Ohio Man Receives Sentence for Manipulating Diesel Truck Emissions Controls

Davis Owens, a resident of Hamilton County, Ohio, has been sentenced to prison for his role in disabling emissions control systems on diesel trucks, a violation of the Clean Air Act. The 34-year-old from Cleves, Ohio, will serve 30 days in prison, followed by seven months of home confinement and one year of supervised release.

Owens, the co-owner of Holderdown Performance and owner of Cincy Diesel Performance, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the tampering of a monitoring device required under the Clean Air Act. His sentencing stems from his involvement in an aftermarket scheme to disable emissions control systems on heavy-duty diesel trucks, leading to a significant increase in harmful pollutants being released into the environment.

In 2020, Owens entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after allegations that he and Holderdown Performance were bypassing emissions control components on diesel truck engines. Despite agreeing to cease these activities and paying a civil penalty, Owens continued to sell and install defeat devices until February 2022.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker announced Owens’ sentencing, highlighting the roles of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations in the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman prosecuted the case, emphasizing the importance of enforcing environmental laws to protect public health and the environment.