Sean Coiteux, the co-owner of two Washington-based diesel truck companies, has pleaded guilty to tampering with pollution controls, a serious violation of the Clean Air Act. According to the U.S. Justice Department, Coiteux directed employees at Racing Performance Maintenance Northwest and RPM Motors and Sales NW to illegally modify pollution control systems on about 375 diesel trucks.
During the period from January 2018 to January 2021, customers were charged up to $2,000 for these illegal adjustments, which have grossed Coiteux’s outfits more than half a million dollars. This dirty money was made at the cost of significant environmental impact, with tampered trucks belching out pollutants at rates up to 1,200 times higher than legally compliant trucks. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman underscored the gravity when she stated, "This conduct increased toxins in our environment that are linked to cancer, as well as pulmonary, neurological, cardiovascular, and immune system damage."
These actions didn't just violate environmental laws; they disproportionately harmed disadvantaged communities residing near congested traffic zones. By removing essential emissions control systems, the defendants have been directly contributing to an atmosphere loaded with harmful toxins.
According to the plea agreement, Coiteux was complicit in these questionable practices by instructing employees to delete essential software and hardware responsible for keeping truck emissions within legal limits. The alterations, known as "tunes" and "deletes," were to falsely improve vehicle power and performance, compromising public health for a perceived mechanical advantage. The Justice Department also detailed how RPM Motors and Sales sometimes included these illegal emissions removals as part of a truck's sale package, ensuring the buyer would come straight back for the unlawful modifications.
Coiteux now awaits sentencing set for June 24, where he, his wife, and their companies will face the legal repercussions of their actions.
