Date set for guilty plea from UAW ex-president

DETROIT (AP) - The former president of the United Auto Workers will appear in court on March 19 to plead guilty to corruption.

The date was set last Friday, a day after charges against Gary Jones were unsealed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. He's accused of conspiring with UAW cronies to embezzle more than $1 million.

Since 2017, nine union officials and a late official's spouse have pleaded guilty in the government's broad investigation, which has stretched from the UAW's coffers to a job training center funded by Fiat Chrysler. Some officials took kickbacks from union contractors.

Jones was president for about 1 1/2 years until quitting under a cloud in November. The government said union money was spent on golf, cigars, spas, high-end lodging and liquor.

Jones' alleged scheme goes back years to his time as the leader of a UAW regional office near St. Louis.

Published: Tue, Mar 10, 2020