Oliver Schmidt, former Volkswagen compliance chief.

Oliver Schmidt, Volkswagen's former top U.S. compliance officer, received the maximum sentence Wednesday for his role in lying to federal regulators and in helping the automaker to hide its conspiracy to cheat on diesel emissions tests.

Schmidt, who pleaded guilty to two felonies in federal court in Detroit in August, was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison and a $400,000 fine by Judge Sean Cox of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Schmidt had sought a lower sentence of 40 months of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.

“Americans expect corporations to follow laws and regulations designed to protect consumers and the environment,” said a statement from FBI Special Agent in Charge David Gelios. “The sentence of Mr. Schmidt demonstrates the Department of Justice's commitment to hold companies that defraud their customers both personally, as well as corporately, accountable for their crimes.”