Friday, August 18, 2017

Ex-Detroit union boss strikes plea deal after spending kickback money on booze, meals, and daughter's wedding

As with this other labor corruption story I blogged on today, here's another that the national media will ignore.

From the Detroit News:
The former head of Operating Engineers Local 324 struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors Friday, admitting he forced union workers and officials to pay kickbacks that he blew on booze, meals and his daughter’s wedding.

John Hamilton, 62, of Rivera Beach, Florida, reached the plea deal three weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial in federal court. Hamilton faces up to five years in federal prison and has agreed to pay $250,000 restitution to victims of the crime, prosecutors said Friday.

He will be sentenced Jan. 16 by U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman.

Hamilton, who was indicted two years ago, admitted conspiring to violate the Hobbs Act with at least two other leaders of Detroit-based Local 324, which represents 18,000 heavy equipment and crane operators throughout the state.

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