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Elevator Constructors

Guilty Pleas

Office of Labor-Management Enforcement

The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) conducts both civil and criminal investigations of alleged violations of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and related laws.

These investigations by OLMS District Offices involve issues such as embezzlements of union funds, union officer elections, the filing of required reports by unions and others with OLMS, and the imposition of trusteeships over subordinate unions by a parent body. These investigations may result in legal enforcement actions.

DateDescription
February 26th, 2016On February 26, 2016, in the Onondaga County Court in Syracuse, New York, Patrick Rommevaux, former business representative of Elevator Constructors Local 62 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. He previously made restitution in the amount of $16,545. On December 9, 2015, Rommevaux was indicted and pled guilty to one felony count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. The sentencing follows an investigation from the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
December 1st, 2015On December 1, 2015, in the Onondaga County Court in Syracuse, New York, Patrick Rommevaux, former business representative of Elevator Constructors Local 62 (located in Syracuse, N.Y.), was charged with one felony count of grand larceny in the fourth degree for stealing $16,545 from his union. Rommevaux then pled guilty to the charge. The charge and guilty plea follow an investigation from the OLMS Boston-Buffalo District Office.
May 4th, 2015On May 4, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Leonard Bridge, II, former business manager for Elevator Constructors Local 131 (located in Albuquerque, N.M.), was sentenced to one year in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,877. On September 2, 2014, Bridge pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.
July 11th, 2007On July 11, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Frederick Contini, developer of the 2 Broadway Project, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make $8,085,000 in restitution. On March 31, 2003, Contini pled guilty to Conspiracy to Receive, Possess and Dispose of Money Obtained by Fraud and Transported Across State Lines, Obstruction of Justice, and engaging in an Unlawful Monetary Transaction. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI of members and union officials of Elevator Constructors Local One.
April 18th, 2007On April 18, 2007, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Leonard Capozzoli, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $75,216, and a $200 special assessment. On March 27, 2002, Capozzoli pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
July 17th, 2006On July 17, 2006, and on July 6, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Timothy Grimm and Thomas Harrington, members of Elevator Constructors, Local 1, were each sentenced for their parts in an operator no-show job scheme involving the local. On July 17, 2006, Grimm, who previously pled guilty to conspiracy, making false ERISA statements, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments, was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors affiliated with the project in the amount of $44,694.97, pay an order of forfeiture to benefit plans affiliated with the local in the amount of $26,829, pay a $200 assessment, and provide 200 hours of community service. On July 6, 2006, Thomas Harrington, who previously pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to extort, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make restitution to defrauded contractors in the amount of $50,000. The sentencings follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
April 3rd, 2006On April 3, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the convictions of Charles Novak, former Executive Vice President of Elevator Constructors, Local One, for unlawful receipt of labor payments, RICO conspiracy, and substantive RICO violations. The court reversed Novak's convictions for mail fraud and for making false ERISA statements. Novak was convicted on December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and subsequently sentenced to nine years imprisonment for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. The conviction, as well as 37 additional related guilty pleas, followed a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.
December 1st, 2004On December 1, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Charles Novak, former executive vice president for Local One, Elevator Constructors, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and three years supervised release for crimes related to a no-show job scheme at 19 different construction sites in New York City. He was ordered to pay a total of $289,000 in restitution and a $15,000 special assessment. Additionally, a forfeiture judgment was entered against Novak in the amount of $300,000. Thirty-seven additional individuals have pled guilty in connection with the ongoing investigation of Elevator Constructors Local One. The Novak sentence and the additional 37 guilty pleas follow a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the FBI.
May 14th, 2004On May 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Lynch, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to an information charging him with two counts of conspiracy. Count one related to unlawful labor payments and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and count two related to defrauding the government of income taxes. This investigation was part of an ongoing investigation involving the Elevator Constructors Local One operator no-show job scheme. Charges were filed following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
March 16th, 2004On March 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Peter McDonegh, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of witness tampering. The charge and guilty plea were filed on the same day. McDonegh admitted to verbally threatening two primary witnesses during the course of the criminal trial of Charles Novak, the former executive vice-president of Local One and McDonegh's father-in-law. McDonegh was released on $250,000 bail and, as a result of his guilty plea, released from prison. He spent approximately 60 days in jail during Novak's trial. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
September 26th, 2003On September 26, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, John Mills, a former member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments in violation of the Taft Hartley Act. This investigation was part of Elevator Constructors Local One operator no-show job scheme for which an indictment was filed on February 5, 2002. The guilty plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
September 25th, 2003On September 25, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Fusilli, former member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to ten months in prison for violating the Hobbs Act. He was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and fined $2,000. On November 12, 2002, Fusilli pled guilty to an information charging him with illegal activity relating to the Loews Theatre Project; he had been indicted on February 5, 2002. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
August 28th, 2003On August 28, 2003, in the Eastern District of New York, William Barthold, former Representative of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced for federal racketeering. Barthold was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $227,985, a $5,000 fine, and a special assessment to the court. Following his release from prison, Barthold will be barred from holding positions for period of up to 13 years. On February 5, 2002, Barthold was indicted for unlawful activity relating to an investigation of corruption involving Elevator Constructors Local One. The charges were filed following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS. Barthold pled guilty to the charges on January 22, 2003.
July 30th, 2003On July 30, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, David Coakley of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and three years probation and was ordered to pay $284,196.54 in restitution. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002 for unlawful activity related to a no-show scheme involving 19 construction sites in New York City. On April 16, 2002 he was indicted for a second time along with seven others for illegal activity related to defrauding the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and ZAR Realty of more than $10 million in construction money that was intended for vertical transportation costs on the 2 Broadway project. He had pled guilty to various charges in both indictments on March 20, 2003. The charges had been brought following joint investigations by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI and, in the Elevator Constructors Local One case, also with the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration and the IRS.
