Johnny Dougherty
{{Short description|American labor leader}}
{{other people|John Dougherty}}
{{infobox person
|name="Johnny Doc" Dougherty
|birth_place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|nationality=American
|alma_mater=La Salle University
|occupation={{flatlist|
- Electrician
- business manager
}}
|relatives=Kevin Dougherty (brother) Sean Dougherty (nephew)
| module = Criminal information
{{Infobox criminal
| child = yes
| conviction = Fraud (2021)
Embezzlement (2023)
| penalty =
| criminal_status = Incarcerated
}}
}}
John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty is a former labor leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the business manager of the powerful IBEW Local 98 and a prominent political figure who helped numerous Democratic candidates get elected by directing donations and volunteers.{{Cite news | last = Barnes| first = Tom| authorlink= Tom Barnes (American journalist)| title = Area Democratic senators taking sides in race for veteran Vince Fumo's seat| newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date = April 13, 2008 | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08104/872880-178.stm}} In 2021, he was convicted of fraud and resigned as business manager of Local 98. In 2023, he was convicted of 70 counts of embezzlement for stealing funds from the union.
In 2015, he was the top campaign fundraiser for the successful campaign of his brother, Kevin Dougherty, to become a justice on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Justice.
Early life and education
Dougherty grew up in the Pennsport section of South Philadelphia and graduated from St Joseph Prep in Philadelphia. He briefly attended La Salle University.{{Cite web|url=https://billypenn.com/2015/05/20/whats-up-johnny-doc-meet-jim-kenneys-not-so-secret-weapon/|title=What's up, Johnny Doc? Meet Jim Kenney's not-so-secret weapon}}
Career
Dougherty had planned on becoming a lawyer until he got his girlfriend, Cecelia, pregnant and became an electrician.{{cite news |last1=Huber |first1=Robert |title=Meet the New Doc. Same as the Old Doc? |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/11/30/john-dougherty-philadelphia-profile/ |work=Philadelphia Magazine |date=November 30, 2014}}
In 2003, he was named to the PoliticsPA "Power 50" list of politically influential people in Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=Power 50 |work=PoliticsPA |publisher=The Publius Group |year=2003 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040417135307/http://www.politicspa.com/features/power502003.htm |url=http://www.politicspa.com/features/power502003.htm |archivedate=2004-04-17 |url-status=dead }} In 2003, he was named to the Pennsylvania Report "Power 75" List.{{cite web|title=The PA Report "Power 75" List |work=Pennsylvania Report |publisher=Capitol Growth |date=January 31, 2003 |url=http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920200116/http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf |archivedate=September 20, 2006 |url-status=dead }} In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Democrats in Pennsylvania.{{Cite news|last=Roarty |first=Alex |author2=Sean Coit |title=Pennsylvania Influencers |newspaper=Politics Magazine |pages=44–49 |date=January 2010 |url=http://politicsmagazine.com/uploads/Image/Politics_PA_influencers_web.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229023006/http://politicsmagazine.com/uploads/Image/Politics_PA_influencers_web.pdf |archivedate=2009-12-29 |url-status=dead }}
He served as the longtime business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and led the union for over 30 years.{{cite web | url = http://www.ibew98.org/98_officers.htm | title = IBEW 98 Officers | year = 2008 | work = IBEW 98 Web Site | publisher = International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403221038/http://www.ibew98.org/98_officers.htm |archive-date=2010-04-03 |quote = John J. Dougherty Business Manager}}{{cite news |last1=Roebuck |first1=Jeremy |last2=Goodin-Smith |first2=Oona |title=Pa. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty received free home repairs paid for by brother's union, witness says at trial |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/kevin-dougherty-supreme-court-john-dougherty-trial-ibew-local-98-20231114.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 16, 2023 |language=en}} During his time leading the union, he raised the payroll deduction to fund the union's political action committee and became a powerful political figure through his ability to direct millions in contributions. Between 2000 and 2014, Local 98 donated over $25 million to political races, and they was also known for using aggressive tactics and intimidation against perceived enemies.
Dougherty had a long-standing feud with former Senator Vince Fumo.{{Cite news|last=Neri|first=Al|date=December 2002|title=Others to Watch|newspaper=The Insider|url=http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider12-2002.htm|url-status=dead|authorlink=Albert J. Neri|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915073706/http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider12-2002.htm|archivedate=2010-09-15}} During the 2008 Democratic primary for the 1st senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in Philadelphia, Dougherty was dealt a surprising defeat by Larry Farnese, who was heavily supported by Fumo.{{cite web | title = 2008 General Primary - Senator in the General Assembly | work = Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State | year = 2004 | url = http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=27&OfficeID=12 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514182313/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=27&OfficeID=12 | archivedate = 2008-05-14 }}{{Cite news| last = Namako| first = Tom| title = Out with the Old?| newspaper = Philadelphia City Paper| date = Apr 30, 2008| url = http://citypaper.net/articles/2008/05/01/out-with-the-old| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080927141202/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2008/05/01/out-with-the-old| archivedate = 2008-09-27}}
In 2015, he endorsed former Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia. His endorsement was a major factor in Kenny winning the crowded Democratic primary. He also helped his brother Kevin Dougherty get elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, allowing Democrats to take a majority on the court.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Chris |title=Dougherty, Dems, sweep historic Supreme Court race |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/20151104_Dougherty__Dems__sweep_historic_Supreme_Court_race.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 3, 2015 |language=en}}
=Federal indictments and convictions=
In January 2019, Dougherty was indicted in an IBEW Local 98 investigation that charged him with misusing union funds for personal benefit and corrupting a public official, along with other related allegations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-dougherty-indictment-20190130-story.html|title=Feds indict powerful Philly union boss, councilman, others|first=MARYCLAIRE|last=DALE|website=mcall.com}} Dougherty pleaded not guilty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/john-dougherty-indictment-local-ibew-defese-20190321.html|title='Johnny Doc' blasts case against him and Councilman Henon in bid to have corruption charges thrown out|first=Jeremy|last=Roebuck|website=www.inquirer.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/johnny-doc-bobby-henon-philadelphia-local-98-ibew-judge-schmehl-20190708.html|title=Can a paycheck be a bribe? Johnny Doc's lawyers say no, push to dismiss case involving Council member Henon.|first=Jeremy|last=Roebuck|website=www.inquirer.com}} City Councilmember and former electrician Bobby Henon, along with several other employees of the electrical union who were close allies of Dougherty, were also indicted.
