A crooked labor leader got the tab for dining out on his union’s dime: a year and a day in the slammer.
John “Jay” McNamee Jr. was also slapped by a Manhattan federal judge yesterday with a $25,000 fine for embezzling $150,000 in union dues while he ran Local 829 of the International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees, which sets up and takes down exhibits at trade shows.
Manhattan federal prosecutor Carrie Cohen said McNamee, 53, gorged himself at some of the city’s finest steakhouses about once a week during his seven-year scam, which he began after taking over the union following the death of his father, its previous president.
According to his indictment, McNamee blew $85,000 at steakhouses, including Wollensky’s Grill, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and The Palm.
His scheme also allowed him to live large on the Upper East Side, treat his family to lavish vacations, and throw himself a $15,000 party to celebrate his 50th birthday.
McNamee’s prodigious spending with union credit cards was uncovered by a Department of Labor audit that led him to resign his leadership post and make restitution in a failed bid to avoid prosecution, Cohen said.
McNamee, who filled a courtroom with supporters yesterday, sought probation.
But Judge Kimba Wood said she needed to put McNamee behind bars as a message to other union officials who might be tempted to copy his crimes.