Volkswagen sentenced to three years probation, oversight

A federal judge in Detroit this week sentenced Volkswagen to 3 years’ probation and independent oversight for automaker’s diesel emissions scandal as part of a $4.3 billion settlement revealed in January.

The plea contract required “organization probation” in which Volkswagen would be overseen by an independent monitor.

The sentencing was one of the last significant obstacles to the automaker moving past a scandal that resulted in the ouster of its CEO and stained the company’s credibility worldwide.

“This is a case of deliberate and enormous fraud,” stated U.S. District Judge Sean Cox in authorizing the settlement that needed the car manufacturer to make substantial reforms. He also officially approved a $2.8 billion criminal fine as part of the sentence.

In addition to accepting the contract reached in between VW and the United States government, Cox declined separate calls from legal representatives representing specific Volkswagen clients for restitution.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday it had picked former Deputy U.S. Attorney Larry Thompson to work as the company’s independent monitor.