Sentenced: Orchestrator of violent union assaults as school students watched gets only a 3.5-year sentence
US District Judge sentenced an Ironworkers union president to 42 months in prison for “organizing a brutal assault on a group of non-union ironworkers,†hospitalizing multiple people and one later died. The vicious massacre occurred in Dyer, Indiana on a combined church and school grounds as students were ending their day. Attorneys from the Center on National Labor Policy (NationalLaborPolicy.org) have been representing the victims.
From the U.S. Department of Justice release (9/23/2020):
Former Union President Sentenced for Violent Extortion
The former president of Iron Workers Local 395 was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for his role in organizing a brutal assault on a group of non-union ironworkers in Dyer, Indiana.
The attack, which left multiple workers with serious injuries, was part of an effort to obtain a contract for Local 395 to assist with the construction of the Plum Creek Christian Academy, a school affiliated with the Dyer Baptist Church.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Irene Lindow, Chicago Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
Jeffrey Veach, 57, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of extortion conspiracy, along with co-defendant Thomas Williamson Sr., 69. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Theresa Springmann of the Northern District of Indiana. Williamson is scheduled to be sentenced separately by Judge Springmann on Dec. 15.
Veach resigned as president of Local 395, following his guilty plea in January. Under federal law, Veach will be barred from holding any union position for at least 13 years following the end of his prison sentence.
At Veach’s direction, the union [thugs] conducted a coordinated attacked on the D5 workers. …As a result of the attack… several surgeries and hospitalization [were required].
U.S. Department of Justice