Johnny Dougherty

Last updated
"Johnny Doc" Dougherty
Born
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater La Salle University
Occupations
  • Electrician
  • business manager
Relatives Kevin Dougherty (brother)
Criminal information
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s) Fraud (2021)
Embezzlement (2023)

John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty is a former labor leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the business manager of the powerful IBEW Local 98 and a prominent political figure who helped numerous Democratic candidates get elected by directing donations and volunteers. [1] [2] [3] In 2021, he was convicted of fraud and resigned as business manager of Local 98. In 2023, he was convicted of 70 counts of embezzlement for stealing funds from the union.

Contents

Early life and education

Dougherty grew up in the Pennsport section of South Philadelphia and graduated from St Joseph Prep in Philadelphia. He briefly attended La Salle University. [4]

Career

Dougherty had planned on becoming a lawyer until he got his girlfriend, Cecelia, pregnant and became an electrician. [5]

In 2003, he was named to the PoliticsPA "Power 50" list of politically influential people in Pennsylvania. [1] In 2003, he was named to the Pennsylvania Report "Power 75" List. [6] In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Democrats in Pennsylvania. [7]

He served as the longtime business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and lead the union for over 30 years. [8] [9] During his time leading the union, he raised the payroll deduction to fund the union's political action committee and became a powerful political figure through his ability to direct millions in contributions. [3] Between 2000 and 2014, Local 98 donated over $25 million to political races, and they was also known for using aggressive tactics and intimidation against perceived enemies. [5]

Dougherty had a long-standing feud with former Senator Vince Fumo. [10] [5] During the 2008 Democratic primary for the 1st senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in Philadelphia, Dougherty was dealt a surprising defeat by Larry Farnese, who was heavily supported by Fumo. [11] [12]

In 2015, he endorsed former Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia. His endorsement was a major factor in Kenny winning the crowded Democratic primary. [4] He also helped his brother Kevin Dougherty get elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, allowing Democrats to take a majority on the court. [13]

Federal indictments and convictions

In January 2019, Dougherty was indicted in an IBEW Local 98 investigation that charged him with misusing union funds for personal benefit and corrupting a public official, along with other related allegations. [14] Dougherty pleaded not guilty. [15] [16] City Councilmember and former electrician Bobby Henon, along with several other employees of the electrical union who were close allies of Dougherty, were also indicted. [16] [17]

In November 2020, the federal judge overseeing the case ruled that the indictment would be split into separate trials. [18] One trial would include all remaining defendants and cover the embezzlement and self-enrichment allegations. [18] The other trial only included Dougherty and Henon on charges of corruption, bribery, and fraud. [18] Three of the other defendants who were union employees pleaded guilty in December 2022, prior to Dougherty's embezzlement case going to trial. [17]

In March 2021, Dougherty and his nephew, Gregory Fiocca, were arrested and charged in another federal indictment with 19 counts of conspiracy and extortion. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged Dougherty and Fiocca threatened a contractor "through force and violence, and threats of violence and economic harm". [19] [20]

On November 15, 2021, Dougherty was convicted on charges of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. Shortly after the conviction, Dougherty announced his resignation as business manager of IBEW Local 98. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence. [21] [22]

In December 2023, Dougherty was convicted of 70 counts of embezzlement for stealing from IBEW Local 98 while he was business manager. [3] Dougherty was convicted along with former union president Brian Burrows and four other union employees for stealing hundreds of thousands from union accounts to pay for personal expenses. [3] During the trial, one co-defendant testified that Dougherty's brother, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty received free home repairs paid for by the union. [9]

In April 2024, the trial against Dougherty for extortion was declared a mistrial by the judge. [23] His sentencing for both his 2021 and 2023 convictions was postponed in May 2024. [24]

Department of Labor civil suit

In January 2021, following another FBI raid of IBEW Local 98 headquarters, the US Department of Labor filed a civil suit to nullify Dougherty’s most recent election as the union's business manager. The suit alleges Dougherty and associates intimidated potential challengers to Dougherty and warned of reprisals should any contest the election, which took place after Dougherty’s 2019 federal indictment. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaka Fattah</span> American politician (born 1956)

Chaka Fattah is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 2016. The district included portions of North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia along with Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Vincent Joseph Fumo is a former politician, lawyer, businessman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Democrat, he represented a South Philadelphia district in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1978 to 2008. On March 16, 2009, he was convicted of 137 federal corruption charges. On July 14, 2009, he was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald L. Buckwalter</span> American judge (born 1936)

Ronald Lawrence Buckwalter is an inactive senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Street</span> American businessman and politician (1941–2022)

Thomas Milton Street Sr. was an American businessman, a Pennsylvania state senator from Philadelphia, and the brother of former Philadelphia mayor John F. Street. Originally a street hot dog vendor, he rose to prominence as an activist challenging the city's vending and housing ordinances.

