The jury has finally reached a verdict in a high profile fraud case involving former Pilot Flying J employees who allegedly conspired to dupe unsuspecting truckers out of promised fuel rebates.
On February 15, the jury reached a verdict of guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for former company president Mark Hazelwood and former account representative Heather Jones. Defendant Scott Wombold was found guilty on a single charge of wire fraud and Karen Mann were found not guilty of conspiracy.
The jury has been deliberating since February 7.
None of the defendants will be taken into custody until after sentencing, which will likely happen in the next two to three months.
Yesterday the jury remained deadlocked on one charge for one of the defendants.
We may have a verdict in the #Pilot Flying J fraud case. Stay tuned, everyone… pic.twitter.com/mdJbdUG8TF
— Bridgette Bjorlo (@bridgettebjorlo) February 15, 2018
Former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood, former Vice President Scott “Scooter” Wombold and former sales representatives Karen Mann and Heather Jones have been on trial in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since November 2017.
According to federal prosecutors, Hazelwood was able to double his salary to $26 million thanks to financial incentives associated with the scheme.
Fourteen other former Pilot Flying J employees have already pled guilty to fraud charges associated with the now infamous diesel fuel rebate scam, which involved Pilot Flying J employees making false promises to deliver discounted fuel to truckers who they believed were too unsophisticated to notice that they were being conned. Pilot Flying J has already paid out $92 million in fines to the federal government along with $85 million in settlements.
Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, has denied any knowledge of the fraud and has not been charged.