Father-Son Team Charged in Truck Emissions Scam
The two are indicted for orchestrating a $74 million scheme to sell truck emissions defeat devices that bypass emission safety regulations.
A father and son from Washington state have been indicted for allegedly leading a multi-million dollar operation to smuggle and sell illegal emissions defeat devices for diesel trucks across the United States, reportedly earning over $74 million.
The Dirty Details
The charges accuse John Wesley Owens and his son Joshua Wesley Owens of violating federal laws by bypassing pollution controls mandated by the Clean Air Act.
According to court documents, Owens worked with Canadian sellers for over eight years to import approximately $33 million of defeat devices. These devices override the emissions systems in diesel trucks, disable onboard diagnostic functions that normally detect emissions issues, and trigger a “limp mode.” This safety feature reduces the truck’s speed to 5 mph until the driver makes repairs. Owens imported the devices to a warehouse in Manson, Washington, before selling them to customers nationwide.
Usage of Truck Emissions Defeat Devices
Some truck operators use defeat devices to avoid repair costs or enhance performance. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that these devices lead to a “dramatic increase” in pollutants from each modified vehicle. Untreated diesel exhaust has significant health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular issues.
The two Owens reportedly tried to evade regulatory scrutiny by temporarily closing operations in 2020 after receiving an information request from the EPA. However, they rebranded their business as “DPF Delete Shop” and launched a new website listing the company’s address in the Cayman Islands.
In 2023, a customer allegedly threatened to report DPF Delete Shop to the EPA, prompting Joshua Owens’s email response, “We have all your info. You’ll be the guy we serve up on a silver platter to the EPA if it comes down to that.”
Pending Charges Against the Duo
The charges against both Owens include conspiracy, smuggling, and money laundering, with possible penalties of up to five years in prison for each conspiracy charge and up to 20 years for each count of smuggling and money laundering. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation, with assistance from the FBI and IRS.
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