BUFFALO - U.S. Attorney William Hochul Jr. announced that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned a one-count indictment charging George Jemiolo, 61, of Williamsville with improper receipt by a union representative of monies from an employer,

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Wydysh stated that between August 2006 and September 2007, the defendant was the "bargaining committee chairman" for Local 424 United Auto Workers at the American Axle plant in Buffalo.

During that time, the defendant received more than $1,000 from American Axle as wages and benefits when in fact the defendant did not provide labor or services of any kind.

The indictment was the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Department of Labor under the direction of Acting Inspector General Daniel Petrole and the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Robertson. The evidence was presented to the grand jury by Wydysh, who will handle the trial of the case.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.