Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Mike Stanton
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- Three men indicted in a Laborers' International Union corruption probe were arraigned in federal court today.

In perfunctory appearances, union official Nicholas Manocchio, former union organizer Harold L. Tillinghast Jr. and contractor Gerald Diodati appeared before Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

The case was assigned for trial to U.S. District Judge William Smith, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for Jan. 22 and a tentative trial date of Feb. 2.

Manocchio, 55, of Cranston, the director of the Laborers' New England Region Organizing Fund, faces one count of labor conspiracy for allegedly accepting cash, liquor, rental cars and gift certificates from an undercover FBI agent posing as a contractor looking for business in Rhode Island. The union suspended him following his indictment last week.

Tillinghast, 44, of Cranston, is also accused of taking kickbacks and serving as a go-between with other union officials.

Diodati, 59, of Seekonk, Mass., was an unwitting partner with the undercover FBI agent in a fake company, Hemphill Construction. He is charged with paying a kickback to Tillinghast to help Hemphill secure a demolition contract at the Rising Sun Mills development in Providence.

All three men have denied the charges. They remain free on bail.

 Tags  corruption laborers union Nicholas Manocchio

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