Teamsters members charged with extorting 'Top Chef' staff

BOSTON (AP/MyFoxBoston.com) - Four members of a Teamsters local allegedly intimidated "Top Chef" staff and crew after the reality TV show didn't hire local union members while filming in Boston, says a federal indictment released Wednesday.

The indictment says that four members of Teamsters Local 25 demanded that union members be hired as drivers. When the producer said they had already hired their employees, the Teamsters warned that they would follow the crew and picket, prompting the Omni Parker House to cancel filming there.

<< READ: Teamsters Indictment >>

Teamsters indicted include Mark Harrington, 61, John Fidler, 51, of Holbrook, Daniel Redmond, 47, of Medford and Robert Cafarelli, 45, of Middleton. Harrington is the secretary-treasure of the Local 25. None of the other members indicted hold a position. Fidler was convicted in 2004 for selling cocaine on the job and a concurrent six-year prison term for plotting to rob an armored car in 1998 with men from Charlestown. He sold cocaine three times in 2000 to DEA informant at a Dig construction site. Besides Fidler, FOX25 hasn't found criminal records for any of the other men.

The Teamsters also are accused of yelling profanities and racial and homophobic slurs at Bravo's "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi and the crew.

"The defendants yelled profanities and racial and homophobic slurs at the crew and others.  The defendants blocked vehicles from the entryway to the set and used actual physical violence and threats of physical violence to try to prevent people from entering the set," reads the indictment. It also says nine members of the crew found their tires slashed after seeing the defendants standing close to their vehicles.

The defendants also allegedly forcibly tried to enter the Milton restaurants, chest-bumping and stomach-bumping "Top Chef" crew members.

The Teamster Local 25 has been a supporter of the MA Film Credit, which gives tax incentives for T.V. shows and movies to film in the state.

The defendants were due in court Wednesday afternoon.

FOX25 called the Teamsters, but was told no one is giving interviews.

Note: Originally five people were indicted. In court Wednesday, the indictment was updated, with only four Teamsters.

Cox Media Group