VW Engineer Pleads Guilty To Criminal Charges Over Diesel Gate Scandal

A Volkswagen AG engineer indicted by a grand jury pleaded guilty Friday to a criminal charge for his involvement in the German automaker’s diesel emissions scandal.

It marks the first criminal charge in the year-long scandal at the international automaker and could indicate more charges are coming in the Department of Justice investigation into the company.

James Robert Liang, leader of diesel competence for VW from 2008 until June, appeared in U.S. District Court on Friday to enter his plea to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government to commit wire fraud, and to violate the Clean Air Act. That penalty includes five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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TheSteve - 9/9/2016 3:15:56 PM

+1 Boost

When Dieselgate first blew its lid, I predicted that the working people would be scapegoated while executives would be immune. So far, and sadly, that prediction is coming true :-(

MDarringer - 9/9/2016 11:24:15 PM

0 Boost

Piech had to have been up to his nuts in this scandal. It make you wonder if De Nysschen knew.

PUGPROUD - 9/9/2016 5:22:02 PM

+1 Boost

Took one for the team. Better defense would have been "I was only following orders."

W208 - 9/10/2016 7:31:57 AM

+2 Boost

Sacrificial lamb. I'm sure this won't be the last.

It wouldn't surprise me, if there's an internal memo floating around groups, for those willing to take an all-expenses-paid vacation for the next 5 years behind bars, to include a fat severance package. A pittance to rid the company of the stigma.

W208 - 9/10/2016 4:19:50 PM

+1 Boost

Yep, this 'moron' read the article. Considering you have a seemingly random individual willingly admitting to a conspiracy, this would appear like a forced admission. This person has every opportunity to deny and/or pass the blame, but decides to accept responsibility as well as point the finger at others. As it just so happens, he's the lead of the division. Directions come from the top. Unless there was some sort of incentive to keep quiet on the front end, any 'moron' can speculate there to be an incentive on the back end. Nobody knows, but it seems too random.

Reread the article..................moron.