Two members of the Northeast Philadelphia-based Ironworkers Local 401, Francis Sean O’Donnell and William Gillin, on Monday pleaded guilty to conspiracy, arson and related charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced. Both men will be sentenced in January.
According to the U.S. Attorney, O’Donnell, 43, of Warminster, acted as a business agent for the Ironworkers Local 401 and participated in more than 10 extortions or attempted extortions with the intent to force nonunion contractors to hire union labor. O’Donnell recruited other members of the Ironworkers Local 401, whom he called his “Shadow Gang,” to assist him in these crimes. If a contractor refused to hire union labor, O’Donnell and the “Shadow Gang” typically would enter a nonunion construction site at night, use sledgehammers to destroy anchor bolts, and cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Gillin, 43, of Philadelphia, participated in a series of incidents on behalf of the Ironworkers Local 401 as part of the plan by the defendants to force nonunion contractors to hire union labor, the U.S. Attorney said. ••
