Nine individuals and six businesses previously convicted for “deleting” emissions and other Clean Air Act violations had more to celebrate over the July 4 weekend than just America’s 250th -- they got to celebrate their own freedom.
On Friday, July 3, President Donald Trump signed pardons for shops, owners and fleets he said in a Truth Social post “were persecuted by the Biden Administration, and were in, or being sent to, prison, for ‘fixing their car.’”
In most of the cases, the individuals and businesses were originally accused of tampering with emissions control systems, installing “defeat” devices and other modifications to get around controls.
Among those pardoned was Ryan LaLone, owner of Diesel Freak with his brother, Wade, both individually sentenced for Clean Air Act violations, along with the business itself. The LaLones' and Diesel Freak's penalties considered together amounted to five years of probation and more than $760,000 in fines, handed down in February of 2024 after charges brought in April the preceding year.
In a statement to Overdrive, Ryan LaLone expressed gratitude for the pardon.
"I am deeply grateful to God for His mercy and to President Donald J. Trump for granting this pardon," he said. "This brings an end to a chapter that has weighed heavily on our family, our business, and everyone who stood with us through this process."
LaLone said he hopes the pardons will spark a broader discussion about federal enforcement, regulatory clarity, and the challenges facing small businesses.
[Related: EPA mandate: Truck owners gain equal access to OEMs' diagnostic tools]
"While I am incredibly thankful for this pardon, I also believe we should never have been made felons in the first place," LaLone said. "Our case raised important questions about how regulations are enforced and the impact those actions can have on family-owned businesses. Every American should care when small business owners can face criminal prosecution over laws they believe were unclear or improperly applied. I hope our experience encourages a thoughtful conversation about fairness, due process, and how government agencies exercise their authority."
Under the current Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency has been rolling back certain emissions regulations and seeking to make it easier for equipment owners to work on their own trucks’ emissions systems.
[Related: DOJ policy shift on diesel 'deletes': Owner-ops stay wary of civil enforcement]
The president's pardons were signed for the following people and businesses, with their original sentences, fines and timing of sentencing as shown:
- Jonathan Achtemeier: four months' imprisonment, one year's supervised release, $25,000 fine -- February 2025
- Tim Clancy: three years' probation, $101,510 fine -- February 2025
- Clancy Logistics Inc.: three years' probation, $101,510 fine -- February 2025
- Joshua Davis: three years' probation, $50,000 fine -- March 2022
- Matt Geouge: 12 months and one day's imprisonment; three years' supervised release, conditioned upon six months' home confinement; $1,205,532 restitution -- June 2022
- Ryan LaLone: one year's probation; $7,500 fine -- February 2024
- Wade LaLone: one year's probation, $4,000 fine -- February 2024
- Diesel Freak LLC: five years' probation, $750,000 fine -- February 2024
- Accurate Truck Service LLC: one year's probation, $500,000 fine -- October 2023
- Griffin Transportation Inc.: one year's probation, $500,000 fine -- October 2023
- Barry Pierce: four months' imprisonment, one year's supervised release, $1,000,000 fine -- July 2024
- Custom Auto of Rexburg: five years' probation; $1 million fine in July 2024
- GDP Tuning LLC: five years' probation, $1,000,000 fine -- July 2024
- Aaron Rudolf: three years’ probation, $600,000 fine -- April 2024
- Mackenzie Spurlock: five years' probation, $32,000 fine -- December 2025
[Related: Final sentences handed down in Michigan emissions 'delete' case]