In November 2020, the federal judge overseeing the case ruled that the indictment would be split into separate trials.{{cite news |last1=Moselle |first1=Aaron |title='Johnny Doc' will face separate trials on embezzlement and corruption |url=https://whyy.org/articles/federal-judge-johnny-doc-will-face-separate-trials-on-embezzlement-and-corruption/ |work=WHYY |date=November 2, 2020}} One trial would include all remaining defendants and cover the embezzlement and self-enrichment allegations. The other trial only included Dougherty and Henon on charges of corruption, bribery, and fraud. Three of the other defendants who were union employees pleaded guilty in December 2022, prior to Dougherty's embezzlement case going to trial.{{cite news |last1=Roebuck |first1=Jeremy |last2=Goodin-Smith |first2=Oona |title=It's sentencing time: Inside Johnny Doc's Trial |url=https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/john-dougherty-sentencing-marita-crawford-michael-neill-niko-rodriguez-local-98-20240219.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=February 19, 2024 |language=en}}
In March 2021, Dougherty and his nephew, Gregory Fiocca, were arrested and charged in another federal indictment with 19 counts of conspiracy and extortion. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged Dougherty and Fiocca threatened a contractor "through force and violence, and threats of violence and economic harm".{{Cite news | title = Philly labor leader Johnny Doc was indicted again, this time for threatening a contractor | url = https://www.inquirer.com/news/johnny-doc-local-98-indicted-fiocca-20210303.html | publisher = Philadelphia Inquirer | date =March 3, 2021}}{{cite news | title = Feds arrest labor leader John Dougherty on new extortion charges | url = https://billypenn.com/2021/03/03/feds-arrest-labor-leader-john-dougherty-on-new-extortion-charges/ | publisher = billypenn.com | date =March 3, 2021}}
On November 15, 2021, Dougherty was convicted on charges of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. Shortly after the conviction, Dougherty announced his resignation as business manager of IBEW Local 98. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence.{{Cite news | title = Councilman Henon, Labor Leader Dougherty Guilty of Conspiracy, Other Charges | url = https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/johnny-doc-john-dougherty-bobby-henon-federal-trial-corruption/3045917/ | publisher = NBC Philadelphia | date =November 15, 2021}}{{Cite web|date=2021-11-16|title=John Dougherty resigns as head of IBEW Local 98 after conviction on corruption charges|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/john-dougherty-resigns-ibew-local-98-corruption-conviction-philadelphia-henon/|access-date=2021-11-17|website=PhillyVoice|language=english}}
In December 2023, Dougherty was convicted of 70 counts of embezzlement for stealing from IBEW Local 98 while he was business manager.{{cite news |last1=Rinde |first1=Meir |last2=Russell-Sluchansky |first2=Carmen |title=Johnny Doc found guilty of 70 counts of fraud and embezzlement |url=https://whyy.org/articles/johnny-doc-embezzlement-trial-verdict-guilty/ |work=WHYY |date=December 7, 2023}} Dougherty was convicted along with former union president Brian Burrows and four other union employees for stealing hundreds of thousands from union accounts to pay for personal expenses. During the trial, one co-defendant testified that Dougherty's brother, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty received free home repairs paid for by the union.
In April 2024, the trial against Dougherty for extortion was declared a mistrial by the judge.{{cite news |title=Mistrial declared in 3rd federal trial of Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty |url=https://6abc.com/john-dougherty-mistrial-3rd-federal-trial-philadelphia-labor-leader/14736703/ |work=6abc Philadelphia |date=April 26, 2024 |language=en}} His sentencing for both his 2021 and 2023 convictions was postponed in May 2024.{{cite news |title=Former Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty sentencing in embezzlement case postponed |url=https://6abc.com/john-dougherty-sentencing-philadelphia-embezzlement/14755216/ |work=6abc Philadelphia |date=May 2, 2024 |language=en}}
=Department of Labor civil suit=
In January 2021, following another FBI raid of IBEW Local 98 headquarters, the US Department of Labor filed a civil suit to nullify Dougherty’s most recent election as the union's business manager. The suit alleges Dougherty and associates intimidated potential challengers to Dougherty and warned of reprisals should any contest the election, which took place after Dougherty’s 2019 federal indictment.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-01-08|title=US Labor Department Lawsuit Accuses Johnny Doc, IBEW Local 98 Leaders Of Intimidating Challengers – CBS Philly|url=https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/01/08/john-dougherty-local-98-threats-labor-department-lawsuit/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=CBS3 Philadelphia}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dougherty, Johnny}}
Category:Activists from Philadelphia
Category:Political activists from Pennsylvania
Category:International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers people
Category:St. Joseph's Preparatory School alumni
Category:La Salle University people