The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit against a New York-based auto parts dealer accused of violating federal environmental laws by selling illegal products designed to bypass vehicle emissions controls.
On January 8, 2025, Breon Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, filed a complaint in the United States District Court against Spectrum Wholesale Inc. and its owner, Thomas J. Ciccarelli.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants sold products that undermined federal emission standards, violating the Clean Air Act (CAA).
The complaint states that between October 18, 2019, and September 2, 2020, Spectrum Wholesale Inc., under Ciccarelli’s management, sold approximately 672 “Aftermarket Defeat Products.”
These products were designed to disable emissions control systems in vehicles, which resulted in significant increases in harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). Such emissions pose serious risks to public health and contradict federal efforts to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles.
The government is seeking both civil penalties and injunctive relief against the defendants. Each sale of the illegal products is considered a separate violation of the CAA.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Spectrum Wholesale Inc. failed to cooperate with requests for information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), further exacerbating their legal troubles.
The government argues that the defendants' actions undermine federal efforts to protect air quality and public health, which are central tenets of the Clean Air Act.
The lawsuit emphasizes the significant environmental harm caused by tampering with emissions control systems, which contribute to the release of dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere.
In its suit, the U.S. government seeks civil penalties against the defendants, an injunction to prevent future violations, and corrective actions to mitigate the harm caused by their unlawful sales.
Representing the United States in this case are Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim from the Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, and attorneys from the EPA’s Office of Regional Counsel Region 2.
The case is filed under Case ID 25-CV-00127.