City Official Arrested, Charged with Union-Related Extortion: Update

Boston, MA - Boston's city tourism chief was arrested Thursday, facing federal charges of union-related extortion connected to the Boston Calling music festival and a related incident with the "Top Chef" reality TV show.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports Kenneth Brissette, 52, was arrested this morning, indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of extortion. He is accused of withholding city permits from the music festival as he pressured the events company behind it to hire union labor. In a separate but related case, Brissette allegedly pressured the film crew behind "Top Chef" over labor-related issues. Brissette calls these "false charges."

• READ: Mayor Marty Walsh Reacts to Brissette Indictment
• Brissette Released on $25K Bond, Pleads "Not Guilty"
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Brissette, the City of Boston’s Director of the Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, issued a statement to the press through his lawyer:

“The Indictment returned against me today is factually and legally flawed. I intend to fight these false charges with everything at my disposal. I look forward to my ultimate vindication in the United States District Court.”

According to the DOJ, he was indicted for extorting a company, which had already contracted for workers through a non-union company, to hire members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (“IATSE”), Local 11.

According to an indictment unsealed Thursday, in order to stage the twice-yearly musical festival (identified in previous reporting as Boston Calling), the company was required to apply for and receive permits from the city for each festival. Brissette's office helps companies like this secure such permits for public areas in the city.

According to the indictment, between July and September 2014, while the company was awaiting the relevant permits and approvals for Boston Calling, Brissette, and at least one other city official, allegedly repeatedly leaned on the the company to hire members of Local 11 to work the festival.

The DOJ's office reports Local 11 had been trying to get work with the company since early 2013.

According to the indictment, the company told Brissette that it had already entered into a contract with a non-union company and hired all of its labor there. Brissette allegedly insisted half the labor force consist of union members, although he ultimately agreed eight members of Local 11 would suffice.

As a result of Brissette’s demands, the company entered into a contract with Local 11 for eight additional laborers and one foreman three days before Boston Calling, according to the indictment. Shortly thereafter, the City of Boston issued the necessary permits.

In a related incident during the summer of 2014, the DOJ alleges Brissette was involved in pressuring a non-union production company filming a reality television show in Boston to hire union workers. Previous reporting has identified that show as reality TV series "Top Chef."

Four members of Teamsters Local 25 were previously indicted in connection with the show, accused of using “old school thug tactics” in an attempt to get no-work jobs from Bravo’s Top Chef production team, according to an indictment unsealed in Boston Federal Court last year.

As charged, Brissette could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervise release and a $250,000 fine.

As the DOJ notes, the details contained in the indictment are allegations only. Brissette is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Brissette was released on a $25,000 bond after pleading "not guilty" late Thursday afternoon.

>> City Hall photo by John Zacherle, Flickr/Creative Commons