A New Jersey man, Jonathan Achtemeier, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to a widespread scheme that involved the removal of pollution control software from hundreds of diesel trucks across the United States. Achtemeier, 44, admitted to violating the Clean Air Act and faces potential penalties of up to five years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. Operating under the names Voided Warranty Tuning (VWT) and Optimized Ag, he reportedly made over $4.3 million by disabling anti-pollution devices between 2019 and 2022. Collaborating with mechanics and truck fleet operators, he used laptops to manipulate the software of diesel trucks, allowing them to emit significantly higher levels of pollutants—between 30 to 1200 times more than compliant vehicles. The case, which highlights serious environmental violations, was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division, showcasing the ongoing battle against pollution and illegal modifications in the trucking industry.
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