Gambino and Genovese families each operate through groups of individuals headed by “captains,” who are also referred to as “capos,” “skippers,” “caporegimes” and “capodecinas.” These groups, which are referred to as “crews,” “regimes” and “decinas,” consist of “made” members, who are also referred to as “soldiers,” “friends of ours,” “good
fellows” and “wise guys,” and associates. Each captain is responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew and providing crew members and associates with support and protection. Above the captains are the three highest-ranking family members. The head of a family is known as the “boss.” He is assisted by an “underboss” and a counselor, who is known as the “consigliere.” With the assistance of the underboss and the consigliere, the boss is responsible for setting policy, resolving disputes between members of the family and members of other criminal organizations, and approving all significant actions by members of the family. From time to time, members of the family are appointed temporarily to boss, underboss, consigliere or captain positions and function in an “acting” capacity in the stead of an incarcerated or temporarily incapacitated family member who continues to hold the “official,” as opposed to “acting,” position within the family.
7 Prior to December 1985, Paul Castellano was the boss of the Gambino family. After Castellano was murdered in December 1985, John J. Gotti became the boss of the Gambino family. On April 2, 1992, John J. Gotti was convicted of racketeering and other related offenses and received a sentence of life imprisonment. He thereafter appointed his son, John A. Gotti, to be acting boss. In or about early 1994, a committee consisting of three captains of the Gambino family was formed to assist John A. Gotti in running the Gambino family. On September 3, 1999, John A. Gotti was convicted of racketeering, loan-sharking and tax offenses and received a sentence of 77 months imprisonment. Thereafter, PETER GOTTI, John J. Gotti’s brother, became boss of the Gambino family.
8 From the 1980s through the date of the filing of this Complaint, the boss of the Genovese family was Vincent Gigante, also known as “Chin.” In 1997, Vincent Gigante
was convicted of racketeering and related offenses and began serving a prison term. Although Vincent Gigante remained the boss of the Genovese family, responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of the Genovese family passed to a committee of members of the family, also known as the “Administration,” whose members have included acting bosses Liborio Bellomo and Ernest Muscarella. Vincent Gigante communicated with the Administration, as well as with other members of the Genovese family, using intermediaries, including his son, Andrew Gigante, a Genovese family associate, who often visited Vincent Gigante in prison.
9 With the approval of Vincent Gigante, the Administration was responsible for setting policy for the Genovese family, resolving disputes between members of the family and members of other criminal organizations, and approving all significant actions by members of the Genovese family. The Administration supervised, supported, protected and disciplined the captains, soldiers and associates and regularly received reports regarding the criminal activities of members and associates of the Genovese family.
10 Through the use of actual and threatened force, violence and fear, the Gambino and Genovese families have exercised influence over labor unions and businesses at commercial shipping terminals on the Waterfront and the Port of Miami. The Genovese family has primarily exercised such influence at commercial shipping terminals in Manhattan, New Jersey and the Port of Miami. The Gambino family has primarily exercised such influence at commercial shipping terminals in Brooklyn and Staten Island. The influence of organized crime on the Waterfront and in the Port of Miami has been facilitated by the ILA. While the ILA’s motto is “Sobriety, Truth, Justice and Morality,” its actions and inaction establish that it has been a complicit partner in the pervasive corruption that has prevailed on the docks for so many
decades. In a number of instances, members and associates of the Gambino and Genovese families have been ILA officials. These and other members and associates of the Gambino and Genovese families have had positions as trustees of various ILA benefit funds, or they have been paid advisors to the funds. Friends and relatives of LCN members and associates have been given well-paying union jobs at the expense of the ILA membership.
11 . This action is brought by the United States pursuant to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1964, to put an end to the conspiracy among union officials, organized crime figures and others that has plagued some of the nation’s most important ports for decades.
JURISDICTION
12 Jurisdiction for this action is predicated upon 18 U.S.C. § 1964(a), and 28
U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1345, 2201, and 2202.
VENUE
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Venue for this action is predicated upon 18 U.S.C. § 1965 and 28 U.S.C. |
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§ 1391. |
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PARTIES |
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Plaintiff United States of America is a sovereign and body politic. |
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The ILA |
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Defendant ILA is a labor organization, as that term is defined in 29 U.S.C. |
§§ 402 (i) and (j), which represents employees of businesses engaged in industries affecting interstate and foreign commerce. Specifically, the ILA is a national labor union that represents longshoremen and other laborers working at ports around the United States. The ILA is a nominal Defendant herein, whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action. Pursuant to the terms of its constitution, the ILA is governed by an Executive Council, and it is divided into two geographic districts, the Atlantic Coast District and the South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District. Local union chapters exist within the districts. The ILA’s principal office is located at 17 Battery Place, Suite 930, New York, New York 10004.
