A native of Windsor and former head of bargaining for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles faces charges in the US over bribing UAW officials.
57-year-old Alphons (Al) Iacobelli is charged with criminal violations of the Labour Management Relations Act.
A 42-page indictment from a grand jury alleges he took part in a multi-year conspiracy to pay and deliver money and gifts to officers and employees of the UAW.
Retired CAW National President Ken Lewenza has known Iacobelli for many years.
Lewenza says he finds this hard to believe.
"I knew he left Chrysler Corporation abruptly without really explaining why he left because he was still a young man when he decided to leave" said Lewenza, "this accusation against him shocks me"
Lewenza says this doesn't fit with the man he knew, who was straignt and narrow and as sincere as you can get.
He says Iacobelli has a strong Windsor connection and still has family here.
Lewenza is worried how these accusations could tarnish the way people view labour negotiations.
He says he will follow the proceedings through court because of his familiarity with Iacobelli.
The alleged prohibited payments and gifts occurred between 2009 and 2014.
They included designer clothing, jewelry, furniture and paying off the $262,219 mortgage on the late UAW officer General Holiefield and his wife Monica Morgan's residence in the Detroit area.