BROOKLYN (CN) - An ousted union official whose father and grandfather were members of the Colombo crime family claims the Laborers International Union stripped him of his posts in a concrete workers' local because of his family name.
Ralph J. Scopo claims he was removed from office on bogus charges involving a vacation-check scam. He says the real reason they removed him was because of his "intimate association" with his father, Ralph Scopo Jr.
Scopo sued the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), the Cement & Concrete Workers District Council, LIUNA's Flushing-based Local 6A Concrete Workers, and union officials Bruce Mouw and Alex Castaldi, in Federal Court.
Scopo, 41, says he joined LIUNA in 1988 as a construction worker and rose through the ranks of Local 6A due to his "excellent employment record."
Scopo says his fellow union members appointed and elected him to various positions, including recording secretary, business manager and secretary treasurer, which required responsibility and union loyalty.
He claims that "in or around 2008, plaintiff was audited by LIUNA's Inspector General's Office, who found that plaintiff was doing 'a great job' as secretary treasurer.
"In addition, the auditor found that plaintiff's office was being 'run perfectly' and that plaintiff 'set the standard for all other LIUNA locals to follow,'" according to the complaint.
Scopo says LIUNA decided to oust him anyway, because of his family ties.
"(D)espite the accolades from the auditor, plaintiff's deposition was taken by LIUNA's Office of the Special Counsel in or around 2009 because of his intimate association with his father," the complaint states.
"Plaintiff's deposition lasted eight (8) hours while the depositions of other similarly-situated union members lasted half as long.
"Plaintiff's deposition focused exclusively on his father's and grandfather's purported relationship with organized crime, which was intended to belittle, embarrass and harass plaintiff.
"Despite his repeated statements that he lacked knowledge of any illegal activity and any involvement in organized crime, plaintiff's deposition continued and was intended to belittle, embarrass and harass plaintiff."
Scopo's grandfather, Ralph Scopo Sr., ran the union in the 1980s, while acting as consigliere for the Colombo family. In 1986, Scopo Sr. and Mafia boss Junior Persico were found guilty of racketeering and extortion and sentenced to 100 years in prison. Scopo Sr. died in prison in 1993.
Scopo claims that while he "maintains a father/son familial relationship with his father, he has never engaged in, or conducted illegal activities or business with his father or his father's purported associates."
"Other than having a father/son relationship with his father, plaintiff has never been charged with participating in organized crime nor has he been associated with criminal activity," according to the complaint.
Scopo claims LIUNA booted him under pressure from the federal government.
"In an agreement with the United States of America ('United States'), which is still in effect as of the date of this writing, LIUNA and the United States are jointly pursuing various courses of action designed to ensure that all locals and other entities within LIUNA are rid of any corrupting influence of any member of organized crime," the complaint states.
"The United States, through LIUNA, sought the complete elimination of corrupting influence on any entity within LIUNA, even if innocent third parties' constitutional rights are violated," Scopo says.
