The U.S. Attorney's office in Western New York capped off a five-year investigation, charging a dozen Operating Engineers Local 17 officials with extortion and racketeering.

Among those named in the eight-count indictment is Mark Kirsch, 48, president and business manager of the Hamburg-based union.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York said the eight-count indictment charges the union officials with "engaging in a violent scheme to extort jobs and compensation associated with those jobs from both local and out-of-town businesses and their employees."

The criminal enterprise, authorities said, goes back to January 1997, with the principal objective of forcing employers to hire workers selected by the defendants. That has led to construction projects being delayed and additional costs tacked on to such projects.

Operating Engineers Local 17, which counts 2,100 members, covers all or portions of six Western New York counties.

A conviction on the charges can bring a maximum prison term of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, or both.