A former official of the United Auto Workers is accused of taking trips to a Niagara Falls gambling casino when he was supposed to be working for the union.

George M. Jemiolo, 61, of Carriage Circle, Amherst, was indicted on a charge of unlawful receipt of payment while working as a union official, the U. S. attorney’s office said.

On several occasions when he was supposed to be doing work for the union, Jemiolo was instead “up at the casino in Niagara Falls,” Assistant U. S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh said during Jemiolo’s arraignment.

Jemiolo pleaded not guilty and was released without bail by Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott.

“[Jemiolo] was a very hardworking union officer,” defense attorney Robert L. Boreanaz said after the proceeding. “He was at the casino, but he was up there because the union was trying to organize some casino employees. I wish the FBI had taken pictures of George on a Sunday morning, when he was off duty, sitting at his kitchen table taking phone calls from union workers.”

In court papers, Jemiolo was identified as the former bargaining committee chairman for UAW Local 424, which represented workers at the former East Delavan Avenue plant of American Axle & Manufacturing. The plant, which employed more than 700 people, was shut down in 2008.

Agents from the U. S. Labor Department and the FBI watched Jemiolo, followed him and obtained evidence that he spent time at the Seneca Niagara Casino on at least 30 occasions when he was getting paid — by American Axle — to do union work, authorities said.

The alleged casino trips took place between August 2006 and September 2007, according to court papers.

Jemiolo is accused of receiving more than $1,000 under false pretenses, Wydysh said, but the prosecutor declined to comment when asked for a more specific amount.

Boreanaz said the charges are false. He said federal agents several years ago tried to pressure Jemiolo into providing information about other union officials.

“George refused to lie for them,” Boreanaz said.

When asked about Boreanaz’s comments, Wydysh responded: “The assertion that any agent asked Mr. Jemiolo to lie is ludicrous. We stand by the charges.”