A Volkswagen executive has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government just days ahead of a likely settlement between Volkswagen and the Justice Department:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Volkswagen executive who faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, two people with knowledge of the arrest said on Sunday, marking an escalation of the criminal investigation into the automaker's diesel emissions cheating scandal. Oliver Schmidt, who led Volkswagen's regulatory compliance office in the United States from 2014 to March 2015, was arrested on Saturday by investigators in Florida and is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Detroit, said the two people, a law enforcement official and someone familiar with the case.
After a study by West Virginia University first raised questions over Volkswagen's diesel motors in early 2014, Mr. Schmidt played a central role in trying to convince regulators that excess emissions were caused by technical problems rather than by deliberate cheating. Much of the data presented to regulators was fabricated, officials of the California Air Resources Board have said. Mr. Schmidt continued to represent Volkswagen after the company admitted in September that cars were programmed to dupe regulators. He appeared before a committee of the British Parliament in January, telling legislators that Volkswagen's behavior was not illegal in Europe.
Meanwhile, UK VW owners have filed a class action against the company, seeking at least £3,000 or more per owner.
(Score: 3, Funny) by jasassin on Tuesday January 10 2017, @06:12AM
I never liked those stupid looking VW beatles. I also didn't like that stupid kids game when they'd see a VW beatle, yell "Slug Bug!" and then punch me in the arm.
Fuck you Volkswagon.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @06:36AM
As an owner of a TDI, I have to say there is something satisfying about this. Of course, I am still getting close to 50mpg, which is also sweet.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Tuesday January 10 2017, @05:58PM
Since I don't resell my cars until they're worth their weight in steel, if I lived in a state without emission standards, I'd be picking up one of these puppies.
Sure, they do pollute a bit more than advertised, but probably less than a quarter of my neighbors' pickups...
And that torque, man ... that sweet sweet HDi torque. *Drool*
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 11 2017, @04:21AM
50mpg, while spewing out cancer from the exhaust pipe. I don't like being behind a TDI and smelling the diesel stinky fumes.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @04:19PM
Fartfignewton.