A Memphis-based engine repair company has been ordered to pay $150,000 after pleading guilty to violations of the Clean Air Act. In a case handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee, P.T. Services, Inc. was penalized for illegally modifying diesel engines in a manner that harms the environment. The court issued its ruling on Tuesday.
The company acknowledged altering and disabling emissions control monitoring devices on diesel engines between June 2023 and August 2024. This action violated federal law, which prohibits tampering with pollution control systems. The sentence requires P.T. Services to implement a compliance program and to submit to random inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor adherence to regulations.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a full-service federal prosecution office, and we have the ability and intention to charge any violations of federal law, no matter where or how they occur in the Western District of Tennessee,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, in a statement obtained by the Department of Justice. He emphasized the office’s commitment to enforcing federal laws, including those related to environmental protection.
Officials pointed out the wider consequences of these violations. "This sentence should send a clear message that companies who break environmental laws will be held accountable," FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico stated, as reported by the Department of Justice. They stated that modifying or disabling emissions control monitoring devices on diesel engines can impact air quality and public health.
The investigation in this case involved collaboration between the EPA and the FBI, reflecting the seriousness of environmental offenses. Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III led the prosecution, representing the government’s enforcement of the Clean Air Act and its role in monitoring air quality in Tennessee communities.
