Ex-union leader John Dougherty sentenced to 6 years in prison after bribery and embezzlement convictions

John J. Dougherty — a towering figure who for decades dominated the arenas of politics and organized labor in Philadelphia — was sentenced to six years in federal prison Thursday following convictions for bribery and embezzlement.

In announcing the punishment, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl acknowledged the immeasurable impact the former labor leader had had on the city over nearly 30 years at the helm of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the state’s most powerful labor union.

John J. Dougherty, once a domineering fixture in Philadelphia’s labor and political scenes, was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday on bribery and embezzlement charges — capping off the former labor leader’s stunning downfall from the helm of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, one of the state’s most powerful unions.

From Dougherty’s prison report date to potential appeals and another trial, here’s what comes next.

» READ MORE: John Dougherty is headed to prison. But what happens next?

When it comes to Dougherty’s six-year sentence — less than half of the maximum prison time the government asked for — Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Costello said “we respect the result.”

The government, Costello said, set out to hold those charged at Local 98 accountable, “which we did.”

Emerging from the Reading courthouse into a swarm of news cameras, dozens of waiting supporters, and now facing six years in federal prison, John Dougherty was matter-of-fact.

“He’s a fair judge,” Dougherty said as media clamored around him. “When you’re the boss, everything stops with you.”

A hush fell over the Reading courtroom as the judge handed down Dougherty’s sentence — half of what the government had requested.

Several of his supporters in the courtroom silently nodded, while others stared straight ahead.

John Dougherty has been sentenced to six years in prison, less than half of what prosecutors were seeking.

In announcing the punishment, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl credited the former labor leader for his years of good work in the community and his nearly three decades of leadership at his union.

After Dougherty’s emotional plea, prosecutors once again asked U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to remember that it was the former labor leader’s actions that brought them there.

His good deeds, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bea Witzeleben said, show “an important side of him.”

John Dougherty said he takes “full responsibility” for his crimes and apologized to the members of his union, saying that in his three decades leading Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers he at some point began conflating himself with the union.

“I knew better,” Dougherty said, in his final opportunity to address the judge before his sentence will be imposed. “I let the lines get blurred. I got over my head.”

John Dougherty didn’t just help his family and friends, attorney Greg Pagano told U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl.

“He helped people from all walks of life,” Pagano said. “He helped strangers, he helped Local 98 members, he helped non-Local 98 members.”

As the court takes a brief lunch recess, the dozens of Dougherty supporters watching from the main courtroom and an overflow room – where the proceedings are being broadcast live on a screen – spilled out into the hallways.

Spotted among the crowd were:

Continuing his push for leniency for his client, John Dougherty attorney Greg Pagano called several character witnesses to vouch for the labor leader, depicting him as a man more than his crimes, and a tireless advocate for organized labor, his family, and community.

“The John Dougherty that I know is certainly not the one who’s been defined by these two trials,” Don Siegel, the former vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, told the judge. Rather, the Dougherty Siegel said knew was a man “constantly looking for something to help, someone to do something for,” always hungry to better the lives of his union’s members and bring economic development for the city.“

John Dougherty’s 44-year-old daughter Erin delivered a compelling and emotional appeal to the judge describing her father as a “complicated” man — but one who never ignored a plea for help from someone seeking his assistance.

“I know that my dad is far from perfect,” she said. “I certainly know he’s a convicted felon…. I believe in the idea of accountability [but] I’m just begging you to consider some kind of home confinement for my dad.”

In addition to urging U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to sentence John Dougherty to more than a decade behind bars, the government has also requested the 64-year-old former labor leader be remanded to prison immediately after the hearing, citing his history of making threats, and saying he may be a danger to his community.

Schmehl will likely address the government’s request later in the proceedings.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Costello kicked the hearing off by urging U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to sentence John Dougherty to roughly 11 to 14 years in prison — the punishment recommended by federal guidelines and one the prosecutor argued Dougherty has more than earned.

“Your honor, this case is about the defendants’ abuse of power, abuse of trust that was committed over the course of six years,” Costello told the judge. “It was not a momentary lapse in judgment.”

The lawyers have started off the hearing with a debate over what John Dougherty’s federal sentencing guidelines should be.

Defense attorney Greg Pagano raised several technical objections to over how they have been calculated in Dougherty’s case.

The sentencing hearing for former labor leader John Dougherty is underway in the Reading federal courthouse.

The courtroom is packed with Dougherty’s supporters — friends, family, union members, politicians, and community members — and the court has opened an overflow room for more to watch the proceedings from elsewhere in the building.

As we all wait for the hearing to begin, John Dougherty is passing the time chatting with family members and friends seated in the gallery’s front row.

The courtroom is packed with Dougherty’s supporters, including former City Councilmember Jannie Blackwell as well as representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and various federal law enforcement agencies.

Six of John Dougherty’s codefendants in his bribery and embezzlement trials have been sentenced so far. Here’s what sentences they received:

Anthony Massa – a contractor who was charged alongside Dougherty and the fellow union officials but later pleaded guilty and testified against them in the embezzlement trial – is set to be sentenced in August.

In a dark suit and sunglasses, former labor leader John J. Dougherty had few words as he strode into the Reading federal courthouse Thursday morning ahead of his sentencing hearing.

“I’m glad it’s over, I take full responsibility,” he told awaiting news crews.

Hundreds of John Dougherty’s colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors have written to the judge who will sentence him Thursday for his bribery and embezzlement convictions. The 246 letters urge U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to consider the immeasurable impact the former labor leader has had on his community and argue that a lengthy prison term would cause more harm than good.

The list of letter writers includes members of his union — Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — a former governor, an ex-member of Congress, and other bold-faced names such as Sister Mary Scullion of project HOME, Termini Bros. co-founder Vincent Termini Sr., the city’s GOP chair Vincent Fenerty, Jr., and City Councilmembers Mark Squilla and Jim Harrity.

Today’s the day John Dougherty will finally learn his fate.

The former labor leader — who, over three decades at the helm of the city’s powerful electricians’ union, reshaped politics and organized labor in Philadelphia in his image — faces sentencing this morning on bribery and embezzlement charges.

It’s the question that’s hung over John Dougherty’s head since his conviction on bribery charges three years ago. It surfaced once more after another jury found him and former Local 98 president Brian Burrows guilty in their embezzlement trial last year. And as each of the ex-union chief’s codefendants have faced sentencing this year, it’s been asked again and again.

Just how much prison time will Dougherty get?

John Dougherty, widely known as “Johnny Doc,” is the former longtime business manager of Local 98 and once led the Philadelphia Building Trades Union. He was forced to resign from both positions after a Philadelphia jury in 2021 convicted him and former Councilmember Bobby Henon on federal bribery charges.

In December, a federal jury found Dougherty guilty on embezzlement charges. Jurors determined,Dougherty and Brian Burrows — the ex-union chief’s codefendant and trusted lieutenant — misspent more than $600,000 on everything from pricey Atlantic City birthday bashes and extensive home repairs to dozens of mundane purchases for groceries and household goods.