April 23, 2015
Former Ironworkers business agent Edward Sweeney, 56, was sentenced Thursday to 8 years in prison for his role in a criminal conspiracy to use arson to force contractors to hire union workers.
Sweeney, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty last year to RICO conspiracy charges, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, use of fire to commit a felony, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and attempted maliciously damaging property by means of fire.
In addition to his 96 months prison stretch, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Baylson also ordered Sweeney to pay restitution of $217,000 and undergo three years of supervised release.
Sweeney is the ninth defendant to be sentenced in the case. A federal jury in January convicted Ironworkers union boss Joseph Dougherty of racketeering.
