No Plea Deal for Ironworker Boss

Ironworkers Local 401 business agent Christopher Prophet refused to cooperate with law enforcement during former union boss Joseph Dougherty’s trial, and now the judge is refusing a plea deal concocted on his behalf.  Julie Shaw has the story on philly.com.

But U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson said he wants to wait until after he sentences the union’s three other former business agents, who were also indicted, before he sentences Prophet.

Prophet oversaw the union’s work in Bucks and Montgomery counties. According to an indictment in the case, he had “supervised extortions, picket lines, assaults, and other acts of sabotage” in coordination with Dougherty and other business agents.

Prophet oversaw the union’s work in Bucks and Montgomery counties. According to an indictment in the case, he had “supervised extortions, picket lines, assaults, and other acts of sabotage” in coordination with Dougherty and other business agents.

In 2010, Prophet “personally coordinated and supervised” the destruction of property at a Toys “R” Us store being constructed in King of Prussia and “an assault with baseball bats of certain non-union workers at that construction site,” the indictment said.

He also coordinated, supervised and participated in the smashing of anchor bolts on construction sites to force nonunion contractors to hire union labor.