Accused Longshore Officials Acquitted

Published Nov 9, 2005 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Two leading U.S. longshore officials were acquitted of racketeering charges by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York.

Harold Daggett, assistant general organizer and head of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) New York-New Jersey maintenance local, and Arthur Coffey, international Vice President from Miami, were acquitted on charges of extortion conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy.

A third defendant, reputed mobster, Lawrence Ricci, was acquitted on a charge of mail and wire fraud conspiracy. Ricci disappeared during the trial, and many close to the case feel he may have been murdered.

ILA international Vice President, Al Cernadas, was also named in the original indictment in the case, but he pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud conspiracy before the trial and agreed to retire from the ILA in exchange for possibly avoiding prison. His lawyer said the plea was based on Cernadas' admission that, as a benefit-fund trustee, he did not act on suspicions about a scheme to steer a contract to a mob-linked firm.

The central issue in the matter revolved around funds dispersed from the union's benefits plans. The US Attorney's office still has a separate civil racketeering lawsuit pending against the union and its leaders.