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Sep 17, 2004 12:04 PM

A Cuba MO petroleum carrier owner has been sentenced for violating hours-of-service (HOS) rules and environmental laws, according to information from the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General.

David Voss, 56, owner and operator of Voss Truck Port, was sentenced to two months in prison, followed by four months of home confinement. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to make false statements to a governmental agency and violation of the Clean Air Act by knowingly concealing and failing to file and maintain a document required by the Clean Air Act, according to the DOT informaton.

A co-defendant and Voss employee, Merry Robinson, 43, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiring with others to conceal the fact that drivers were driving in violations of hours-of-service regulations. She was sentenced to six months of home confinement and a $500 fine, according to the DOT information.

In addition, the corporation was sentenced to pay a civil penalty of $35,000 plus $39,000 in restitution and fines to the State of Missouri.

Voss, dispatchers, and truck drivers, conspired to conceal from regulators excessive driving hours and illegal trips. Voss drivers also did not record loads in their log books, according to the DOT information.

In addition, the defendants sold conventional gasoline at two service stations where they were required to sell reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline is required in certain areas in cities that are not in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Also, Voss and Voss Transportation negligently caused the discharge of approximately 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel into Pleasant Valley Creek, a tributary of the Meramec River, according to the DOT information.