World News | US charges diesel engine tampering in Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS (USA), April 26 (AP) — Federal authorities in Michigan indicted nine people Wednesday for planning to break air pollution rules by tampering with the software and hardware of heavy-duty diesel engines.

The nine agreed to plead guilty, along with the three companies, according to documents concurrently filed in Western Michigan federal court.

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Diesel Freak LLC of Gaylord has agreed to pay a fine of $750,000. Court documents show that Grand Rapids-based Accurate Truck Service and related company Griffin Transportation have each agreed to pay $500,000.

Authorities said Diesel Freak performed remote engine reprogramming and counted Accurate Truck and Griffin Transportation as customers.

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In charging documents, the government said diesel engine modifications could “enhance the horsepower, torque, fuel efficiency or other characteristics of a diesel engine”. “These illegal modifications have led to a dramatic increase in emissions of multiple pollutants per vehicle.”

At least 362 vehicles were rigged by Diesel Freak, the government said.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and the Environmental Protection Agency plan an afternoon news conference to discuss the case. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)