July 22nd, 2003On July 22, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, John J. Quinn, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to witness tampering charges. During an investigation of Local One involving labor racketeering, unlawful labor payments, and mail fraud, Quinn attempted to tamper with testimony and information that Quinn expected investigators to ask a witness to provide. The charges were brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
June 17th, 2003On June 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Steven Seidl, Jr., a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $39,992.04 in restitution, pay a fine of $1,000, and pay a $200 special assessment. In addition, Seidl forfeited $13,022 to the United States government (representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors). On December 13, 2002, Seidl pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Donohue was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
May 27th, 2003On May 27, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Terrance Carr, former warden of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a total of $6,225.34 in restitution and $2,100 in assessments. He had pled guilty on March 10, 2003 to a superceding information charging him with making false statements in violation of 18 USC 1001. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
April 24th, 2003On April 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew Joseph Downey, a representative of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty under a superceding indictment to racketeering, unlawful labor payments, money laundering conspiracy, witness tampering, and tax evasion. Under a separate indictment he pled guilty to conspiracy to receive, possess and dispose of money transported across state lines. He agreed to forfeit $800,000 to the United States Government within 120 days from various assets that represent a portion of the proceeds from the racketeering enterprise. He had been indicted on February 5, 2002 on charges relating to a no-show scheme at construction sites in New York City following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS. On April 16, 2002 he had been charged in a second indictment relating to fraud against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and ZAR Realty in connection with the renovation of MTA headquarters. These charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the FBI.
March 12th, 2003On March 12, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas McCarthy, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $4,600 in restitution and perform 50 hours of community service. He had earlier pled guilty to misdemeanor charges for conspiracy to demand and receive illegal payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
March 10th, 2003On March 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Terrance Carr, organizer and former warden of Elevator Constructors Local One, pled guilty to a superceding information charging him with making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. He had lied to investigators regarding his involvement in a no-show job scheme. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
February 10th, 2003On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Edward Donohue, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $244,996 in restitution, pay a fine of $1,000, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Donohue must forfeit $72,000 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 10, 2002, Donohue pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Donohue was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
February 10th, 2003On February 10, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, James Cassidy, an employee of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $40,000 in restitution, pay a fine of $3,750, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Cassidy must forfeit $31,817 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 10, 2002, Cassidy pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Cassidy was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 24th, 2003On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Karen Gordan, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $140,357 in restitution, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Gordan must forfeit $55,726 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On November1, 2002, Gordan pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Gordan was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 24th, 2003On January 24, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Paul Downey, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation, perform 400 hours of community service, pay $101,141 in restitution, pay a $5,000 fine, and pay a $100 assessment. In addition, Paul Downey must forfeit $24,949 to the United States government, representing the total sum of unlawful contributions made on behalf of the defendant to all benefit plans affiliated with Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. On October 17, 2002, Paul Downey pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Paul Downey was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 16th, 2003On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond Costello, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Costello was ordered to pay $15,209 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, Turner Construction, submits an affidavit of loss to the court. Costello was also given the maximum fine of $5,000 and ordered to pay a $100 assessment. On October 10, 2002, Costello pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Costello was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 16th, 2003On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Michael Coady, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Coady was ordered to pay $32,796.96 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named Morse Diesel, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Coady was also fined $500, ordered to pay $600 each month until restitution is completely paid, and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Coady pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Coady was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 16th, 2003On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Frank Walker, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Walker was ordered to pay $7,338.50 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named Constructive Industries, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Walker was also given the maximum fine of $5,000 and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Walker pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. On February 5, 2002, Walker was charged with conspiracy and false ERISA statements following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
January 16th, 2003On January 16, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Steve Schmidt, a member of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to spend three years on probation and perform 400 hours of community service. Schmidt was ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution, which will be held by the Court Clerk until his victim, a contractor named HRH Construction, submits an affidavit of loss to the Court. Schmidt was also fined $500, ordered to pay $600 each month until restitution is completely paid, and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Court. On October 10, 2002, Schmidt pled guilty to conspiracy to demand and receive unlawful labor payments. On February 5, 2002, Schmidt was charged with conspiracy, false ERISA statements, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and unlawful labor payments following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, the FBI, and the IRS.
August 7th, 2002On August 7, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Robert Shannon, former executive board member/trustee of Elevator Constructors Local One, was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and three years probation, fined $5,000, and ordered to make restitution of $5,107. He had pled guilty to Unlawful Labor Payments in violation of 29 U.S.C. 186. The plea was in connection with the investigation of corruption in Local One relating to a no-show scheme at 19 construction sites in New York City. Union officials acquired money by falsely claiming that certain union members had worked certain hours, when in reality they had not, and in many cases were actually working at other construction sites. The charges had been brought following a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the FBI, and the IRS.