UAW regional director charged in corruption probe steps down

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UAW regional director charged in corruption probe steps down

The Associated Press Published Sunday, November 24, 2019 12:14PM EST

In this Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, photo a UAW flag flies near strikers outside the General Motors Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Paul Sancya)

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DETROIT -- A United Auto Workers union official charged in a widening federal bribery and embezzlement scandal has resigned.

The union said Sunday that Vance Pearson also will retire and resign from his membership in the union. He had been on paid administrative leave.

Pearson was the director of a region in Missouri. He was charged by federal prosecutors in September in connection with a scheme to embezzle union money and spend thousands on premium booze, golf clubs, cigars and swanky stays in California.

Former UAW President Gary Jones has been implicated in the scheme but has not been charged. Jones resigned last week.

The UAW had moved to expel both men from the union.

So far, 13 people have been charged in the federal investigation.