16 The Executive Council of the ILA consists of a President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice-President, General Vice-President, General Organizer, Assistant General Organizer, and twenty-six Vice-Presidents. Great power and authority resides with the Executive Council and, in particular, with the top six International Officers. For example, Article IX, Section 1 of the ILA Constitution provides, in part, with respect to the office of the President:
The International President shall be the principal executive officer
of the I.L.A.: He shall preside at Conventions and at meetings of
the Executive Council. He shall convene meetings of the
Executive Council or submit matters for its decision . . . he shall
appoint all committees not otherwise provided for by this
Constitution; he shall designate the duties and direct the
performances thereof of District officers, representatives and Vice-
Presidents. All bills covering expenses incurred must be approved
by him before payment. He shall have power to examine, inspect,
or audit personally, or by his designee or designees, all the books,
records, papers, and accounts of any local union, district council, or
district organization of the I.L.A., whenever he may deem it
necessary he may compel the production of such books, records,
papers, and accounts. . . . He shall have such other and further
powers in addition to those herein enumerated, and shall perform
such other and further duties as are usual to his office, and as are
performed by the President in accordance with the usages of the
I.L.A.
Article IX, Section 2 provides that the International Executive Vice-President:
shall aid and assist the International President in the carrying out of his duties and functions, and shall act on behalf of the President whenever the International President shall be ill, absent, incapacitated, or unable to serve. The International President in his discretion may delegate such of his duties and functions as he determines to the International Executive Vice-President, and upon such delegation the International Executive Vice-President shall have and may exercise such powers of the International President as are necessary to the proper performance of such delegated duties and functions . . . .
Article IX, Section 3 states that the International General Vice-President:
shall assist the International President and the International Executive Vice-President during Conventions, Executive Council meetings, Wage Scale Committee meetings and otherwise in the discharge of their duties and functions. The International President in his discretion may delegate such other duties and functions as he determines to the International General Vice-President in order to represent the interest of the I.L.A.
Article IX, Section 4 provides in part that the Vice-Presidents, the General Organizer and the Assistant General Organizer:
shall, at the request of the International President, aid and assist him during the session of the Convention and in such other manner and form as the International President may from time to time request or direct, and shall generally represent the interest in the I.L.A. in their areas. They shall render periodic reports of their activities to the International office.
Article IX, Section 5 provides in part that the International Secretary-Treasurer:
shall act as Secretary of Conventions and all meeting of the Executive Council and shall . . . have charge of all funds of the I.L.A. . . . He shall collect from the locals and from all other available sources all information showing the condition of the workers. He shall act as legislative agent of the I.L.A., if directed by the President. He shall instruct local unions, district councils and districts as to the manner in which they shall keep accounts of their financial transactions and may require them to submit to him periodic reports containing such information and in such forms as he may prescribe. When requested by the President, he shall act as Auditor to audit the books and records of any local or any of the subdivisions of the I.L.A., and shall perform such duties in connection therewith as the President may direct. He shall have such further powers in addition to those herein enumerated as are usual to his office. He shall have power to employ and discharge such employees as may be required to assist him in his work.
Article XVIII of the Constitution vests broad disciplinary powers in the Executive Council:
Section 1. (a) The term “discipline when used in this Section shall include, without limitation, a fine, removal from office or job, disqualification to run for office, or suspension or expulsion from membership, or suspension or cancellation of Charter. (b) Any member, officer, or representative of the I.L.A. or any of its subdivisions, shall be subject to discipline who is found guilty, after notice of and opportunity for hearing upon charges, as provided for in this Article, of violating any provision of this Constitution, or a decision of the Executive Council or of his local union, district council, or district organization, or of dishonesty, misconduct, or conduct detrimental to the welfare of the I.L.A. . . . (e) The Executive Council shall have power to discipline any member, officer or paid representative of a local union, any officer or paid representative of or delegate to a district council or district organization, any International officer or paid national representative whom it finds guilty of any conduct specified in paragraph (b).
Section 2. The Executive Council shall have power, after notice of and opportunity for hearing upon charges, to suspend, expel, dissolve, merge, consolidate or otherwise discipline any local union or district council which it finds guilty of violating any provisions of this Constitution or decision of the Executive Council made pursuant thereto.
