Until now, the scandal has mainly focused on nitrogen oxide emissions from VW group diesel engines, while petrol engines were believed to be unaffected. Vehicles such as the 2013 Audi Q7, the 2014-2015 Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 all contain the said engine. The software would reduce emissions when the vehicle was placed on a test stand, and then allow higher emissions during normal driving. European regulators demanded VW speed up its investigation into the cheating, while the company halted sales of seven models in the USA that allegedly were part of the plot. It also admits understating carbon dioxide emissions and fuel usage for about 800,000 vehicles, including a few with gas (petrol) engines.
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New York Politicians Most Corrupt In U.S., Study Finds
New York has won the title of the most politically corrupt state in the U.S., setting a national record for the number of lawmakers kicked out or chased out of office since 2012, according to a new study released this week.
Grand jury indicts 106 bikers in deadly Waco shootout with police
A grand jury has returned indictments for engaging in organized criminal activity against 106 of the 177 bikers arrested following the deadly shootout outside a Waco, Texas, restaurant in May, the McLennan County district attorney said.
In a nine-hour session, the grand jury acted on all 106 cases that it had been asked to consider related to the shootout between police and bikers outside a Twin Peaks restaurant on May 17, District Attorney Abel Reyna said at a press conference Tuesday evening.
New York City Officials Just Busted a Massive Heating Oil Fraud Scheme
fter two years of working informants, recording on wiretaps, and conducting old-school surveillance, New York City authorities dropped 11 indictments on nine Brooklyn and Bronx fuel oil companies Tuesday, charging them with scheming to defraud and racketeering. 44 people were arrested, and more charges are expected in what’s believed to be a decades-long con, as the New York Times reports.
Will Clinton Foundation accounting fraud implicate a major accounting firm?
Longtime Wall Street analyst and investor Charles Ortel is excited about Nov. 16. That is the day when the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation must file its IRS Form 990 for tax year 2014.
In anticipation Ortel’s website, packed with numerous lengthy reports detailing what he believes is extensive Clinton Foundation fraud, includes a countdown clock heralding November 16 as theFinal Charity Fraud Confession Deadline.
Last week Ortel’s clock received a surge after news that a Clinton Foundation spin-off, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, had agreed to refile two years of self-admitted error-ridden tax returns after first announcing otherwise on October 30.
Former used-car salesman gets over 18 years for $2.2M fraud
A former used-car salesman was sentenced Monday to more than 18 years in federal prison for his role in a $2.2 million fraud involving hundreds of phony income tax returns.
Ronald Chisholm, 53, of Norfolk was convicted earlier this year in U.S. District Court of 19 felonies.
“Chisholm has no respect for anyone or anything,” U.S District Judge Robert Doumar said before handing down the sentence. “He’s an outright thief.”
MEXICAN CITIZEN ARRESTED FOR VOTER FRAUD IN TEXAS
The Tarrant County District Attorney in Fort Worth, Texas, has teamed up with the Texas Attorney General to make an arrest in a felony voter fraud case. The case involves a Mexican citizen who allegedly voted illegally in at least two Texas elections.
Rosa Maria Ortega has been charged in Tarrant County with two counts of illegal voting. The charge is a second degree felony in Texas.
How does your state rank for integrity?
How does each state rank for transparency and accountability? The State Integrity Investigation used extensive research to grade the states based on the laws and systems they have in place to deter corruption. Use the interactive to see how states scored overall and explore how they performed in each of the 13 categories. See related story 》
Nevada earns F in fighting government corruption
The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization, has rated Nevada as one of the worst states in “laws and systems … to deter corruption.”
Volkswagen Admits to More Fraud
German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced Wednesday that all current models sold under the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands would be tested for carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions, affecting both diesel and petrol vehicles.
The move came after another Volkswagen unit, Porsche, halted sales of its Cayenne diesel sport utility vehicles following the new allegations from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The embattled company also admitted Tuesday it set carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption figures too low when certifying about 800,000 vehicles.