Eduardo Franco, Falsifying Vehicle Emissions Tests, Nevada 2009

WASHINGTON—A federal grand jury in Las Vegas today returned indictments against 10 Nevada-certified emissions testers for falsifying vehicle emissions test reports, leading to a dirty air problem in the already air quality-challenged area of Las Vegas.

The 10 defendants, who face one felony Clean Air Act count for falsifying reports between November 2007 and May 2009, engaged in a practice known as 'clean scanning' vehicles. The scheme involved entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a vehicle that would not pass the emissions test into the computerized system, then connecting a different vehicle the testers knew would pass the test.

These falsifications were allegedly performed for anywhere from $10 to $100 over and above the usual emissions testing fee.

The individuals indicted include Eduardo Franco, 30, Alexander Wayne Worster, 27, William Joseph McCown, 48, Joseph DeMatteo, 52, David Eugene Nelson, 46, Louis Engene Demeo, 50, Adolpho Silva-Contreras, 47, Peter Escudero, 47, Wadji Waked, 24, and Gary Smith, 47. Escudero resides in Pahrump, Nev. All other individuals are from Clark County, Nev.

The maximum penalty for the felony violations contained in the indictments includes up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Defendant: Eduardo Franco

Crime: One felony Clean Air Act count for falsifying reports

City and State: Las Vegas, Nevada

Date: Between November 2007 and May 2009

Sentence: Up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/10-las-vegas-men-indicted-falsifying-vehicle-emissions-tests