Former Assemblyman Pleads Guilty to Racketeering

Two years after the FBI raided his offices, a former State Assemblyman and labor leader pleaded guilty to racketeering. Brian McLaughlin was charged with over 40 crimes, using his power as a seven-term Assemblyman, division head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and head of the NYC Central Labor Council to bribe and steal.

In court yesterday, he admitted, "I took funds illegally, basically from three areas: employees in the electrical industry, campaign funds, union funds," and then recited his crimes, which the NY Times noted took 45 minutes and lacked contrition.

Here's just some of his crimes, via the Post, Times and Daily News:

If one crime will be remembered, it would be stealing $95,000 from the Electchester Athletic Association of Flushing, which supported the local Little League. At one point, he complained that too much of the money was going to the kids and not into his pocket. Some $8,000 was siphoned from a picnic fund to cover his rent in Albany and credit-card bills. (Post)

He said he had sent out letters asking for contributions to benefit members of Local 3, one of the 400 locals under the labor council’s umbrella, and “those contributions were at times used for personal purposes by myself and other members of the group.” (Times)

Getting $400,000 in kickbacks and three cars from street lighting contractors who hired his union members. He gave one car to a female friend and one to his wife.(Daily News)

The money went to paying for his Long Island mortgage, a Flushing apartment, his son's car and tuition, and even mistresses.

McLaughlin will face 8-10 years in prison; he is currently out on $150,000 bail. When reporters asked him if he wanted to say anything to union members, like the ones he made shovel snow from his home and look for rats in the basement, or other constituents McLaughlin said only, "I've been advised by counsel that the process continues."

Lately, McLaughlin had been back to working as an electrician while awaiting trial ("Like anyone else, I’m back at work because I need to work"), because he needed to support his family and pay for his lawyer.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 8, 2008 3:30 PM

Comments [rss]

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nik13

Is there such a thing like an honest labor union honcho? Whenever there's a crooked politician & press omits to mention his party affiliation in opening sentence, it's a safe bet he's a Democrat.

ANGRYGOD11

Here's an idea: The unions ripped off by this sack of crap should picket any electrician job site he's working on.

freddyhere

Not that anyone really cares, but it's better to state the FULL name of the person in question at the beginning of an article...

just saying

Quote:

"It has been a quarter-century since Mr. McLaughlin . . . last worked with his electrician’s tools."

And yet he was put to work as an electrician for $46 an hour. The scamming continues.

just saying

Quote:

"It has been a quarter-century since Mr. McLaughlin . . . last worked with his electrician’s tools."

And yet he was put to work as an electrician for $46 an hour. The scamming continues.

just saying

Quote:

"It has been a quarter-century since Mr. McLaughlin . . . last worked with his electrician’s tools."

And yet he was put to work as an electrician for $46 an hour. The scamming continues.