More Pilot Flying J Employees Enter Guilty Pleas

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Two more former Pilot Flying J employees pleaded guilty in connection with allegations of fraud in the company's fuel rebate program. Former sales manager Christopher Andrews and former sales representative Lexie Holden both entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in the U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Following these two guilty pleas, 10 former Pilot Flying J employees have plead guilty to fraud charges stemming from the April 15 raid of the travel center operator's headquarters by the FBI and IRS. Yesterday, CSNews Online reported that former national account executive Brian Mosher pled guilty. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

According to the 120-page affidavit that outlines the fraud allegations against the company, Andrews refused to put details of the alleged rebate skimming in emails for fear they would be discovered later on. The transcript also states that Mosher warned colleagues not to target sophisticated trucking firms, but those who were not likely to notice, The Tennessean reported.

The seven other employees who have plead guilty in the case are: Scott Fenwick, a former regional sales manager; Janet Welch, a former senior account manager; Arnold Ralenkotter, a former regional sales director; Ashley Judd, an account representative; Holly Radford, an account representative; Jay Stinnett, an assistant to a senior sales executive; and Kevin Clark, a regional sales manager based in Missouri.

Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam has repeatedly stated he had no knowledge of the rebate scandal.

Pilot Flying J is a family-owned business that was started by Haslam's father in 1958. The company operates more than 650 retail locations and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America.