Former CEO of Volkswagen is Charged with Fraud in Diesel Emissions Scandal

The former CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, 70, has been charged over the automaker’s diesel emissions scandal.

In a filing on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department disclosed the charges against Winterkorn and accused him of conspiring to cover up the company’s cheating.

He is charged with four felony counts including violating the Clean Air Act from at least May of 2006 to November of 2015, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated, “If you try to deceive the United States, then you will pay a heavy price.”

It was days after the scandal came to surface back in September of 2015 that Winterkorn resigned from his role as leader of the company.

With the former executive of the German country holding citizenship in Germany, he is unlikely to come to the U.S. and will seek protection under German extradition law.

Winterkorn is also being investigated by the authorities in Germany.