Article XXI of the ILA Constitution further vests broad powers in the Executive Council to impose trusteeships over ILA Locals:
Section 1. Trusteeships over local unions, district councils, or district organizations shall be established and administered in accordance with this Article and for one or more of the following purposes: (1) to correct corruption, (2) to correct financial malpractice, (3) to assure the performance of collective bargaining agreements, (4) to assure the performance of the duties of a collective bargaining representative, (5) to restore democratic procedures, or (6) otherwise to carry out the objects and purposes of the I.L.A.
Section 2. Whenever in the judgment of the International President it shall be necessary to act to effectuate one or more of the purposes set forth in Section 1 of this Article, then the International President, with or without a hearing but after an investigation, shall have the power, with the approval of the Executive Council, to suspend the officers of a local union, district council or district organization and to appoint a trustee or trustees to take charge and control of the books, records, property, assets, funds and affairs of such subordinate body. . . .
17 In its most recent annual filing with the Department of Labor, the ILA reported that the top six ILA officers received the following compensation during calendar year 2004
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JOHN
BOWERS................................ $
413,556.00
President
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ROBERT
GLEASON..........................$
383,012.00
Secretary Treasurer
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ALBERT
CERNADAS .............$
330,579.00
Executive Vice-President
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Benny
Holland......................................
$ 257,120.00
General Vice-President
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Gerald
Owens
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275,468.00
General Organizer
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HAROLD
J. DAGGETT ..............$
261,751.00
Assistant General Organizer
In addition to these salaries, these officers and the Vice-Presidents within the ILA Executive Council typically hold one or more other union offices at the district or local level and receive substantial salaries for holding those offices.
ILA Officer Defendants
18 Defendant JOHN BOWERS has been President of the ILA since 1987. Prior to his election as ILA President, BOWERS served as Executive Vice-President, the second highest union position in the ILA, for twenty-four years. BOWERS is President of the ILA’s Atlantic Coast District and President of ILA Local 824. BOWERS is a member of Defendant Board of Trustees of Defendant Management International Longshoremen’s Association Managed Health Care Trust Fund (“MILA Board”), a member of the Board of Trustees of the funds jointly managed by the ILA and the New York Shipping Association (“NYSA-ILA Funds”) and, at one point, was President of ILA Locals 1809 and 1909. BOWERS was an unindicted co-conspirator in United States v. Coonan, et al., No. 87 Cr. 249 (S.D.N.Y.) (WK), aff*d, 876 F.2d 891 (2d Cir.) (Table), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 975 (1989), in which the United States proved, inter alia, that the Westies, associates of the Gambino family, had conspired to extort money from officials of ILA Locals 1909 and 1809 and in furtherance of that conspiracy had murdered ILA Local 1909 official Vincent Leone. BOWERS is an associate of the Genovese family.
19 Defendant ROBERT E. GLEASON, son of former ILA President and Genovese family associate “Teddy” Gleason, is the Secretary-Treasurer of the ILA, former Secretary-Treasurer of the ILA’s Atlantic Coast District Council and, at one point, was Secretary-Treasurer of ILA Local 1809. GLEASON is a member of Defendant MILA Board, and a member of the Board of Trustees of one or more of the NYSA-ILA Funds. Through May 2003, GLEASON was the ILA-appointed trustee of Local 1814. GLEASON is an associate of the Genovese family.
20 Defendant ALBERT CERNADAS is Executive Vice-President of the ILA and President of ILA Local 1235. CERNADAS is a member of Defendant MILA Board, and a member of the Board of Trustees of one or more of the NYSA-ILA Funds. CERNADAS is an associate of the Genovese family. CERNADAS has been indicted in the Eastern District of New York for mail and wire fraud conspiracy concerning the ILA. United States v. Coffey, et al., No. 04 Cr. 651 (E.D.N.Y.) (ILG). A copy of the Indictment is annexed as Exhibit 1.
21 Defendant HAROLD J. DAGGETT is Assistant General Organizer of the ILA and President of Local 1804-1. DAGGETT is a member of Defendant MILA Board, and a member of the Board of Trustees of NYSA-FLA Funds. DAGGETT is an associate of the Genovese family. A criminal complaint has been filed against DAGGETT in the Eastern District of New York, and he has been indicted for extortion conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy concerning the ILA. United States v. Coffey, et al., No. 04 Cr. 651 (E.D.N.Y.) (ILG). See Exhibit 1; Exhibit 2, Complaint.
22 22. Defendant ARTHUR COFFEY is a Vice-President of the ILA, Vice-President of the ILA’s South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District, and President of ILA Locals 1922, 1922-1 and 2062. COFFEY was a member of Defendant MILA Board and a trustee of the ILA Local 1922 Health and Welfare Fund as well as the ILA-Employers Southeast Florida Ports Welfare Fund. COFFEY is an associate of the Genovese family. A criminal complaint has been filed against COFFEY in the Eastern District of New York, and he has been indicted for extortion conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy concerning the ILA. United States v. Coffey, et al., No. 04 Cr. 651 (E.D.N.Y.) (ILG). See Exhibits 1 and 2.
