How's this for a peek into the Las Vegas underworld? The U.S. Department of Justice indicted ten men in Vegas Friday for falsifying vehicle emissions tests. Some men allegedly falsified about 250 vehicles, but one did over 700. Because the air in some parts of Nevada, including Las Vegas, has levels of carbon monoxide and ozone that are higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards, the state is required to test vehicles and make sure they're not adding too much to the problem. It should be a simple process: bring your car to a check station, the inspector runs some tests and finds our if your ride passed or failed the check. If your mechanic is shady, though, there are ways around the system.
Here's how the scheme is supposed to have worked: The emissions inspector manually types a vehicle's VIN into the computer before testing the vehicle. Because the computer doesn't know which vehicle is then actually connected, the inspector can hook up a vehicle that is certain to pass after entering the VIN of a dirty car. Even though the result of these cheats means dirtier air for everyone, the inspectors named in the indictment were paid, in some cases, just $10 (up to $100 in other cases) for their dishonesty.
Even though the men named in the indictment now face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if they're found guilty, the numbers seem to say that there are easily thousands of people in Las Vegas who would gladly pay a few extra bucks to drive around in a dirty car. Thanks, jerks.
[Source: U.S. Department of Justice | Image: Rishabh Mishra (possible248) - C.C. License 2.0]
PRESS RELEASE
10 Las Vegas Men Indicted for Falsifying Vehicle Emissions Tests
Nevada DMV Computerized Database Led to Discovery of Falsifications
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury in Las Vegas today returned indictments against 10 Nevada-certified emissions testers for falsifying vehicle emissions test reports, the Justice Department announced.
Each defendant faces one felony Clean Air Act count for falsifying reports between November 2007 and May 2009. The number of falsifications varied by defendant, with some defendants having falsified approximately 250 records, while others falsified more than double that figure. One defendant is alleged to have falsified over 700 reports.
The individuals indicted include:
The 10 defendants are alleged to have engaged in a practice known as "clean scanning" vehicles. The scheme involved entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a vehicle that would not pass the emissions test into the computerized system, then connecting a different vehicle the testers knew would pass the test. These falsifications were allegedly performed for anywhere from $10 to $100 over and above the usual emissions testing fee.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Air Act, requires the state of Nevada to conduct vehicle emissions testing in certain areas because the areas exceed national standards for carbon monoxide and ozone. Las Vegas is currently required to perform emissions testing.
To obtain a registration renewal, vehicle owners bring the vehicles to a licensed inspection station for testing. The emissions inspector logs into a computer to activate the system by using a unique password issued to the emissions inspector. The emissions inspector manually inputs the vehicle's VIN to identify the tested vehicle, then connects the vehicle for model year 1996 and later to an onboard diagnostics port connected to an analyzer. The analyzer downloads data from the vehicle's computer, analyzes the data and provides a "pass" or "fail" result. The pass or fail result and vehicle identification data are reported on the Vehicle Inspection Report. It is a crime to knowingly alter or conceal any record or other document required to be maintained by the Clean Air Act.
"Falsifications of vehicle emissions testing, such as those alleged in the indictments unsealed today, are serious matters and we intend to use all of our enforcement tools to stop this harmful practice. These actions undermine a system that is designed to reduce air pollutants including smog and provide better air quality for the citizens of Nevada," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
"The residents of Nevada deserve to know that the vast majority of licensed vehicle emission inspectors are not corrupt and are not circumventing emission testing procedures," said U.S. Attorney Bogden. "These indictments should serve as a clear warning to offenders that the Department of Justice will prosecute you if you make fraudulent statements and reports concerning compliance with the federal Clean Air Act."
"Lying about car emissions means dirtier air, which is especially of concern in areas like Las Vegas that are already experiencing air quality problems," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at EPA. "We will take aggressive action to ensure communities have clean air."
The maximum penalty for the felony violations contained in the indictments includes up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the EPA, Criminal Investigation Division; and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Compliance Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and the Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section.
Here's how the scheme is supposed to have worked: The emissions inspector manually types a vehicle's VIN into the computer before testing the vehicle. Because the computer doesn't know which vehicle is then actually connected, the inspector can hook up a vehicle that is certain to pass after entering the VIN of a dirty car. Even though the result of these cheats means dirtier air for everyone, the inspectors named in the indictment were paid, in some cases, just $10 (up to $100 in other cases) for their dishonesty.
Even though the men named in the indictment now face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if they're found guilty, the numbers seem to say that there are easily thousands of people in Las Vegas who would gladly pay a few extra bucks to drive around in a dirty car. Thanks, jerks.
[Source: U.S. Department of Justice | Image: Rishabh Mishra (possible248) - C.C. License 2.0]
PRESS RELEASE
10 Las Vegas Men Indicted for Falsifying Vehicle Emissions Tests
Nevada DMV Computerized Database Led to Discovery of Falsifications
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury in Las Vegas today returned indictments against 10 Nevada-certified emissions testers for falsifying vehicle emissions test reports, the Justice Department announced.
Each defendant faces one felony Clean Air Act count for falsifying reports between November 2007 and May 2009. The number of falsifications varied by defendant, with some defendants having falsified approximately 250 records, while others falsified more than double that figure. One defendant is alleged to have falsified over 700 reports.
The individuals indicted include:
- Eduardo Franco, 30
- Alexander Wayne Worster, 27
- William Joseph McCown, 48
- Joseph DeMatteo, 52
- David Eugene Nelson, 46
- Louis Engene Demeo, 50
- Adolpho Silva-Contreras, 47
- Peter Escudero, 47
- Wadji Waked, 24
- Gary Smith, 47
The 10 defendants are alleged to have engaged in a practice known as "clean scanning" vehicles. The scheme involved entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a vehicle that would not pass the emissions test into the computerized system, then connecting a different vehicle the testers knew would pass the test. These falsifications were allegedly performed for anywhere from $10 to $100 over and above the usual emissions testing fee.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Air Act, requires the state of Nevada to conduct vehicle emissions testing in certain areas because the areas exceed national standards for carbon monoxide and ozone. Las Vegas is currently required to perform emissions testing.
To obtain a registration renewal, vehicle owners bring the vehicles to a licensed inspection station for testing. The emissions inspector logs into a computer to activate the system by using a unique password issued to the emissions inspector. The emissions inspector manually inputs the vehicle's VIN to identify the tested vehicle, then connects the vehicle for model year 1996 and later to an onboard diagnostics port connected to an analyzer. The analyzer downloads data from the vehicle's computer, analyzes the data and provides a "pass" or "fail" result. The pass or fail result and vehicle identification data are reported on the Vehicle Inspection Report. It is a crime to knowingly alter or conceal any record or other document required to be maintained by the Clean Air Act.
"Falsifications of vehicle emissions testing, such as those alleged in the indictments unsealed today, are serious matters and we intend to use all of our enforcement tools to stop this harmful practice. These actions undermine a system that is designed to reduce air pollutants including smog and provide better air quality for the citizens of Nevada," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
"The residents of Nevada deserve to know that the vast majority of licensed vehicle emission inspectors are not corrupt and are not circumventing emission testing procedures," said U.S. Attorney Bogden. "These indictments should serve as a clear warning to offenders that the Department of Justice will prosecute you if you make fraudulent statements and reports concerning compliance with the federal Clean Air Act."
"Lying about car emissions means dirtier air, which is especially of concern in areas like Las Vegas that are already experiencing air quality problems," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at EPA. "We will take aggressive action to ensure communities have clean air."
The maximum penalty for the felony violations contained in the indictments includes up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the EPA, Criminal Investigation Division; and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Compliance Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and the Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section.
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