Indictments issued in theater arson case
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A federal grand jury Friday indicted nine members of a motion picture projections union in Chicago for engaging in a conspiracy of violence, arson and vandalism against three movie theater companies.
Four members of Local 110 of the projectionists union were arrested Friday morning in the Chicago area in connection with the alleged series of assaults and fires that occurred during a labor dispute, federal officials said.
Officials said the charges include 20 arson incidents in movie theaters in 10 states during an 18-month period in 1998 and 1999.
The U.S. attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald, issued a statement saying the charges include conspiracy to commit acts of violence, vandalism and arson by nine people -- all members or prospective members of Local 110 in Chicago.
Fitzgerald said additional details will be disclosed at a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) in his offices. Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who participated in the investigation will join him.
The four defendants arrested Friday are expected to have initial court appearances later in the day.
