Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J will not be prosecuted
Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J announced it has reached an agreement with the government and will not be prosecuted if it meets the terms, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
According to WBIR Channel 10 in Knoxville, Pilot Flying J will pay a $92 million penalty over the next two years.
A 120-page affidavit was filed against the travel center company, owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, in April 2013, stating that Pilot Flying J sales employees withheld fuel rebates and discounts from select companies to boost the profitability of the company and increase sales commissions.
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian in a news release, via KnoxNews.com:
“The terms of this agreement, including the significant monetary penalty and the very serious consequences if Pilot fails to comply, demonstrate quite clearly that no corporation, no matter how big, influential, or wealthy, is above the law. In addition, the company’s agreement to fully cooperate with the United States, including its obligation to identify its employees’ criminal conduct, will assist the ongoing federal investigation.
The agreement ensures that Pilot’s extensive remediation efforts will continue until all trucking company victims have received full restitution and until Pilot has demonstrated to the United States that it has implemented sufficient internal controls to prevent this kind of fraudulent conduct from ever occurring again.”
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According to KnoxNews.com, "a criminal investigation is ongoing, and 10 former employees have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case."
- Sarah Barshop
