Racketeering and fraud investigators recently raided the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America’s international headquarters in Roseville and the Troy home of labor leader David Hickey, according to federal court records obtained by The News.
Search and seizure warrants chronicle a quirky investigation that is focusing on the union’s finances and a labor leader who also performs as a popular magician.
Along with financial records, agents seized several cases filled with magic tricks, including a rubber dove, foam bricks and card tricks, according to federal search warrants filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Agents probably suspect the magic tricks were purchased with money stolen from the union, said Peter Henning, a former federal prosecutor and current law professor at Wayne State University.
“If you find a bag of money, you take the bag of money. If you have a bag of tricks, then you seize the bag of tricks,” Henning said.
Hickey, 58, international president of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, declined comment.
His lawyer, Robert Morgan, said agents were searching for evidence that Hickey may have stolen money from the union.
“I’m confident that when the government goes through all the records that there’s not going to be any basis to charge Mr. Hickey with the offense of embezzlement of union assets,” Morgan said.
He wouldn’t address why investigators seized Hickey’s magic tricks.
“The intriguing,” he said, “is intriguing.”
The investigation involves the investigators from the Labor Department’s Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations. The agency targets labor racketeering and corruption in employee benefit plans, labor-management relations and internal union affairs, according to the office’s website.
Peer: Magic is Hickey’s life
At 24,519 members, the union is small, but important. The union bills itself as the country’s largest and oldest security police union in the United States.
Members work at almost half of the country’s 104 nuclear facilities — but at none of the Michigan sites — and guard NASA facilities including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Its members work at Detroit’s three casinos and at General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC facilities. The union also has members in Puerto Rico and Canada.
Hickey, who served as a union director and as secretary/treasurer before being elected president 12 years ago, was paid $156,639 last year, according to the union’s most recent annual report filed with the Labor Department.
The union’s total assets were almost $6.23 million last year, which included almost $4.7 million cash, according to the annual report.
“We have cooperated fully with the Department of Labor and will continue to do so,” said Gordon Gregory, the union’s general counsel.
The probe sheds light on Hickey’s life in the magic community. Gregory calls it a “hobby.”
In his free time, Hickey performs magic tricks using the stage name Dave Devin, friends said. He also invents and sells magic tricks and gags such as the Stretch-a-Buck.
Hickey’s stage name is listed as the resident agent of a company called Magical Promotions Unlimited, LLC, according to state business records. The company’s address is the union headquarters on Kelly Road in Roseville.
Magician Keri Kazz of Mount Clemens met Hickey through a local magic shop. He said Hickey is known as a consultant for magicians who specialize in close-up tricks that rely on sleight of hand.
“I want to say magic is his hobby, but it’s more like it’s his life,” Kazz said.
Hickey also invented and sells card tricks that are carried at area magic shops, including Wunderground Magic Shop in Clawson.
“He’s a guy who produces a lot,” Kazz said. “He’s definitely a creative mind.”
Home, union HQ raided
Hickey’s professional and private life collided late last month.
Federal agents armed with search warrants launched simultaneous raids March 28 at the union’s international headquarters and Hickey’s house.
Agents seized 43 items at the union headquarters, including Hickey’s personal expense vouchers, bank and credit card statements, a union financial summary, cash receipts and audit paperwork.
They also left with at least eight boxes or cases filled with magic tricks, foam bricks, ropes, a rubber dove, DVDs and magic-related items carrying the name “Dave Devin.”
Gregory, the union lawyer, wasn’t concerned that agents seized magic items stored at the union headquarters.
“I was puzzled, frankly, and well, that’s it,” Gregory said.
Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations Special Agent Megan Howell, who raided the union headquarters, could not be reached for comment and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined comment.
While agents were hauling away Hickey’s magic tricks, others were raiding his home in Troy.
Agents seized two Apple computers, a camcorder, portable DVD players, a woman’s gold necklace and diamond charm, magic books and movies.
Union Vice President Mark Crawford said he knew about the raid at union headquarters, but not the Troy raid.
“We have nothing to worry about,” Crawford said. “These are routine investigations.”
Hickey’s job status has not changed as the probe continues.
“There is absolutely no basis for any action,” said Gregory, the union’s lawyer.
The raids didn’t stop Hickey’s magic career.
One day after the raids, Hickey served as master of ceremonies during a magic show at the Emerald Theatre in downtown Mount Clemens.
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