Michael McKay is a convicted racketeer and former labor leader from the United States. He was president of American Maritime Officers (AMO) from 1993 until his conviction in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Meehan</span> American politician (born 1955)

Patrick Leo Meehan is a former American Republican Party politician and federal prosecutor from Pennsylvania who represented parts of Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Berks, and Lancaster counties in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 until his resignation in 2018. He succeeded Democrat Joe Sestak, who ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenyatta Johnson</span> Pennsylvania politician

Kenyatta J. Johnson is a Democratic member of the Philadelphia City Council. He formerly served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 186th District. He represents the 2nd District, which covers parts of Center City, South and Southwest Philadelphia, as well as the stadium area, Philadelphia International Airport, the Navy Yard and the Eastwick, Grays Ferry, Hawthorne and Point Breeze neighborhoods. Councilman Johnson was re-elected in the May 2015 primary election to represent the 2nd District for a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Farnese</span> American politician from Pennsylvania

Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania Senate where he represented the 1st District from 2009 until November 30, 2020. Farnese was the Democratic ward leader of the 8th ward in Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Seth Williams</span> Former district attorney

Rufus Seth Williams is a former district attorney of the city of Philadelphia. He began his term January 4, 2010. He formerly served as an assistant district attorney. Williams was the first African-American district attorney in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On March 21, 2017, Williams was indicted on 23 counts of bribery, extortion, and fraud. His trial began June 19, 2017. He resigned and pleaded guilty to one charge on June 29, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Quiñones-Sánchez</span> American politician

Maria Quiñones-Sánchez is an American politician and political activist who served as a member of the Philadelphia City Council representing the 7th district. The district includes the neighborhoods of Castor Gardens, Fairhill, Feltonville, Frankford, Harrowgate, Hunting Park, Juniata, Kensington, Oxford Circle and Wissinoming. A registered Democrat, she served in this position from 2008 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin J. Boyle</span> American politician (born 1980)

Kevin J. Boyle is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and current minority Chairman of the PA House State Government Committee. He is the state Representative from Pennsylvania House District 172, which covers parts of Northeast Philadelphia. Boyle was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2010 when he ran against 32-year incumbent and former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House John Perzel. Boyle is the younger brother of United States Representative Brendan F. Boyle and together they are the only set of brothers to serve simultaneously in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives in its 300-year history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Henon</span> American politician

Bobby Henon is an American former politician. He was a Democratic member of the Philadelphia City Council from 2012 until 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Neilson</span> American politician

Edward James "Ed" Neilson is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. In April 2012, he won a special election to represent the 169th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In May 2014 he won a special election to serve as an at-large member of Philadelphia City Council replacing outgoing councilmember Bill Green. In August 2015, he won a special election to represent the 174th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Vincent Grady O'Malley is a retired American professional basketball forward and a long-serving assistant United States attorney.

Kevin M. Dougherty is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Before his election in 2015, Dougherty had served on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia since 2001, serving as an administrative judge of the trial division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Driscoll (Pennsylvania politician)</span> American politician

Michael Joseph Driscoll is an American politician who serves as a Democratic member of the Philadelphia City Council, representing the 6th district since 2022. Prior to that, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 173rd district.

