WASHINGTON An official with the U.S. business unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has pleaded guilty to a felony as a result of conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

The plea follows a multi-year emissions fraud probe by the department surrounding vehicles with diesel engines. In a statement, the department named the official with FCA US LLC, now part of Stellantis NV, as Emanuele Palma.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub; editing by Kanishka Singh)