Michael Forde
Michael Forde.,, a corrupt labor leader of the Genovese Family controlled Carpenters union didn’t just sell out his union to crooked contractors — he also embezzled at least $196,000 of its funds for lavish, cocaine-fueled getaways, prosecutors have charged. Writes BRUCE GOLDING.
Legal papers say a probe by a court-appointed monitor found that the high-flying ex-carpenter “lived large” during a “steady stream of trips” to Hawaii, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Palm Beach and other vacation hot spots.
The pricey excursions — which included first-class airfare, luxury hotels and fancy dinners — were “purportedly for the purpose of attending union conferences,” according to the Manhattan federal court filing
Forde, who faces sentencing today for labor racketeering, actually “spent most of his time . . . partying, golfing, dining and getting high on cocaine” with cronies taken along at the union’s expense — including his own “personal cocaine supplier,” the papers charge.
That man was employed by Forde as assistant director of the carpenter union’s “labor technical college” until he was fired in 2009 for refusing to appear for drug testing.
Forde’s lawyer did not return a request for comment. T o read more Click here: Corrupt union leader sold out members to crooked contractors and embezzled nearly $200,000 from the labor organiza
related story http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-08-04/columns/nyc-union-carpenter-michael-forde/
