The Region - News from Dec. 11, 1986

The president of an auto-emissions testing company admitted having falsified $1.4 million worth of smog tests in one year. Billy Closson, 54, of Glendale pleaded guilty to four counts of federal mail fraud and five counts of falsely claiming that his company, Custom Engineering Inc. of Garden Grove, had performed emission tests on Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs and Porsches. Closson, who could be sentenced to as much as 45 years in prison and a fine of $1.29 million, was told to return to court for sentencing March 2. Company manager Roger Scoggins, 45, of Canoga Park and technical director John Sidwell, 24, of Palmdale, indicted along with Closson, also have pleaded guilty to various charges and are to be sentenced Jan. 12. Each faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of $500,000.