3 convicted in Teamsters vote rig case

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A former union officer and two employees of one of the country's largest Teamsters locals were convicted today on charges related to an effort to rig two elections in 2004.

The group was convicted on the third day of jury deliberations in the case at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Richard Lopez, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 743, was convicted along with Thaddeus Bania and David Rodriguez.
Lopez, 55, and Bania, 54, a former union comptroller, were convicted of charges including conspiracy to commit mail fraud and theft of union property. They were accused of scheming to divert secret ballots to family members and friends in a bid to keep a slate of incumbent candidates in union leadership.

Rodriguez, a former organizer, was acquitted of conspiracy but convicted of mail fraud and theft.

Some people look foreword to Card Check! For the Chicago Mob connection of Teamsters Local 743.