The former president of the United Auto Workers Union, Gary Jones, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds, becoming the highest-ranking union official to admit wrongdoing in a wide-ranging federal investigation that has involved more than a dozen senior union officials and at least three executives from Fiat Chrysler, the New York Times reported. Under a cooperation agreement reached with federal prosecutors, Jones acknowledged using more than $1 million in union funds for vacation rentals, golf outings, clothing, liquor and expensive meals. As part of the plea agreement with prosecutors, Jones has agreed to cooperate in the investigation, and forfeit more than $140,000 in cash obtained illegally. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 3. Federal guidelines call for a prison sentence of 47 to 56 months.
