Achtemeier made more than $4 million from disabling the pollution control software on hundreds of diesel trucks.

The software prevents a truck from running if it detects the pollution control hardware isn't functioning, so this allowed the truck's owner to disable that hardware.

The result was trucks emitting 30 to 1,200 times the amount of pollution as trucks with working systems.

Achtemeier could do this work remotely in about 2 hours. One of his companies operated under the name Voided Warranty Tuning and his advertisements included images of trucks spewing black exhaust.

"His motivation was money - but the rest of us will pay the price with dirty air and contamination in our soil and waterways," said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.

Click here to read Achtemeier's guilty plea.
Click here to read the sentencing press release.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

For more, read the CBS News article.

Clancy disabled the pollution control software on at least 13 diesel trucks operated by his company Clancy Logistics.

The software prevents a truck from running if it detects the pollution control hardware isn't functioning, so this allowed Clancy to then to disable that hardware.

Both Clancy and Clancy Logistics were charged. Both pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Both were pardoned.

Click here to read the sentencing press release.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

For more, read the CBS News article.

Davis conspired with Matthew Geouge to defeat emission control systems on thousands of vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act.

In April 2023, Davis reached an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop selling or supporting devices that defeat vehicles' emissions control systems.

Click here to read sentencing press release that includes Davis' sentence.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

Diesel Freak.- owned by Ryan Lalone - was charged with reprogramming the emission control systems of hundreds of heavy-duty diesel engines.

This violates the Clean Air Act. While this improves fuel economy and reduces maintenance costs, it also greatly increases emissions of toxic gases.

Lalone estimated that this practice made up 70 percent of Diesel Freak's business.

Click here to read more about the charges against Diesel Freak.
Click here to read Diesel Freak's plea agreement.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

Elite Diesel Inc. is owned by diesel mechanic Troy Lake. In 2024, Lake was charged with instructing company employees to disable emissions control hardware on more than 325 heavy-duty commercial trucks from 2017 through 2020. This violated the Clean Air Act - which prohibits tampering with the devices.

According to a Department of Justice press release, tampering on these trucks "caused an illegal increase in pollutants" of at least:

Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen and causes lung cancer. It also is associated with asthma and an increased risk of death from cardiovascular and respiratory disease. These effects disproportionately occur in low-income communities near highways and high-traffic areas, the press release states.

The pardon was prompted in part by a letter from Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman. It was issued in the name of the company, which also applies to Lake.

Click here to read the clemency grant.

Geouge and his company sold tools that allowed customers to defeat emission control systems on thousands of vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act.

According to the indictment against Geouge, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited his company - Spartan Diesel Technologies - and ordered them to stop, he effectively dissolved the company and started a new one. The new company - Patriot Diagnostic - bought all of Spartan's equipment and hired all of their employees.

Geouge received more than $10 million from selling the illegal tools. The indictment also accused him of concealing that income from the EPA and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Click here to read the Bill of Information on Geouge's indictment.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

Lake is the owner of Elite Diesel Service, Inc.

The company received a pardon in Feb 2026 for illegal disabling truck's emissions control systems leading to hundreds of tons of pollutants being spewed into the air.

Click here to read the clemency grant.

Ryan Lalone and his company - Diesel Freak LLC - were charged with reprogramming the emission control systems of hundreds of heavy-duty diesel engines.

This violates the Clean Air Act. While this improves fuel economy and reduces maintenance costs, it also greatly increases emissions of toxic gases.

Lalone estimated that this practice made up 70 percent of Diesel Freak's business.

Ryan Lalone is the father of Wade Lalone

Click here to read more about the charges against Lalone.
Click here to read Lalone's plea agreement.
Click here to read the press release of Lalone's sentencing.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

Wade Lalone is the son of Ryan Lalone. He was charged with reprogramming the emission control systems of hundreds of heavy-duty diesel engines in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Click here to read more about the charges against Lalone.
Click here to read Lalone's plea agreement.
Click here to read the clemency grant.

Click here to read the clemency grant.

Click here to read the clemency grant.

Click here to read the clemency grant.