Former Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty is getting out of prison, according to his attorney.
President Donald Trump signed a commutation which will pave the way for Dougherty to get out of his six year prison sentence early, Dougherty attorney George Bochetto told NBC10.
John Dougherty was convicted of bribing a City Council member and embezzling nearly $600,000 from the powerful electricians’ union.
Known as “Johnny Doc,” Dougherty ran that union for nearly three decades and was a Democratic power broker in Pennsylvania politics, steering tens of millions in union campaign contributions to candidates for office.
Dougherty was previously indicted in 2019 after a lengthy FBI investigation.
In November 2021, he and a city council member were convicted of conspiracy in a corruption trial. Prosecutors said Dougherty kept Bobby Henon, a union electrician-turned-Philadelphia City Council member, on the payroll to help his union keep a tight grip on construction jobs.
Dougherty was convicted of eight counts, including conspiracy and honest services wire fraud, while Henon was convicted of 10 counts, including conspiracy, bribery and honest services wire fraud. Dougherty was also acquitted of three fraud counts and Henon of eight fraud and bribery counts.
Dougherty still had another four years on his sentence and is expected to be released soon, his attorney said.
NBC10 is working to learn more.