Volkswagen Executive Pleads Guilty in Dieselgate Case

A senior Volkswagen executive pleaded guilty on Friday to charges relating to the automaker’s diesel emissions compliance scandal, known as Dieselgate.

Oliver Schmidt, who as general manager of the engineering and environmental office for VW of America, had served as the beleaguered automaker’s top emissions compliance executive in the United States, was arrested in January as he prepared to board a flight from Miami to Germany.

Schmidt had been facing three charges including defrauding the government and violating the Clean Air Act. After being held without bond since his arrest, last week he announced that he would enter a guilty plea to two revised charges, conspiracy to defraud the federal government and violating the U.S. Clean Air Act. His former employer has already pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to the case.

The former manager, who will be sentenced on December 6, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge and two years in prison and a similar fine on the environmental charge.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)