As money disappeared from a United Auto Workers local, a former treasurer was accused of making $16 million in bets at a Detroit casino.
The former treasurer of a United Auto Workers’ local in Detroit has pleaded guilty to embezzling $2.2 million to bankroll his high-octane gambling habit and to buy guns and luxury cars.
Edmunds had been the financial secretary-treasurer of Local 412 of the United Auto Workers from 2011 to 2021. The local represents thousands of workers at several plants operated by what was then known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and has since become Stellantis NV after merging with the maker of Peugeot.
“The hard-working men and women of the UAW deserve leaders dedicated to serving the best interests of the membership,” said Dawn Ison, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Michigan.“[His] conviction demonstrates our zealous pursuit of those who would seek to take advantage of their positions of trust within the UAW to steal and defraud union members.”Investigators say Edmunds was a high-stakes gambler at the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit.
Edmunds also purchased multiple Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos for over $75,000 each. He also bought at least 10 firearms for as much as $2,000 each, prosecutors said.