Mechanic Faked Truck Inspections, Now He's in Jail Facing 81 Charges

Suspended Mechanic Arrested for Forging Truck Inspection Stickers

Mechanic Accused of Falsifying Truck Inspections Across PA

A mechanic in Pennsylvania has been arrested for a large-scale fraud scheme involving commercial vehicles. Authorities say he was falsely certifying trucks as safe to drive. The mechanic, 50-year-old Fares Farhat of Halifax, Pa., is facing multiple felony charges.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele announced the charges. Farhat is accused of forging documents and using fake stickers to approve trucks that were not safe for the road.

Fake Inspections Involved Unsafe Commercial Vehicles

The investigation began when PennDOT and Pennsylvania State Police noticed inspection stickers that looked suspicious. The stickers were missing important security features. They also did not have serial numbers linked to certified inspection stations.

These fake stickers were found on commercial trucks with serious mechanical problems. Some trucks had worn or damaged brake pads. Others had issues that would have made them illegal to operate under state and federal law. Farhat’s signature was found on several of these forged stickers.

Authorities confirmed that Farhat had been suspended from performing legal truck inspections. He was not allowed to issue inspection stickers. Still, he continued offering both state and federal inspection services, despite the suspension.

Fake Truck Inspections Offered Through Suspended Businesses

Farhat ran his inspection scheme using two business names: “A+ Auto Inspections” and “A Plus Auto Care LLC.” He operated from locations in Montgomery County and Philadelphia. Because of his suspension, he could not access official inspection stickers. Instead, he used counterfeit ones to trick customers into thinking the inspections were legal.

Officials say Farhat also issued fake federal safety certificates and annual inspection records. These records are required for commercial vehicles. He provided these services not only to individual truck owners but also to large trucking fleets.

Payments Collected for Illegal Truck Inspections

Farhat took payments through Zelle and in cash. Each truck inspection cost between $150 and $250. Officials reviewed his Zelle account and found hundreds of payments. Many were labeled “inspection services,” “inspection,” or “sticker.” These totaled $76,185.

There were also many payments without notes. But they came from trucking companies or company officials. These payments added up to $207,892. Authorities estimate that more than 150 trucking companies paid Farhat for these illegal services. Many of them may not have known the documents were fake.

Prosecutor Says Fake Truck Inspections Threaten Public Safety

District Attorney Steele said the case raises serious concerns about road safety. He warned that unsafe trucks approved in these fake inspections could cause tragic crashes.

“The defendant’s actions are a danger to not only Pennsylvanians but every driver where these trucks, tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are operating,” Steele said. “He deemed them safe to operate and provided forged state and federal papers saying so, when, in fact, they aren’t safe and should be taken out of service.”

He added, “Sadly, we have seen first-hand in Montgomery County the tragedy that can result when a 32,000-pound dump truck is on the road when it shouldn’t be and a crash occurs—lives are lost.”

Charges Filed in Connection with Fraudulent Truck Inspections

Farhat was arrested on August 4, 2025. He faces 81 felony charges. These include Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Forgery, and Corrupt Organization. Other charges include Theft by Deception, Fabricating Physical Evidence, and Falsifying Documents.

His bail was first set at $50,000 cash. It was later raised to $99,000 cash by a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

Farhat’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 15, 2025. It will take place before Magisterial District Judge Thomas P. Murt. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gwendolyn Kull, who leads the Economic Crimes Unit.