“I got out of control,” Dougherty said. “John Dougherty and the business manager became the same person, even to the point where I violated the law.”
Government Assertions and Dougherty’s Defense
Addressing the government’s claims that he threatened union members to prevent them from cooperating with federal agents, Dougherty explained, “This stuff that I would threaten anybody … that was just me being me. None of them guys took it seriously. I was trying to alert them to be on the ball. I should have been on the ball myself.”
Earlier in the day, Dougherty’s supporters pleaded with the judge for leniency, highlighting his role as the primary caregiver for his quadriplegic wife, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury.
John Dougherty Gets 6 Years For Bribery : Packed Courtroom and Supporters
The small federal courtroom in Reading was filled with Dougherty’s supporters, including his brother, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, ex-Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, and former Philadelphia traffic court judge Michael Sullivan.
John Dougherty Gets 6 Years For Bribery : Years-Long Prosecution
Dougherty’s sentencing marked the conclusion of a years-long prosecution that began in 2019 and faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in Dougherty’s defense team. The indictment was so extensive that the case was divided into two trials, one for the bribery charges and the other for embezzlement.
Bribery and Embezzlement Charges
Prosecutors alleged that Dougherty bribed former City Councilman Bobby Henon by paying him a union salary in exchange for his influence. Dougherty reportedly used Henon to pressure Comcast Corp. into giving union electricians fiber-optic work by stalling franchise agreement renewal negotiations with the city.
