Robert Liang, 63, was one of two VW employees to plead guilty in the scheme, although others charged in the case are in Germany and out of reach. He is scheduled to be sentenced today in federal court in Detroit.
Prosecutors said Liang was aware that VW used software to cheat US emission rules on nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles. His lawyer said he's not "greedy or immoral" but followed orders to keep his job and support his family.
Liang last year pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government. He agreed to cooperate with investigators in the US and Germany.
Volkswagen and US environmental regulators announced agreement last month on a plan for the automaker to fix most of the diesel cars involved in the emissions cheating scandal.
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Volkswagen has admitted that the cars were sold with illegal software programmed to turn on emissions controls during government lab tests and turn them off while on the road.
The company got away with the scheme for seven years until independent researchers reported it to government regulators.