On August 4, 2016, Shadd Hiles pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Columbus, Ohio, to false statements and wire fraud. Hiles, doing business as Permit Guys Consulting, Crooksville, Ohio, devised a scheme to defraud over-the-road trucking companies by providing and billing customers for fraudulent overweight state permits. Hiles was previously charged via criminal complaint and arrested in February 2016. 

 

Permit Guys Consulting served the trucking industry by obtaining overweight permits required in each state for over-the-road trucking companies along their intended route of travel. Proper permitting is required in an effort to ensure safe passage of the oversized loads. The issuance of overweight and oversized permits is delegated to individual States. FHWA’s Office of Freight Management and Operations oversees State enforcement of heavy truck, bus size, and weight standards, including certification regarding the number of overweight vehicle permits issued. 

 

From May 2012 through December 2015, Hiles defrauded over-the-road trucking companies by providing falsified overweight vehicle permits issued by the Wisconsin DOT and the Illinois DOT. The permits were sent via wire communication in interstate commerce.