Two More Ironworkers Plead Guilty

Edward Sweeney and Shawn Bailey are the latest.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports two more Ironworkers have pleaded guilty to corruption charges:

Edward Sweeney, 53, of Philadelphia, PA pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, use of fire to commit a felony, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and attempted maliciously damaging property by means of fire. At the time, Sweeney was a business agent for the Ironworkers Local 401 and participated in a series of incidents on behalf of that union as part of the plan by the defendants to force non-union contractors to hire union labor. Specifically, Sweeney admitted that he participated in 10 incidents of extortion or attempted extortion. Sweeney further admitted his involvement in the Quaker Meetinghouse arson, an arson on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia, and an attempted arson in Malvern, as well as other episodes, all of which were in retaliation for the contractors’ failure to hire union ironworkers.

Shawn Bailey, 34, of Philadelphia, PA pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Extortion for his participation in an extortion of a non-union contractor working on a warehouse on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia.

The pleas follow guilty pleas last week by Francis Sean O’Donnell, William Gillin, James Walsh and Greg Sullivan also accused of helping intimidate non-union employers and contractors in hopes of winning more, better-paying jobs for their fellow members. A total of eight Ironworkers are expected to plead guilty, leaving four to go on trial on January.