JEROME DURDEN

On behalf of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), a company attorney on Monday pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court. “Your honor, we plead guilty,” FCA General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Chris Pardi told U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman during a remote video plea hearing. Several FCA and UAW officials were convicted of crimes resulting from a widespread corruption probe. His initial 5 1/2-year prison sentence was reduced to 3 years in exchange for his cooperation with investigators in January. Nearly 15 former UAW officials and spouses have been charged or convicted as part of the UAW scandal since 2017, including former UAW President Gary Jones, who was sentenced to 15 months and received early release to home confinement when the pandemic struck in 2020.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A former Fiat Chrysler financial analyst who federal prosecutors say helped illegally funnel worker training funds over a number of years pleaded guilty in the case. Jerome Durden entered the pleas Aug. 8, 2017, in U.S. District Court in Ann Arbor to charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and failure to file a tax return. As part of a plea agreement, he faces up to 37 months in prison. Prosecutors in July 2017 announced charges. Former Fiat Chrysler executive Al Iacobelli was indicted in an alleged conspiracy involving United Auto Workers union vice president General Holiefield and Holiefield’s wife, Monica Morgan.