23 Benny Holland, Jr. is General Vice-President of the ILA and President Emeritus of the ILA’s South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District. Holland is a member of Defendant MILA Board. Holland is named as a nominal Defendant in his official capacity as a fiduciary whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
24 Gerald Owens is General Organizer of the ILA and President of ILA Local 2019. Owens is a member of Defendant MILA Board and a member of the Board of Trustees of one or more of the NYSA-ILA Funds. Owens is named as a nominal Defendant in his official capacity as a fiduciary whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
25 25. The twenty-four Vice-Presidents of the ILA listed below are named as nominal Defendants in their official capacities as fiduciaries whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action. According to testimony given by Gambino associate and former ILA Vice-President Frank Scollo in United States v. Gotti, et al., No. 02 Cr. 606 (E.D.N.Y.) (FB), the ILA’s Vice-Presidents “follow the lead” of the “Big Six” ILA Executive Officers in all union matters of importance:
a. Horace T. Alston, Vice-President
b. Jorge L. Aponte Figueroa, Vice-President
c. Chauncey J. Baker, Vice-President
d. John D. Baker, Vice-President
e. John Bowers, Jr., Vice-President
f. Edward L. Brown, Sr., Vice-President
g. Timothy Brown, Vice-President
h. James A. Campbell, Vice-President
i. Ronald Capri, Vice-President
j. Charles Chillemi, Vice-President
k. Raymond Desgagnes, Vice-President
l. Michael Dickens, Vice-President
m. Clyde Fitzgerald, Vice-President
n. Perry C. Harvey, Vice-President
o. Stephen Knott, Vice-President
p. John H. Mackey, Vice-President
q. James T. McCleland, Jr., Vice-President
r. William R. McNamara, Vice-President
s. James H. Paylor, Jr., Vice-President
t. Louis Pernice, Vice-President
u. Kenneth Riley, Vice-President
v. Raymond Sierra, Vice-President
w. Harrison Tyler, Vice-President
x. Reuben Wheatley, Vice-President
MILA Defendants
26. Defendant Management - International Longshoremen’s Association Managed Health Care Trust Fund (“MILA”) provides health insurance, including prescription drug coverage, nationally for ILA members. MILA is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
27. Defendant MILA Board comprises union and employer representatives and governs MILA. The MILA Board is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
LCN Defendants
28. PETER GOTTI is the boss of the Gambino family.
29. ANTHONY CICCONE, also known as “Sonny,” is a captain in the Gambino family.
30. JEROME BRANCATO, also known as “Jerry,” is a soldier in the Gambino family.
31. JAMES CASHIN is a former ILA official and associate of the Genovese family.
METRO
32. Defendant Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors* Association, Inc. (“METRO”) is an association of employers engaged in business affecting interstate commerce, including commerce on the Waterfront. METRO’s principal office is located at 301 Route 17N, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070. Members of METRO directly or indirectly employ ILA members. METRO is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
METRO-ILA Fund Defendants
33. Pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, Defendant METRO and ILA Locals 1804-1 and Local 1814 have established certain funds for the benefit of members of Locals 1804-1 and 1814 (collectively the “METRO-ILA Funds”).
34. Defendant METRO-ILA Fringe Benefit Fund is an “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of § 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1002(1), established for the purpose of providing medical and other benefits to eligible members and retirees of ILA Locals 1804-1 and 1814. On or about January 1, 2001, the METRO-ILA Welfare Fund, also an “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of § 3(1) of ERISA, was merged into the METRO-ILA Fringe Fund. The METROILA Fringe Fund is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
35. Defendant METRO-ILA Pension Fund is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of § 3(2) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1002(2), established to provide retirement income to eligible retired members of ILA Locals 1804-1 and 1814. The METROILA Pension Fund is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
36. Defendant METRO-ILA Individual Account Retirement Fund (the “Individual Account Retirement Fund”) is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of § 3(2) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1002(2), established to provide annuity benefits to eligible members of Locals 1804-1 and 1814 upon retirement. The METRO-ILA Individual Account Retirement Fund is a nominal Defendant herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
37. The Boards of Trustees of the METRO-ILA Fringe Benefit Fund, METRO-ILA Pension Fund and METRO-ILA Individual Account Retirement Fund are nominal Defendants herein whose participation is necessary to effect the full relief sought in this action.
