A Georgia man has pleaded guilty to federal charges filed last year charging he helped violate an out-of-service order, according to the U.S. Transportation Department’s Inspector General.

Corey Daniels pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 in U.S. District Court in Macon, Ga., to conspiracy to violate an imminent hazard out-of-service order issued by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Last May, Daniels, along with Devasko Lewis, Lacey Lewis, and Calvin Outlaw, were indicted for false statements and conspiracy to criminally violate an imminent hazard out-of-service order issued. 

In October 2008, Devasko Lewis, doing business as Lewis Trucking Company, was placed under an order to cease all operations due to serious violations discovered during a FMCSA compliance review conducted after a fatal crash in Alabama that killed seven. Prosecutors claimed Lewis, assisted by Daniels, attempted to circumvent this order and formed Eagle Transport and Eagle Trans, using Daniels’ identity, failing to reveal their involvement to FMCSA as owner/operators of the companies.

In July 2011, Lewis formed DDL Transport, which was ultimately placed under another out of service order. In May 2012, Lewis pleaded guilty to violating the orders and was subsequently sentenced to six months incarceration and 12 months supervised release. 

While on supervised release, Lewis was ordered to not be involved in the operation of any trucking company. However, Lewis obtained DOT numbers for Eagle Transport and Eagle Trans using the identity of friends, including Daniels, and failing to reveal his involvement to FMCSA as the owner and operator of the companies. After reporting to federal prison in November 2012, Lewis continued operating Eagle Trans with the assistance of Lacey Lewis, Daniels, and Outlaw. 

The DOT Inspector General’s office has been conducting the investigation jointly with assistance from FMCSA and the Georgia Department of Public Safety.