Category Archives: fools ‘n frauds

Shell Fined for Selling Bogus Fuels

Posted on 20 January 2015 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, today announced a settlement with three companies affiliated with Shell Oil Company to resolve Clean Air Act violations. The illegal acts included selling gasoline and diesel fuel that did not conform to federal standards. Continue reading →

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Hyundai, Kia Fined Record Amount for Fuel Economy Cheating

Posted on 3 November 2014 by Ken Zino

The Korean scofflaws Hyundai and Kia will pay a record $100 million penalty for selling vehicles that emit more greenhouse gases because of false fuel economy ratings. Continue reading →

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Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew Lies about Lehman Brothers

Posted on 15 September 2014 by Ken Zino

AutoInformed is disgusted by this blatant election year claim. The lack of government regulation and effective oversight by government agencies caused the ongoing Great Recession. Continue reading →

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Dark Money at $50 Million. Congress Bought by Unnamed Interest Groups

Posted on 28 August 2014 by Ken Zino

The OpenSecrets Blog and the Center for Responsive Politics reported today that political spending by non-disclosing or secret political non-profit lobbying funds, aka dark money groups, has reached $50 million, a record at this point in the election cycle. Continue reading →

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Dismissed GM Ignition Switch Employees have Gag Orders

Posted on 17 July 2014 by Ken Zino

Chief Counsel and EVP Mike Millikin admitted such under tough questioning. Millikin went on to say however, the employees could talk to any regulatory agency if they feel the need to. Whether it would be wise to do so is another question. Some of the dismissed GM employees could face criminal charges. Continue reading →

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GM Recalls Another 8.5 Million Vehicles for 6 Safety Defects. $1.2 Billion Charge coming

Posted on 30 June 2014 by Ken Zino

GM said it expects to take a charge of up to approximately $1.2 billion in Q2 for the cost of recall-related repairs announced in the quarter. This amount includes a previously disclosed $700 million charge for recalls already announced during the quarter. Continue reading →

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Ex Takata Exec Indicted for Seatbelt Price Fixing

Posted on 5 June 2014 by Ken Zino

Including Nakajima, 35 individuals have been charged in the government’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry, 24 of whom have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty. Of those, 22 have been sentenced to serve prison terms ranging from a year and one day to two years. Additionally, 27 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.3 billion in fines. Continue reading →

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Ex PetroTiger CEO Indicted for Bribery and Kickbacks

Posted on 12 May 2014 by Ken Zino

Joseph Sigelman, 43, of Miami and the Philippines, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey and charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and substantive FCPA and money laundering violations while working for PetroTiger. Continue reading →

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Department of Transportation Kisses Big Oil and Railroad Butts

Posted on 9 May 2014 by Ken Zino

The problem, the deadly problem, is that many of the tank cars in use by Big Oil and the railroads to move crude oil are not safe – as the Lac-Mégantic derailment that killed 42 civilians and wiped half of a southern Quebec town proved. Continue reading →

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Japanese Auto Parts Maker Showa Guilty of Price Fixing

Posted on 23 April 2014 by Ken Zino

Showa Corp., an automotive parts manufacturer based in Saitama, Japan, will plead guilty and pay a $19.9 million criminal fine for its role in a price fixing conspiracy. Continue reading →

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Bridgestone Exec to Plead Guilty For Price Fixing U.S. Car Parts

Posted on 19 April 2014 by Ken Zino

The Japanese auto parts price fixing scandal continues to grow with more indictments and prison time likely coming. To date, 33 people have been charged in the government’s ongoing investigation of the auto parts industry. Additionally, 26 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.29 billion in fines. Continue reading →

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Two Mexican Illegals Charged in Wisconsin for Odometer Fraud

Posted on 4 April 2014 by Ken Zino

The indictment alleges that from late 2009 through February 2014, the defendants rolled back the odometers on at least 146 vehicles. Continue reading →

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Kerr-McGee $5.15 Billion Cleanup Settlement Largest in History

Posted on 3 April 2014 by Ken Zino

“If you are responsible for 85 years of poisoning the earth, then you are responsible for cleaning it up,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “That’s why this case was brought.” Continue reading →

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Odometer Fraud and Carfax Scam in New York Uncovered

Posted on 24 March 2014 by Ken Zino

Capicchioni also took steps to hide his odometer fraud scheme. He checked the Carfax public database to see if it included a mileage entry that was higher than the false, lower mileage to which he reset the odometer. When Carfax included a higher mileage, Capicchioni submitted to Carfax fraudulent documentation in the name of the vehicle’s prior owner, in order to have the higher mileage reading removed. Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor Guilty of Criminal Fraud. Cops $1.2 Billion Plea

Posted on 19 March 2014 by Ken Zino

This appears to be ‘cash register justice’ at its worst. Toyota is buying its way out of its blatantly illegal behavior where people died, and former Toyota employees working at NHTSA, the U.S. safety regulator, stalled an investigation and needed recalls for years. Continue reading →

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