St. Louis, MO – A Missouri man has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to falsify vehicle emission and sales documents, defrauding the state of Missouri and potentially impacting air quality regulations. Sedrix M. Blumingburg, along with Michael Terry and others, participated in a criminal enterprise that generated fraudulent certificates and paperwork to facilitate vehicle registrations, bypassing state laws and EPA regulations.
The investigation, initiated in 2011 after a tip-off to the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, revealed that employees of Sure Start Battery & Tire Company were creating fake emission certificates. These documents were then used to register vehicles with the state, despite potentially failing emissions tests. The scheme extended to falsifying sales tax and insurance documentation, reducing the amount of revenue collected by the state of Missouri.
According to court documents, Terry, an employee at Sure Start, directly conducted the fraudulent tests and created the false paperwork. He then accepted payments from vehicle owners who sought to avoid legitimate vehicle safety inspections and associated taxes. Blumingburg’s involvement centered around facilitating the fraudulent process, contributing to the overall scheme. This case is linked to a 2009 investigation into Michael Terry and James Dubose, as well as a separate case involving Alice H. Gregory, suggesting a pattern of fraudulent activity.
Legal Ramifications
Both Blumingburg and Terry were charged with multiple counts of mail fraud, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. Blumingburg pled guilty to one count and received a sentence of 36 months probation and was ordered to pay $10,725 in restitution to the Missouri Department of Revenue, jointly and severally with Terry. Terry received a harsher sentence of 13 months incarceration, 36 months of supervised release, a $100 special assessment fee, and was also ordered to pay $10,724.16 in restitution.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The successful prosecution was the result of a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies. The investigation involved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CID, the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the St. Louis County Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Reap led the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Environmental and Financial Impact
Michael Burnett, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement in Missouri, emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that “Complete and accurate tests of vehicle emissions are essential to protect the public from harmful air pollutants, and vehicle inspectors who put the environment at risk by falsifying official documents will be prosecuted.” The scheme not only defrauded the state of much-needed revenue but also potentially allowed polluting vehicles to remain on the road, circumventing environmental regulations.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Sedrix M. Blumingburg
- Crime: Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341)
- State: Missouri
- Year: 2013 (Sentencing occurred in 2012 related to events in 2011-2012)
- Co-Defendant: Michael Terry (sentenced to 13 months incarceration)
- Restitution: $10,725 to Missouri Department of Revenue (jointly and severally with Terry)
- Business Involved: Sure Start Battery & Tire Company
- Linked Cases: Alice H. Gregory and Michael Terry/James Dubose investigations
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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