The owners of two trucking companies admitted in federal court recently to violating imminent hazard out of service orders issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration more than two years ago.

Dorian Ayache, of Three Angels Farms, Lebanon, Tennessee; and Theresa Vincent, of Terri's Farm, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, both interstate commercial motor carriers, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Nashville, on Aug 19, according to the U.S. Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General. The two were indicted in September 2013.

In June 2012, FMCSA determined that the operations of Three Angels Farms posed an imminent hazard to public safety and issued an out of service order requiring Ayache to cease commercial motor vehicle operations. The order was issued due to Ayache's unacceptable safety practices, including his failure to adequately maintain his commercial motor vehicles and his failure to ensure drivers were qualified, according to the U.S. DOT. He was also cited for accidents that occurred in January and June 2012 that resulted in fatal injuries to horses.

Ayache criminally violated the order by continuing his commercial motor carrier operations under the name and authority of Terri's Farm, said the department. Subsequently, FMCSA categorized Terri's Farm as a mere continuation of Three Angels Farm and placed it under an out of service order as well.

The U.S. DOT said he also concealed and attempted to destroy emails and Vincent made false statements while testifying before a grand jury regarding her communications with Ayache during the investigation.

There was no information from the Inspector General’s office as to when the two will be sentenced.

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