Mechanic arrested for selling fake commercial vehicle inspection stickers to more than 150 trucking companies
Pennsylvania authorities arrested a mechanic on dozens of charges relating to forging state inspection stickers and selling them to trucking companies.
Halifax, Pennsylvania, resident Fares Farhat, 50, was arrested on August 4, 2025, on 81 felony counts, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office (MCDAO).
Charges include Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Forgery, Corrupt Organization, Deceptive Business Practices—Altered Goods, Theft by Deception, Fabricate Physical Evidence, Unsworn Falsification to Authorities, Altered/Forged/Counterfeit Documents or Plates, and related charges.
Farhat did business as “A+ Auto Inspections” or “A Plus Auto Care LLC,” operating from multiple locations, including Philmont Avenue in Huntingdon Valley in Montgomery County and Torresdale Avenue in Philadelphia, according to MCDAO.
An investigation was launched after Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) officials noticed “safety inspection stickers that were missing security features, the serial numbers of authorized inspection stations and other abnormalities.”
“These counterfeit safety inspection stickers were found on commercial vehicles that had severe mechanical deficiencies, including worn or separating brake pads and other conditions that would have made them inoperable under Pennsylvania and federal law and taken them out-of-service and off the roadways. Farhat’s signature was found on the back of these stickers,” officials said.
Investigators learned that Farhat was suspended as a certified state inspection mechanic, but that he continued to provide services in spite of the suspension:
“Farhat continued to advertise and conduct both federal and state safety inspections and issued counterfeit PA safety inspection certificates/stickers and other associated documents like federal safety inspection certificates/stickers and record of annual inspection forms to both individual commercial vehicles as well as entire fleets.“
Because he was suspended, Farhat was unable to obtain legitimate inspection stickers and allegedly forged the stickers in order to “deceive his customers into believing that he was providing legitimate annual state and federal inspection services.”
According to MCDAO, Farhat would accept cash or Zelle payments in amounts ranging from $150 and $250 for the counterfeit stickers.
“Many of his customers, most of whom were motor carrier companies or their officers, were unaware that Farhat was not providing them with authentic PA inspection stickers, federal annual inspection stickers and a record of annual inspection form. A review of Farhat’s Zelle account found hundreds of transactions with notations of “inspection services,” “inspection” or “sticker” that totaled $76,185. In addition, there were hundreds of additional transactions that had no notation but were sent by a trucking company or a trucking company official and were similar in payment amounts between $150 and $250. Those transactions totaled $207,892. More than 150 trucking companies had paid for services from Farhat,” the District Attorney’s Office said.
“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. 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,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. “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.”