In a report submitted to Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters president James P. Hoffa, the court-appointed Indep. Rev. Bd. Nov. 21 recommended that internal union charges be brought against a member of IBT Local 813 in N.Y.C. for “knowingly associating with” a convicted organized crime figure. IRB asserted that in violation of the union’s constitution and the 1989 consent decree, Michael Marchini met with Matthew “Matty the Horse” Ianniello — identified in the report as a “Capo in the Genovese [organized crime] family” — and one of the original defendants in the government’s 1988 civil racketeering suit against IBT. Ianniello was permanently enjoined by the late U.S. Dist Judge David N. Edelstein (S.D.N.Y., Truman) in 1988 from participating in IBT affairs.
In recommending the charges, IRB said it found “incredible” the union member’s claim that he did not know that he could not associate with Ianniello. Marchini reportedly admitted to a long-standing relationship with Ianniello. Marchini also admitted that he knew Ianniello had ties with organized crime and had been convicted of racketeering charges. Despite this knowledge, Marchini admitted that sometime in Feb. or Mar. 2001 he visited Ianniello, who recently had undergone surgery, at his home on Long Island to “pay my respects.” He claimed not to know of the prohibitions against associating with members of organized crime. The visit was social, lasting about half an hour, Marchini said, and he denied discussing business matters or asking Ianniello for assistance. “Even under Marchini’s representation of the contact [with Ianniello] in his sworn testimony, his conduct was knowing and in violation of the IBT Constitution,” IRB reported.
“Marchini’s claim that he did not know that he could not associate with Ianniello was incredible given the regular publication of decisions in the Teamster magazine disciplining member who associated with individuals barred from the union,” IRB added.
Under IRB rules, IBT has 90 days in which to investigate the charges detailed in the report and determine what sanction, if any, to impose. Hoffa also can refer the case back to the IRB for adjudication. Reportedly, IBT has not made a decision on how the case will be handled. [BNA 11/28/01]