Former Union Official Sentenced in Improper Payments Scheme

Topics:  UAW

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York
April 18, 2011

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that George M. Jemiolo, 61, of Williamsville, New York, who was convicted of improper receipt of monies by a union representative, was fined $3,000 and ordered to pay $2,292.00 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh, who prosecuted this case, stated that between August 2006 and September 2007, the defendant was the “Bargaining Committee Chairman” for Local 424 of the United Auto Workers at the American Axle plant in Buffalo, NY. During that time, Jemiolo received over $2,000 from American Axle in wages and benefits for services performed on behalf of the union when, in fact, he did not provide labor or services of any kind. Instead, the defendant spent part of his work time gambling at the Seneca Niagara Casino, which was observed by special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Subsequently, the plant, located on East Delavan, closed down.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Department of Labor, under the direction of Acting Inspector General Daniel Petrole, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar.