Daniel J. Bealko, General Motors’s former global commodity manager for lightweight metals, pleaded guilty to federal charges relating to a kickback and fraud scheme involving GM’s sale of bulk aluminum to third parties. Bealko also pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion, admitting that he concealed from the IRS approximately $6.5 million in kickbacks. Bealko was GM’s Global Commodity manager between 1996 and December 2003, when he was entrusted with the discretionary authority to devise and implement a plan for GM to divest its extensive bulk aluminum holdings. Between mid-1998 and December 2003, Bealko received approximately $6.5 million in kickbacks for steering GM bulk aluminum sales to a Chicago area businessman who previously pleaded guilty in the case.