John Dougherty, a prominent Philadelphia labor union powerbroker, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of bribery, conspiracy, embezzlement, and multiple other charges. The convictions stem from Dougherty's misuse of union funds and influence to bribe a City Council member and enrich himself and his associates. Despite receiving considerable support from political and civic figures and testimonials about his contributions to the community and the union, the judge emphasized Dougherty's loss of integrity and responsibility. The sentence was delivered amidst calls from prosecutors for a harsher 14-year term, highlighting Dougherty's significant breach of trust in his role as a former leader of the electricians’ union.
See "Philadelphia labor union powerbroker gets 6 years for bribery and theft", MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press, July 15, 2024