The owner of a now-defunct trucking company has been sentenced for lying to federal authorities in the wake of a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire in 2019.
Dunyadar Gasanov, 39, was sentenced on November 21, 2024, to two months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, during which he is prohibited from driving commercially, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Gasanov pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to federal investigators in August 2024.
Gasanov owned Westfield Transport, Inc., which was a for-hire interstate motor carrier that primarily hauled automobiles in the northeastern United States.
Officials say that on June 18, 2019, Gasanov hired driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy knowing that he had previous history of driving under the influence of alcohol.
On June 21, 2019, during his first day driving for Westfield Transport, Zhukovskyy was involved in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists.
Following the crash, investigators learned that from May 3, 2019 to June 23, 2019, Dunyadar Gasanov and, allegedly, co-defendant Dartanyan Gasanov falsified driving logs, and that Dunyadar Gasanov instructed at least one Westfield Transport employee to falsify records to allow the driver to violate federal Hours of Service regulations.
Dunyadar Gasanov also made false statements to federal inspectors regarding the manipulation of recording devices that track drivers’ on and off duty hours, according to officials.
Additionally, Dunyadar Gasanov lied to inspectors about meeting Zhukovskyy on the day he was hired when in fact he had known Zhukovskyy for years and was aware that he had been charged with driving under the influence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Dartanyan Gasanov is still awaiting trial.
“Today’s sentencing brings a measure of accountability for the defendant’s reckless and illegal actions. By falsifying safety records and lying to investigators, this defendant put profits over public safety, with potentially devastating consequences,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Adhering to federal safety regulations is critical to protecting public safety and our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who flouts them in this manner. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims’ families and loved ones as they continue to endure the aftermath of this tragedy.”
“The sentence announced today reinforces that there are real consequences for those who endanger the safety of the traveling public by flagrantly circumventing federal laws and regulations,” said Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region. “We hold in our thoughts the loved ones affected by the tragedy that occurred in 2019, as we continue our work to support safety on our nation’s roads.”