A week after FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents raided the homes of the current and former UAW presidents, an ex-union official appeared Wednesday in federal court to admit his role in the ongoing training center scandal.

Michael Grimes, a former UAW administrative assistant and executive board member of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering before U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman in Ann Arbor.

Grimes is accused of conspiring with other union officials to accept bribes and kickbacks involving millions of dollars in contracts for watches, backpacks and jackets.

Several people wearing yellow union shirts came to the courthouse for the hearing.

Bob Deshetler, who said he worked at the Jeep Wrangler paint shop in Toledo until he and others lost their jobs in 2012, said his group had come to send a message.

"We're here just to let people know that the union is not that guy. We want it cleaned out. We want the bad guys gone," Deshetler said.

One man, who declined to give his name, said he hopes Grimes gets a 10-year sentence. That's not likely to happen even though the most serious charge carries a possible 20-year prison term and both offenses carry potential fines of up to $250,000. Sentencing guidelines call for a punishment of less than five years in prison.

He knew it was wrong

Grimes explained his actions briefly in court, describing a "financial burden," referencing his wife and noting that a vendor approached him. However, he acknowledged, without elaborating on those circumstances, that he knew what he did was wrong. Afterward, outside the courtroom, attorney Michael Manley said Grimes is "devastated" by his actions and said he loves the union and is crushed by what he has done to its reputation.

Grimes’ case connects to Joe Ashton, a former UAW vice president who resigned from the GM board in 2017, according to the Detroit News. Grimes was an executive board member of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, the General Motors version of the joint activity center highlighted in the UAW-Fiat Chrysler cases that have been the core of the scandal.

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The Grimes case is just one thread of a widening investigation. Last week, the probe took a dramatic turn as agents searched the homes of current UAW President Gary Jones and his predecessor, Dennis Williams.

That case has implications for bargaining as the UAW negotiates a new contract this month with the Detroit Three.

The UAW issued a new statement Wednesday, calling Grimes' conduct "shocking and absolutely disgraceful." The union also touted its "Clean Slate" reforms adopted last year requiring a three-bid process for vendor purchasing and said "similar strict bid-process policies have been implemented at the Joint Program Centers, to ensure this type of conduct cannot be repeated."

Union focused on bargaining

The UAW also noted its focus remains on bargaining.

"Our union will not be distracted from fighting for our members and negotiating strong labor agreements with General Motors, Ford and FCA," the statement said.

GM released its own statement, saying the company is "deeply disturbed" by the conduct of Grimes and other union officials:

"These actions represent a stunning abuse of power and trust. There is no excuse for union officials to enrich themselves at the expense of the union membership they represented — and to steal (Center for Human Resources) funds invested by GM for training our hourly employees.”

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who now heads the FCA department for the union, was apparently referenced but not named in the Grimes filing as someone with whom Grimes at times worked "closely" when she led the GM department. Estrada has not commented.

The scandal to date has led to convictions of eight former FCA and UAW officials. Grimes is the ninth person charged and the only one not associated with FCA or the union's joint training center with FCA. Former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell was sentenced on Aug. 5 to 15 months in prison for his role.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com or (313) 223-4272. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence. Jamie LaReau contributed to this report.