--- title: "Previously Imprisoned Diesel Tuner Receives Federal Pardon" date: "2025-11-10" modified: "2025-11-10" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/previously-imprisoned-diesel-tuner-receives-federal-pardon" categories: - "Aftermarket" - "Car Tech" - "Manufacturing" - "News" - "Regulations" tags: - "pickup" --- # Previously Imprisoned Diesel Tuner Receives Federal Pardon ![Troy Lake of Elite Diesel]() *\@sammartin970 via YouTube\* The Wyoming diesel tuner who was [imprisoned after being convicted on hundreds of counts of violating EPA emissions regulations]() received an unconditional pardon from President Trump last week. Troy Lake, the operator of Elite Diesel near Cheyenne, was originally sentenced to one year and one day in prison and fined $52,000 after being found guilty on more than 300 counts of disabling emissions devices in diesel pickups. He has been on house arrest since September. In a statement posted to the American truck drivers group on Facebook, Lake said he broke down crying upon hearing the news. "I don’t guess men are supposed to do that,” [Lake told the Cowboy State Daily](). “But it’s great — it’s news that reminds you there are still good things in the world.” Lake based his initial defense on the fact that his emissions workarounds were designed to improve truck reliability, rather than simply alter their on-road performance. Some of the modifications were even purchased by a school bus fleet, Lake claimed. Lake is one of many diesel tuners were [found guilty under the Clean Air Act](), and Lake’s penalties are [just a fraction]() of what some shop owners have received as the government's crackdown has focused on proprietors like Lake versus the end users of these kits. We suspect there will be more stories like this down the line. Stay tuned. *Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com.* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()