Union Worker Sentenced for Attempted Malvern Arson

Another member of a Philadelphia union has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a series of attacks on construction sites, including a commercial project in Malvern.

Greg Sullivan, 50, of Philadelphia and member of Local Ironworkers 401, was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison for conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and Hobbs Act Extortion.

Sullivan pleaded guilty in September to participating in a 2013 arson at a warehouse on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia and a 2013 attempted arson in Malvern.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Michael Baylson ordered restitution of $10,306.80—half of which must be paid within 30 days— three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

Sullivan’s sentence is the latest handed down to the 12 Local 401 members convicted of multiple counts of RICO, racketeering and arson. He joined 10 of the defendants in pleading guilty to the charges, leaving former union member Joseph Dougherty as the sole hold-out opting for a trial. Dougherty was found guilty by a federal jury in January, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 29, according to Philly.com.

According to the Department of Justice, the defendants established a network of informants to help identify construction projects and job sites where work was being performed without using Local 401 members.

Business agents would approach construction foremen at those work sites and imply or explicitly threaten violence, destruction of property, or other criminal acts unless union members were hired. The defendants relied on a reputation for violence and sabotage, which had been built up in the community over many years, in order to force contractors to hire union members, the indictment says.

“Goon” squads, composed of union members and associates, were formerd to commit assaults, arsons, and destruction of property. One such squad referred to itself as the “The Helpful Union Guys,” or “T.H.U.G’s.”