FORT WORTH -- Four people were indicted Tuesday by a Tarrant County grand jury on charges that they engaged in organized crime by issuing fraudulent stickers for cars that could not pass state emissions tests.
The group is accused of using "surrogate" vehicles to pass the tests and generate stickers for an inflated price, Tarrant County prosecutor Tonya Harlan said.The indictments Tuesday stemmed from work by a Sheriff's Department emissions task force that is cracking down on illegally operated vehicle inspection centers. It is the first of several indictments expected in coming weeks.Harlan said the emissions tests help protect the air in North Texas and guard consumers against unsafe vehicles.Terry Grisham, a spokesman for Sheriff Dee Anderson, said the multiagency task force has been working to clean up the inspection business."It does have a multipurpose -- and multipositive -- result with criminal elements off the street, much cleaner air to breathe, and safety on the highways by taking cars apt to be disabled ... out of service," Grisham said.Jimmy Don Freeman, 68, of Crowley is among those charged. He is described in the indictment as the owner of All American Inspections at 4054 E. Lancaster Ave. in Fort Worth. Records show he established ownership of the company in December 2010 through an assumed-name filing with the Tarrant County clerk, according to the indictment.Freeman said Tuesday that he is not the owner and has no role in the day-to-day operations. He said he had an aluminum can business there and does not know why he has been involved in the criminal charges."I didn't have anything to do with it," he said. "I don't know why I was involved."Freeman said he is recovering from a kidney transplant and hopes to resolve the allegations.Also charged were Shawn Arterburn, 36, of Fort Worth; Gregory Scott Aston, 48, of Fort Worth; and Traci Ann Moos, 40, of Azle. The indictments accuse them of engaging in organized crime by tampering with and selling state inspection records, but do not detail their roles in the business.Arterburn's attorney, Jerry Loftin, said the Sheriff's Department should devote its resources to more serious crimes."Organized crime? Somebody sold an inspection sticker?" Loftin asked. "We've got murder, rape and robbery and what have we got? Employee sticker crime. ... I hope they've got something better to do."An indictment was also issued Tuesday against Deanna Clark, 47, of Crowley, who is charged with tampering with a government record. She is accused of altering inspection stickers sold at a different inspection station in Fort Worth.Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084Twitter: @DiannaHuntHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
