Investigations

On October 3, 2019, two former bus company officers were sentenced in U.S. District Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for their roles in a multi-State scheme to fraudulently operate numerous commercial passenger bus companies. You Guo Yang—former president and owner of Asia Tours, Inc., and other bus companies—was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, a $100,000 criminal forfeiture, and a $100 special assessment. In March 2019, Yang pleaded guilty to transmitting a registration document to FMCSA with the intent to distribute the proceeds of an unlawful activity. Wen Zhou—former president of Universe Bus, Inc. and an officer of multiple bus companies—was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment. Zhou admitted that he had provided false statements on commercial carrier forms regulated by FMCSA.

 

The investigation revealed that Yang and Zhou formed, controlled, managed, and operated numerous bus companies and routinely falsified FMCSA Motor Carrier Identification Reports and applications for operating authority. They concealed both the identities of the people who operated the companies and the unsafe condition of the buses. Additionally, they falsified FMCSA-regulated records regarding bus safety, maintenance, and driver qualifications to impede the Agency’s inspections and reviews.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations (DHS-HSI) and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. FMCSA provided substantial assistance.