Crime

Former President Of United Auto Workers Charged With Corruption

The charge follows Jones' resignation from the union in November.

Former President Of United Auto Workers Charged With Corruption
Paul Sancya / AP
SMS

The former president of the United Auto Workers union, Gary Jones, has been charged with allegedly embezzling more than $1 million.

In November, Jones resigned as the head of the union, following the board's unanimous vote to expel him amid a corruption investigation. According to the board, Jones along with others had submitted "false, misleading and inaccurate expense records." Jones reportedly spent the money on a variety of luxuries, including $13,000 on cigars.

In a statement Thursday, the union said of Jones "This is a violation of trust, a violation of the sacred management of union dues, and goes against everything we believe in as a Union." 

According to the Associated Press, the case has caused tension between General Motors and Fiat Chrysler. Just hours after Jones resigned in November, General Motors filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles alleging that Fiat Chrysler bribed union officials to obtain favorable labor contracts. Fiat Chrysler has denied these allegations.