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UAW Official Sentenced for Embezzlement
A former high-ranking official with the United Auto Workers union was sentenced to 12 months in prison for his role in a multi-year embezzlement scheme that drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from union funds.
Vance Pearson, the former Director of the United Auto Workers Region 5 and a former member of the UAW’s International Executive Board, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul Borman on Tuesday. Pearson, 58, of St. Charles, Missouri, was also ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the UAW, forfeit $122,258.26, and serve three years of supervised release.
Pearson was convicted of conspiring with former UAW President Gary Jones and other senior UAW officials to embezzle UAW dues money and further racketeering crimes between 2010 and September 2019.
According to court documents, Pearson and other UAW officials used union funds to pay for lavish entertainment and personal spending, including golf clubs, private villas, cigars, golfing apparel, green fees at golf courses, and high-end liquor and meals costing over $750,000 in UAW funds.
Pearson admitted that he and other senior UAW officials used the UAW money to pay for personal expenses, including four sets of custom-made golf clubs for the use of high-level UAW officials. He also used union funds to purchase over $60,000 in cigars.
Co-defendants Edward Robinson and Dennis Williams were also ordered to pay restitution to the UAW. Former UAW President Gary Jones was ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution to the UAW.
Pearson’s sentence was reduced due to his cooperation with the investigation.
This is the 17th conviction in the ongoing criminal investigation into corruption within the UAW.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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