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.
