Latest News - September 2010

September 22, 2010
More N.J. Union Leaders Arrested By Authorities
Source: New Jersey Newsroom
By: Alicia Cruz

Two members of state's Production Workers Union face embezzlement charges

Federal agents arrested two members of the Production Workers Union Local #148 in New Jersey Tuesday afternoon on embezzlement charges, The New York Post reported.

Investigators say Union secretary-treasurer David Caivano of Bloomfield and Union president Stephen Arena of Nesconset, N.Y. siphoned more than $375,000 by filling their executive board seats with members who provided no accountability and doctoring minutes of meetings in order to give the appearance that raises, bonuses and paid vacations were authorized.

The Associated Press reported that the two were to make first court appearances Tuesday afternoon.

Last month, Attorney General Paula T. Dow and the Waterfront Commission announced the arrests of Secretary-Treasurer of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local #1478 Nunzio LaGrasso, 59, of Florham Park, and three others, including LaGrasso's nephew, Alan Marfia, on charges ranging from commercial bribery to extortion and money laundering.

"It is particularly egregious when a union official preys upon those he is legally bound to represent and protect. Such conduct will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted," said Dow.

Marfia, 38, of Kenilworth, was charged with official misconduct in the second-degree for abusing his authority as a Newark police officer to access a law enforcement database to obtain information for his uncle regarding undercover police vehicles that were conducting surveillance near his Union office.

LaGrasso, who was Vice President of the Atlantic Coast District of all ILA locals, stands accused of being the intermediary of the scheme.

Stephen J. Taylor, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice said, "We will continue to identify and prosecute any union officials and any members or associates of criminal organizations who are corruptly controlling commercial activities at the port. We will get them off of the docks and into prison where they belong."