Syracuse, N.Y. — An Oswego truck dealer admitted in Syracuse federal court Thursday to disabling emission controls on diesel trucks.
Matthew R. Talamo, 38, owner of Southern Diesel, admitted to making hardware and software modifications to tamper with trucks’ on board diagnostic systems, disabling the emission controls.
The modifications allowed the trucks to emit substantially more pollutants while evading regulations of the Clean Air Act, federal prosecutors said.
Talamo and his employees tampered with 244 diesel vehicles from 2018 to 2022, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said in a news release.
They removed tailpipes, mufflers and other exhaust components to replace them with parts that lacked filters, prosecutors said.
The dealership often charged thousands per modification. Diesel vehicle owners sometimes want the modifications to avoid costs in maintaining and repairing emission control components and increase the speed and fuel efficiency of the vehicle, prosecutors said.
Talamo faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for April in Syracuse.
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com