BOMBSHELL INDICTMENT – Feds charge Brian McLaughlin stole over $2 million

Queens Assemblymember and president of the country's largest municipal labor group Brian McLaughlin was arrested and charged with stealing more than $2 million worth of funds from the organizations and people he worked for and served.
In a blockbuster 186-page federal indictment filed on Tuesday, October 17, the U.S. Attorney alleges that McLaughlin and his associates stole money from numerous organizations including the State of New York, non-profit organizations and labor unions under the New York City Central Labor Council (CLC), which he served as president.
McLaughlin, 54, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday morning and was released on $250,000 bail. If convicted of all of the charges, McLaughlin would face more than 500 years in prison.
&#8220The Midas touch turned everything into gold; the McLaughlin touch made money disappear – into his pockets,” said Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the FBI’s New York criminal division at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
McLaughlin and his attorney refused to answer questions on Tuesday.
&#8220He stole from the State, he stole from his union, he stole from those who did business with his union, he stole from his political party, he even stole from Little League baseball,” Arena said.
One of the elements in the indictment that community residents have found shocking, charges that McLaughlin allegedly misappropriated nearly $100,000 from the Electchester Athletic League Association, a non-profit corporation that finances a Little League program.
&#8220That's ridiculous, there are not many places to play around here, and he is taking money earmarked for kids to learn baseball for his personal gain,” said Joe, who lives in Electchester and has three children who played in the league. &#8220That's pathetic.”
According to the indictment, in McLaughlin's position as the highest-ranking official of the J Division of Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), he allegedly stole money from a J Division bank account, accepted payments from union contractors and directed the activities of the members for his own person profit.
One of the largest money amounts detailed in the indictment charges McLaughlin with taking nearly $400,000 in illegal cash payments from J Division Contractors, who also provided three vehicles for McLaughlin and two other personal associates.
&#8220Brian McLaughlin wore many different hats, and his conduct reveals his determination to use those hats as coffers for stolen cash,” Arena said.
In addition, McLaughlin allegedly used J Division workers to perform private tasks for him including small construction projects, shoveling snow, searching for and capturing rodents in his basement, taking out trash and even changing a light bulb.
McLaughlin, in his position of President of the CLC, an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), he allegedly misappropriated $185,000 from the CLC, mandating the organization hire an individual for two positions who did very little work and then siphoned the money back to himself, using it for personal expenses.
&#8220As Americans, we take great pride in our system of justice, which is based on the presumption of innocence which extends to all citizens,” said New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, who is also the Chair of the NYC CLC Executive Board. &#8220Everyone should keep in mind that Brian McLaughlin has not been convicted of a crime and will be afforded the opportunity to respond to and defend himself against these allegations.”
Many union members declined to speak to The Queens Courier the day after the feds served McLaughlin with the indictment, but Bill Woods, member of Local 806 Bridge Painters Union and the Roofers Union, who has worked in Electchester for the past 10 years was not in a rush to crucify McLaughlin.
&#8220I feel like every year the feds always come up with someone to justify the amount of money they spend,” the 45-year-old Woods said. &#8220I honestly believe they should go after the person that gave them the leak.”
However, Marianne Boyd, who has lived in Electchester for 36 years, said that if McLaughlin did take all of the money, she hopes he gets what is coming to him.
&#8220That's how people are when they are greedy,” Boyd said. &#8220[When you are talking about] filthy rich people, how much money do you need?”
In his assembly position, McLaughlin allegedly created fake positions on his staff pocketing a share of the salary for that position and misappropriated more than $35,000 from the state, according to the indictment.
&#8220The assembly has been contacted by federal investigators and has cooperated fully with their inquiry,” said Charles Carrier, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Carrier also said that the authorities asked them not to discuss the situation further.