News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2002

Charlestown Man Affiliated With The International Brotherhood Of Teamsters Local 25 Sentenced For Racketeering And Extortion

Boston, MA… Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, Gordon S. Heddell, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering, Colonel Thomas Foley Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, Paul F. Evans, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department and United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, announced that JOHN JOSEPH MURRAY, a/k/a "Mick Murray", age 47, of 17 Essex Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reginald C. Lindsay to 9 years and 4 months' incarceration and a period to follow of 3 years' supervised release. MURRAY pleaded guilty on July 1, 2002 to twelve counts of racketeering, extortion, embezzlement and interstate transportation of stolen property.

At the sentencing, the prosecutor told the Court that MURRAY was a member of a Charlestown based organized crime group that engaged in traditional organized crime activities and illicitly influenced the affairs of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25 ("IBT Local 25") also located in Charlestown. IBT Local 25 has approximately 9,000 members. Pursuant to his membership in this group, MURRY used his affiliation with the IBT Local 25 to orchestrate a computer theft ring composed of IBT Local 25 drivers that operated out of the United Parcel Serviced ("UPS") facility in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. MURRAY also received unauthorized health care benefits from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25's Health Services and Insurance Plan ("IBT Local 25 HSIP") due to the intercession of one of its trustees. The IBT Local 25 HSIP provides health care benefits to approximately 20,000 active and retired members of the IBT Local 25 and their families. MURRAY was also sentenced to pay $35,000 in restitution to IBT Local 25 HSIP.

MURRAY also was sentenced for his participation with convicted South Boston Bulger gang member Kevin Weeks in the extortion of bookmaker Kevin Hayes. At the prior plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that Hayes was forced to pay tribute to MURRAY and Weeks because Hayes was not affiliated with any organized crime group. MURRAY also pleaded guilty to extorting another IBT Local 25 member and Airborne Express truck driver, Paul Kupchaunis. Kupchaunis was forced to part with a mechanics key for UPS delivery trucks, which would open any truck.

MURRAY was one of eight individuals charged in one of four indictments issued in January of this year.