Ed White

DETROIT (AP) — Eleven people in Michigan have been indicted for plotting to circumvent air pollution regulations by tampering with the software and hardware of large diesel engines, federal officials said Wednesday.

Nine of the 11 companies and three agreed to plead guilty, according to documents filed in federal court in western Michigan.

Gaylord-based Diesel Freak LLC has agreed to pay a $750,000 fine. Grand Rapids-based Accurate Truck Services and affiliate Griffin Transportation each agreed to pay $500,000, court filings show.

Diesel Freak reprogrammed engines remotely and counts Accurate Truck and Griffin Transportation as customers, officials said.

Diesel engine modifications can “improve the horsepower, torque, fuel efficiency or other characteristics of a diesel engine,” the government said in a request document. “These illegal modifications dramatically increase the number of pollutants emitted by each vehicle.”

Diesel freaks rigged at least 362 vehicles between 2015 and late 2018, some of which are “still on the road,” said US Attorney Mark Totten.

“The vehicles involved in this scheme were fleet vehicles that were on the road across the country,” said Henry Barnett, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Crime Enforcement Service. “

Diesel Freak attorney Kevin Collins of owner Ryan Larone and employee Wade Larone had no comment at this time. LaLones agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy.

A message seeking comment has been sent to attorneys for Accurate Truck and Griffin Transportation.

The government said Diesel Freak used tools and emissions cheating software developed by an Italian company and distributed in North America by an Ohio company.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Totten said.

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