Former United Auto Workers (UAW) regional director Vance Pearson has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.

UAW regional director Vance Pearson steps down after embezzlement chargesPublished: November 25, 2019, 7:31 amPearson was the director of a region in Missouri and was considered former UAW president Gary Jones' right-hand man.

DETROIT (AP) – Federal prosecutors in Detroit say they traveled to St. Louis last week to provide documents and determine if a United Auto Workers official would consider a plea deal in a corruption investigation. Vance Pearson is a UAW regional director based in Missouri. He’s charged with embezzlement, fraud and conspiracy, but the September criminal complaint was a temporary step. He was promoted to his post after his boss, Gary Jones, became UAW president in 2018. Jones is also under scrutiny: His suburban Detroit house was raided last summer, and he took a leave of absence on Nov. 3.

DETROIT United Auto Workers-Ford Vice President Rory Gamble has been selected as acting UAW national president Saturday, and on Monday he begins talks with Fiat-Chrysler. This comes after former union president Gary Jones Canton home was raided by the FBI in August, which was followed by embezzlement charges against St. Louis Region 5 Director Vance Pearson and Edward Nick Robinson, both close associates of Jones. READ MORE: UAW official Edward Nick Robinson charged in labor conspiracyGamble, who has been politically active with the union for 38 years, was elected UAW-Ford president in 2018 and has since been involved in the negotiations of hundreds of union contracts. National negotiations with Fiat-Chrysler is no small feat, said Center for Automotive Research analyst Kristin Dziczek. WATCH BELOW: Aerial video of FBI agents raiding Canton home of UAW President Gary Jones

Former GM negotiator Dr. Arthur Schwartz says this strike is complicated by the UAW leadership's legal problems. More local headlinesFor more Local News head to ClickOnDetroit.com/news/local. National headlinesFor more National News headlines, head to ClickOnDetroit.com/news/national. Submit a news tipTell us what's happening in your community -- submit a news tip to Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit right here. Tweets by Local4NewsCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

The $250 weekly strike pay not covering nearly enough for United Autoworkers who enter a fourth week of picketing. A lot of the gig economy is affected now, people doing part-time design work, things like that," said Anderson. The gambit to strike is costly and the delicate dance to a deal is complicated. Former GM negotiator Dr. Arthur Schwartz says this strike is complicated by the UAW leadership's legal problems. You don't have the leadership leading, they're looking over their shoulder at the membership all the time wondering if the is gonna fly," said Anderson.

Nearly 50,000 workers have been off the job, shutting down 33 manufacturing plants and 22 part distribution facilities nationwide. RELATED: Day 21 of UAW-GM strikeThe UAW said it sent an extensive proposal to GM on Saturday, which included at least 35 proposals for hourly workers and three proposals for salaried workers. In a statement released by the UAW, the union said GM "reverted back to their last rejected proposal and made little change. RELATED: UAW negotiator presses GM labor relations leader for action in emailThis turn for the worse comes less than 48 hours after a UAW regional director was placed on leave. RELATED: UAW official Vance Pearson, others, accused of embezzling thousandsVance Pearson is accused of embezzling union funds, money laundering and wire fraud.

DETROIT - A Missouri-based official at the United Auto Workers who was charged with corruption last month has stepped away from the national organization. UAW officials said in a statement that Vance Pearson of St. Charles, Missouri, began his leave of absence Thursday. Read more: UAW official Vance Pearson, others, accused of embezzling thousandsPearson is the director of UAW's Region 5, which covers thousands of union members in more than a dozen states. The organization's national office in Detroit will oversee the region in Pearson's absence. Officials did not give a reason for Pearson's leave of absence or say if he would still be getting paid.

DETROIT - After negotiations ended with no deal Saturday night, the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors is entering its fourth week. Sunday marks the 21st day since union members walked off the job. The UAW and GM could reach a tentative agreement any day that would end the ongoing strike. About 850 union workers went on strike against Armark the day before the UAW-GM strike started. "Every day, UAW members go to work and keep these plants profitable, said UAW Region 1 Director Frank Stuglin.

DETROIT - The United Auto Workers strike against General Motors enters its fourth week Sunday. Region 5 Director Vance Pearson is facing charges of embezzlement and wire fraud. The sole focus of the International Union, UAW, is to act in the best interest of the more than 400,000 UAW members across this country. For that reason, as of October 4, 2019, Vance Pearson began a leave of absence from the IUAW. Periodic reports on Region 5 activities will be provided to the IEB at its regular meetings.

Then the union opted for a national strike instead of targeting individual, crucial plants. There has traditionally been a gentleman's agreement during a strike, the company pays union member health care benefits until the end of the month. [The health care plan by-the-way, is considered among the best in the nation]. He was looking to confirm his words about health care to his membership. The union strike fund is estimated to have just under $1 billion, built up through union dues over the past dozen years.

DETROIT - The clock is ticking down on the United Auto Workers union's national contract. Related: UAW extends contracts with Ford, FCA; GM talks continueA recent union scandal could impact the negotiations. Related: UAW official Vance Pearson, others, accused of embezzling thousandsThe 40-page complaint focuses on union corruption. One of Jones' closest allies and his successor in UAW Region 5, Vance Pearson, was arrested and charged with embezzlement, wire fraud and money laundering, among others. The UAW could extend the negotiations, call for a strike or negotiate a lead contract with either FCA or Ford on Saturday.

The UAW's Region 5 covers the tens of thousands of UAW members from Missouri and the sixteen states to the southwest, including California. The Detroit criminal complaint charges Pearson with conspiring with other UAW officials to embezzle UAW money for the personal benefit of Pearson and other senior UAW officials by concealing personal expenditures in the cost of UAW Region 5 conferences held in Palm Springs, California, Coronado, California, and Missouri. From the U.S. Attorney's office:"For example, Pearson and other senior UAW officials used UAW money to buy sets of golf clubs, individual clubs, and other golf equipment that cost thousands of dollars. UAW funds were also used to pay for meals for senior UAW officials at high-end restaurants outside the time periods of the UAW conferences to which they were charged." UAW statementThe UAW released this statement on the charges against Pearson:"Our highest priority is maintaining the trust and confidence of United Auto Worker members.