38. Until recently, Genovese family soldier Pasquale Falcetti was a Trustee of the METRO-ILA Funds, and Genovese family associate Michael Ragusa was Executive Director of the METRO-ILA Fringe Benefit Fund. Jerome Brancato, son of Gambino family soldier Defendant JEROME BRANCATO, is the Executive Director of the METRO-ILA Pension Fund. The Defendant METRO-ILA Funds share offices with Defendant METRO at 301 Route 17N, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070.
CO-CONSPIRATORS NOT NAMED AS DEFENDANTS
39. The following members and associates of the Genovese family conspired with one or more of the Defendants to conduct and participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of the affairs of the Enterprise, as herein defined, and in acquiring or maintaining, directly or indirectly, an interest in, or control of, the Enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity:
a. Vincent Gigante, also known as “Chin,” the boss of the Genovese family from the 1980s through the date of the filing of this Complaint;
b. Ernest Muscarella, also known as “Ernie,” who, between approximately the fall of 2000 and the date of the filing of this Complaint, was acting boss of the Genovese family. Prior to becoming acting boss, Muscarella was the captain of a powerful Genovese family crew operating primarily in East Harlem and the Bronx (the “Harlem/Bronx crew”);
c. Liborio Bellomo, also known as “Barney,” who, between approximately 1988 and 1996, was acting boss of the Genovese family. Prior to that time, Bellomo was the captain of the Harlem/Bronx crew of the Genovese family;
d. Charles Tuzzo, also known as “Chuckie,” a captain in the Genovese family;
e. Pasquale Falcetti, also known as “Patty,” a soldier of the Genovese family in the Harlem/Bronx crew;
f. Michael Ragusa, also known as “Mickey,” a soldier of the Genovese family in the Harlem/Bronx crew;
g. Thomas Cafaro, an associate of the Genovese family. Between approximately the 1970s and 1996, Cafaro was in the Harlem/Bronx crew of the Genovese family. After approximately 1996, Cafaro was in the Genovese family crew of Charles Tuzzo;
h. Andrew Gigante, an associate of the Genovese family. Andrew Gigante is the son of Genovese family boss, Vincent “Chin” Gigante;
i. George Barone, a soldier of the Genovese family;
j. Alan Longo, a captain in the Genovese family;
k. Lawrence “Larry” Ricci, a captain in the Genovese family.
40. In United States v. Bellomo, No. 02 Cr. 140 (S-2) (E.D.N.Y.) (ILG), coconspirators Vicente Gigante, Ernest Muscarella, Liborio Bellomo, Charles Tuzzo, Pasquale Falcetti, Michael Ragusa, Thomas Cafaro, and Andrew Gigante were charged with, inter alia, engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity in violation of RICO, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), including multiple acts under the following sections:
(A.) 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (extortion)
(B.) 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1346 (mail fraud)
(C.) 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (money laundering)
(D.) 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (witnesses tampering)
(E.) 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (interstate travel in aid of racketeering)
(F.) 18 U.S.C. § 1955 (gambling) and multiple acts involving:
(G.) fraud in the sale of securities in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) and 78ff; and
(H.) bribery in violation of the New York State Penal Law, §§ 180.15 and 20.00. A copy of the indictment is annexed as Exhibit 3.
41. On April 7, 2003, Vincent Gigante pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
42. On April 7, 2003, Liborio Bellomo, Thomas Cafaro, Pasquale Falcetti, Ernest Muscarella and Michael Ragusa pleaded guilty to violating RICO.
43. On April 7, 2003, Charles Tuzzo and Andrew Gigante pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy.
44. On April, 7, 2003, the United States filed a complaint against Liborio Bellomo, Thomas Cafaro, Pasquale Falcetti, Andrew Gigante, Ernest Muscarella, Michael Ragusa, and Charles Tuzzo, pursuant to RICO, alleging that they had conspired to conduct, and participated directly and indirectly in the conduct of, the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, as set forth in the Superseding Indictment in United States v. Bellomo. See United States v. Bellomo, No. 03 Civ. 1638 (E.D.N.Y.) (ILG). A copy of the complaint is annexed as Exhibit 4. Subsequently, they entered into a Consent Judgment and Decree which provides that they are:
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Permanently enjoined from engaging in
any activity whatsoever involving, or
connected with, ILA, any of its Locals
or other constituent labor
organizations.
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Permanently enjoined from engaging in
any commercial activity whatsoever
involving, or connected with, the Port
of Miami and Port Everglades in Florida,
and all businesses and unions involved
in commerce in this
ports.
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