Christopher Paul Kaufman, owner and operator of Diesel & Offroad Authority, LLC, in Veneta, Oregon, has been sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to pay $150,000 in criminal fines for violating the Clean Air Act.
The sentencing took place in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, where Kaufman and his company were charged with knowingly and intentionally tampering with pollution monitoring devices on at least 184 vehicles. According to court documents, the tampering began in 2018 and continued through 2022.
The defendants were accused of disabling emissions control systems on the diesel vehicles, which directly contributed to the release of significant amounts of dangerous air pollutants. These pollutants can lead to serious health conditions, including respiratory diseases like asthma, according to Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Oregon.
Diesel & Offroad Authority charged its customers approximately $2,300 each for the emissions modifications, collecting more than $378,000 for the unlawful services over a four-year period. Kaufman oversaw and participated in the illegal modification of vehicles, including procuring automotive parts and directing employees in the removal of emissions control equipment.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Gwendolyn Russell, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency.
As part of his sentence, Kaufman was ordered to include a disclaimer on his company’s website declaring that Diesel and Offroad Authority no longer provides “delete and tune” tampering services because they are illegal.
If you suspect an environmental crime, you can report it to the EPA’s Report a Violation website or by calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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