Leslie Acosta is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 197th House district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of former state representative Ralph Acosta and the first Latina elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Gym</span> American politician

Helen Gym is an American politician. She was the first Asian American woman to serve on the Philadelphia City Council. She was first elected to Council in 2015 and served until 2022, when she resigned to run in the Democratic primary of the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral election. Gym finished in third place behind Cherelle Parker, who won the nomination, and Rebecca Rhynhart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Jabbateh</span> War criminal

Mohammed Jabbateh, also known by his nom de guerre Jungle Jabbah, is a Liberian war criminal and former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) and ULIMO-K commander who was convicted in the United States of lying to immigration authorities about his role in the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1997) when he sought asylum in the late 1990s. He was arrested in April 2016. On October 18, 2017, Jabbateh was tried and convicted in Philadelphia of two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury stemming from false statements he made when filing for asylum and permanent residence. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison the following April, the statutory maximum allowed. Jabbateh was the first person convicted of crimes stemming from war-related activities during the First Liberian Civil War. He lost his appeal in September 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reclaim Philadelphia</span>

Reclaim Philadelphia is an American progressive activist group based in the city of Philadelphia. Strongly associated with the 501c4 group Pennsylvania Stands Up, Reclaim was founded out of the structures created by the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign.

References

  1. 1 2 "Power 50". PoliticsPA . The Publius Group. 2003. Archived from the original on 2004-04-17.
  2. ↑ Barnes, Tom (April 13, 2008). "Area Democratic senators taking sides in race for veteran Vince Fumo's seat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rinde, Meir; Russell-Sluchansky, Carmen (December 7, 2023). "Johnny Doc found guilty of 70 counts of fraud and embezzlement". WHYY.
  4. 1 2 "What's up, Johnny Doc? Meet Jim Kenney's not-so-secret weapon".
  5. 1 2 3 Huber, Robert (November 30, 2014). "Meet the New Doc. Same as the Old Doc?". Philadelphia Magazine .
  6. ↑ "The PA Report "Power 75" List" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capitol Growth. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2006.
  7. ↑ Roarty, Alex; Sean Coit (January 2010). "Pennsylvania Influencers" (PDF). Politics Magazine. pp. 44–49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-29.
  8. ↑ "IBEW 98 Officers". IBEW 98 Web Site. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98. 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-04-03. John J. Dougherty Business Manager
  9. 1 2 Roebuck, Jeremy; Goodin-Smith, Oona (November 16, 2023). "Pa. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty received free home repairs paid for by brother's union, witness says at trial". The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  10. ↑ Neri, Al (December 2002). "Others to Watch". The Insider . Archived from the original on 2010-09-15.
  11. ↑ "2008 General Primary - Senator in the General Assembly". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14.
  12. ↑ Namako, Tom (Apr 30, 2008). "Out with the Old?". Philadelphia City Paper . Archived from the original on 2008-09-27.
  13. ↑ Palmer, Chris (November 3, 2015). "Dougherty, Dems, sweep historic Supreme Court race". The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  14. ↑ DALE, MARYCLAIRE. "Feds indict powerful Philly union boss, councilman, others". mcall.com.
  15. ↑ Roebuck, Jeremy. "'Johnny Doc' blasts case against him and Councilman Henon in bid to have corruption charges thrown out". www.inquirer.com.
  16. 1 2 Roebuck, Jeremy. "Can a paycheck be a bribe? Johnny Doc's lawyers say no, push to dismiss case involving Council member Henon". www.inquirer.com.
  17. 1 2 Roebuck, Jeremy; Goodin-Smith, Oona (February 19, 2024). "It's sentencing time: Inside Johnny Doc's Trial". The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  18. 1 2 3 Moselle, Aaron (November 2, 2020). "'Johnny Doc' will face separate trials on embezzlement and corruption". WHYY.
  19. ↑ "Philly labor leader Johnny Doc was indicted again, this time for threatening a contractor". Philadelphia Inquirer. March 3, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Feds arrest labor leader John Dougherty on new extortion charges". billypenn.com. March 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Councilman Henon, Labor Leader Dougherty Guilty of Conspiracy, Other Charges". NBC Philadelphia. November 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ "John Dougherty resigns as head of IBEW Local 98 after conviction on corruption charges". PhillyVoice. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  23. ↑ "Mistrial declared in 3rd federal trial of Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty". 6abc Philadelphia. April 26, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Former Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty sentencing in embezzlement case postponed". 6abc Philadelphia. May 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ "US Labor Department Lawsuit Accuses Johnny Doc, IBEW Local 98 Leaders Of Intimidating Challengers – CBS Philly". CBS3 Philadelphia. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.