The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced sentencing for Leon Martin, a resident of Lititz, PA, and Frock Brothers Trucking, Inc., based in New Oxford, PA. Both were found guilty of conspiracy and violations related to the Clean Air Act.
Leon Martin received a sentence of two years probation with a three-month home curfew and was fined $500,000. Meanwhile, Frock Brothers Trucking, Inc. was sentenced to two years probation along with an $80,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that Martin worked as a mechanic at a diesel repair shop in Ephrata, PA. From 2018 through October 2023, he provided services that involved tuning engine control modules (ECMs) on diesel trucks. The ECMs are computerized systems that manage engine performance. During this period, Martin tampered with emissions diagnostic systems on numerous vehicles to disable their ability to monitor emission control system hardware. This interference allowed trucks to emit higher levels of pollutant gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere.
In late 2018, Martin collaborated with Frock Brothers Trucking to tamper with emission control hardware on eight diesel vehicles owned by the company. This violation aimed at obtaining economic benefits such as reduced repair costs and fuel savings from improved fuel economy on modified vehicles. To execute this plan, Frock Brothers removed ECMs from their engines and sent them to Martin for reprogramming before reinstalling them on their trucks. Consequently, these actions led to increased emissions from Frock Brothers' vehicles.
“Tampering with required emissions monitoring devices in heavy-duty vehicles results in a significant increase in air pollution,” commented Allison Landsman, EPA-CID Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that we will hold violators accountable for breaking our environmental laws.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division conducted the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney William Behe prosecuted the case.
