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Nine men and a company have been indicted and charged with conspiring to install so-called “defeat devices” on diesel trucks, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

The devices would allow the vehicles to emit far more pollutants than allowed by law contravening the Clean Air Act.

The defendants, Phillip Dwain Waddell, Philip Matthew Ormand, Kolby Douglas Huneycutt, Kyle Kris Kizer, Jonathan Joseph Lohrmeyer, Justin Loutoyama Pasamonte, Archie George Sims, and Adam Marsh Stanley, along with auto dealership James Hodge Motors, Inc. (doing business as Jay Hodge Dodge) and its Chief Operating Officer, Curtis Kevin Poore, face indictments related to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act.

“These defendants intentionally flouted laws designed to ensure our children – and our children’s children – have clean air to breathe. By installing devices that bypassed automakers’ built-in emissions controls, they spewed pollutants into our neighborhoods. The Justice Department, along with our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency, take violations of the Clean Air Act very seriously,” said Simonton. 

According to the indictment, Waddell allegedly sold aftermarket diesel exhaust components and “delete tunes,” which override on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems required by the Clean Air Act.

These delete tunes purportedly allowed vehicles to emit excess pollutants undetected by OBDs, thus circumventing emission regulations.

“Pollutants emitted from tampered vehicles can have significant harm to public health,” said Kim Bahney, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.

“This scheme occurred over several years and spanned across multiple states, diminishing air quality.”

The indictment alleges Ormand customized delete tunes for specific vehicles, with Waddell allegedly purchasing these tunes and selling them for significant profits.

The defendants, including Huneycutt, Kizer, Lohrmeyer, Pasamonte, Sims, and Stanley, are accused of purchasing and installing these delete tunes on customers’ vehicles.

Additionally, the indictment also alleges James Hodge Motors, under the supervision of Poore, engaged in similar practices, falsifying invoices to conceal the nature of their work on customers’ trucks.

The indictment represents allegations, not evidence, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

If convicted, each defendant faces potential federal prison sentences of up to five years, while the company could incur fines of up to $500,000.

The post Ten Charged for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Date and Time: May 20, 2024 6:30PM- 9:00PM (CST)
Location: 200 E. Belt Line Road, DeSoto, TX

This is the monthly Student Achievement Data Progress Monitoring being held in the DeSoto ISD's ISC Board Room.

TEHRAN – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, considered a hardliner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash.

The crash occurred near the Azerbaijan border and was confirmed according to officials and Iran state media on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday, when Raisi, accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others, was traveling through mountainous terrain.

The helicopter encountered severe weather conditions, including a blizzard, which contributed to the crash.

Search and rescue teams located the charred wreckage early Monday after an extensive overnight search.

The crash site was found in a remote area, but due to the harsh weather and challenging terrain, rescue efforts were hindered according to Iran State Television.

All eight individuals on board, including the crew, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Raisi, served as president since August 2021 and was a prominent figure in Iranian politics known for his conservative stance and close alignment with Khamenei.

His death raises significant questions about the future of Iran’s leadership, particularly regarding the succession of the Supreme Leader.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian was a key figure in Iran’s diplomatic relations, particularly during tense negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

His loss, along with Raisi’s, marks a substantial blow to the Iranian government.

The nation is expected to enter a period of mourning as officials work to determine the next steps in leadership succession.

Investigations are underway to figure out what was the exact cause of the crash, though preliminary reports suggest severe weather played a critical role.

The White House issued a statement about Raisi’s death and reaffirmed its support for the people of Iran and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

“The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran.  As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The post Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Join the DeSoto Area Chamber of Commerce and the Emerald Hill Energy
Storage team to learn more about the project and ask your questions.
Emerald Hill Energy Storage will provide lunch.

DESOTO—The DeSoto City Council continued last month’s meeting by revisiting the Hampton Road Character zoning area.

DeSoto residents had voiced concerns regarding the rezoning ordinance relating to properties in the Hampton Road Character zoning area.

The five new zoning districts included the Urban Center, Urban General, Neighborhood Services, Urban Neighborhood, and Neighborhood Transition. Residents spoke in April and again last week, many against and some in support of the changes.

Applicants at the April meeting said they did not believe their voices had been heard, making last week’s meeting a chance for speakers to respond to the new zoning ordinance by way of public comment before the city council.

DeSoto’s Development Services Director Charles Brewer opened the Public Hearing by reminding the council on March 26, 2024, a public hearing was held on the rezoning with 34 comment cards presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission: 16 in opposition, 10 in support, and eight individuals being neutral to the city’s request to rezone all the properties within the new Hampton Road Character Zone area.

Following this, a motion was made to recommend this to the city council, but with only five members in attendance at the meeting, the recommendation failed.

The council revisited the public hearing in April, and 17 public comment cards were presented to it; 12 were in opposition, and five individuals were in support of the changes.

Since then, Brewer said the city’s consultants conducted two public engagement meetings in late April, and they made a presentation to the council at the May public hearing. On April 22, 60 residents attended the engagement meeting, and on April 23, 33 individuals attended.

The consultant, Brad Johnson from Halff Associates, reminded the council that this public hearing was to map the already adopted new zoning district to properties in the new zoning district. Johnson reminded the council that the heart of the new district is about creating a walkable/bikeable feel in this area of DeSoto. An emphasis was on attempting to revitalize the area, offering a new feel for residents and those visiting the city.

Johnson went on to repeat the character code and its basis for necessary change in the rezoned area, reminding businesses already existing there they would be allowed to continue under the previous code if no big changes were implemented by their business.

Johnson also told the council there is support for the project, but property owners are concerned about property values and why the change is necessary.

Johnson told the council that of those who attended the April meetings, their concerns were as diverse as traffic issues due to the new project, not wanting the change, wanting to understand the changes, understanding the zoning impact, and some at the meeting who were in support of the economic benefits forthcoming with the changes.

Johnson’s feedback to the council after the April meetings included integrating more flexibility in the code for single-family homes so that they can rebuild in a disaster, requiring an SUP for accessory dwelling units, and monitoring traffic patterns.

A number of residents spoke at the public hearing, beginning with Madelyn Baker, who said she was in the transition area and there was supposed to be a road through there. ” Everyone is saying there is no plan, but someone has a plan. Who has the plan?” No one on council answered her, and she wanted to know when she would get an answer. Her second question was, “What does the transition area mean to me?” and then she asked, “When will I get the answers?”

Ann Gibson, who has lived in DeSoto since the seventies, said, “I believe all this is as crazy as driving down Chattey Road.” There were laughs and claps as she said, “If this rezoning should be determined and you want to go forward with this, you