GM Dumps Former FCA Executive Who Allegedly Spent $37,500 on a Single Pen

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

General Motors has decided to cut ties with Alphons Iacobelli, the former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles labor relations chief accused of embezzling funds earmarked for worker training. That money is believed to have gone into extensive home renovations, the installation of a pool, personal credit card expenses, the leasing of a private jet, a $350,000 Ferrari 458 Spider, and two Mont Blanc pens worth $37,500 each.

While GM suspended Iacobelli in July (after federal officials charged him for his alleged role in a multi-million dollar criminal conspiracy during his time at FCA), it only recently confirmed his departure from the company.

Automotive News is reporting he may have been fired several months ago. However, General Motors has declined to comment on the specific details or timing of the separation. David F. DuMouchel, an attorney for Iacobelli, has likewise declined to disclose his client’s employment status.

GM hired Iacobelli as executive director of labor relations in January 2016, roughly seven months after he left FCA in June of 2015 under vaguely suspicious circumstances.

Iacobelli is one of four people charged in a case involving the misuse of $4.5 million intended for the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center’s employee programs. The other defendants include retired UAW associate director Virdell King, former FCA financial analyst Jerome Durden, and Monica Morgan, the widow of UAW Vice President General Holiefield.

[Image: Michael Kumm/ Flickr ( CC BY 2.0)]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Rpol35 Rpol35 on Dec 16, 2017

    "and two Mont Blanc pens worth $37,500 each." But did they write under whipped cream? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenly_Daze

  • ToddAtlasF1 ToddAtlasF1 on Dec 16, 2017

    I'd love to see his golden parachutes quantified.

  • Islander800 Islander800 on Dec 16, 2017

    To heck with the "$37.5K" pens headline, what about the MILLIONS he likely shafted GM labor of, with his serial behavior? There's a special circle in Hell for these cynical, self serving "executive" jerks. But first, he should spend major time behind bars - plus restitution.

  • Flybrian Flybrian on Dec 17, 2017

    Wow. And all that money saved by spelling it GAGE goes down the drain... Seriously, notice how every single one of these high-level schmucks from the garbage department of FCA is a self-aggrandizing carpetbagger?

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