Pilot Flying J has just agreed to a $92 million settlement that will prevent any further legal action being taken against them by the government over the alleged fuel rebate scam that they were caught running over a year ago. This settlement is in addition to the previous $85 million civil suit settlement and does not stop any other suits from being brought against PFJ by individuals or corporations. Additionally, it will not prevent the government from taking legal action against any individuals within the PFJ corporation.
In addition to paying out the $92 million over the course of two years, as part of the agreement PFJ has had to accept responsibility for the criminal conduct of its employees. The agreement, which PFJ says is “neither an indictment or finding of guilt,” will only remain valid if the company continues to meet certain conditions including cooperating with investigations of current and former employees.
Speaking about the agreement made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Bill Killian said that the settlement will “demonstrate quite clearly that no corporation, no matter how big, influential, or wealthy is above the law.”
Though the $92 million dollar settlement may seem like a lot of money, according to some sources, it’s significantly less than other estimates that were flying around. According to USA Today, some experts had estimated the PFJ might have to pay up to $250 million. Dennis Francis, a lawyer familiar with the case who was interviewed by USA Today said that “the financial accommodation here just seems to be quite paltry for a company that does $30 billion a year in sales.”
Assuming that no further damning evidence comes to light, the government has agreed not to prosecute the PFJ corporation, but is offering no such leniency to the people who may have been involved whether or not they’re currently employed with the company.
Ten employees of Pilot Flying J have already pled guilty for the roles in alleged rebate scheme. Pilot’s president and vice president both left the company in May of this year. Since then PFJ has fired three sales executives and placed two sales representatives on administrative leave.
Though Pilot’s legal troubles with the government may have ended, they still face suits from seven carriers who opted out of the class action case.
There is no official word on whether or not owner and CEO of PFJ, Jimmy Haslam, is the target of a federal investigation. Haslam, who has always denied any knowledge of the scheme, issued this statement:
“We, as a company, look forward to putting this whole unfortunate episode behind us, continuing our efforts to rectify the damage done, regaining our customers’ trust and getting on with our business. We’ve been committed from the beginning of this to doing the right thing, and that remains our commitment.”
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Source: dailybee, fox, abc, usatoday, ttnews, fleetowner, overdrive
John says
Good ! Glad to see Flying J /Pilot get what they deserve. When I read some of the trans scripts of wire taps about these dirt bags describing their very customers as not intelligent enough to notice if they were being shorted in discounts. It made me wonder who else is deciding their customers are dumb enough to rip off? Hey, if you cannot afford to give your customers discounts, then don’t.
Computertrucker says
Shut them all down!
Computertrucker says
And close off their parking lots too!
…detect sacasm
tom says
I am a recently retired driver . This outfit is a ripoff of everybody it can ripoff. Drivers, customers
and even employees. I always avoided stopping at a Pilot if I could. Jail time for the big boys
is needed.
Steve Bell says
Damn it’s good to be rich!..
Still a sweet deal for them….Pay back a part of the money ..and pay that with the shareholders money…none of the people involved with the crime lost a dime and nobody goes to Jail…And I’ll bet that they all kept their golden parachutes too???
scott levan says
Its a shame that they took advantage of people like they did.. I like pilot and fling jay and I will continue to fuel here. I just wish they would stop putting a bandaid on some of the handycap dhowers its only a couple dollars to fix the showers right .. if I fall I will be next in line to collect so please fix your showers
David Merrill says
Dont forget to buy you subway and chips and sodieeee pop on the way out. And please leave your wallet. Thank you for your support . Ps. Please dont stay long’ other drivers are trying to spend there money here.im glad there is still justice in this country’ sometimes it directed to the people who really deserve the punishment. They are not above the laws that govern this great land. Thank all who spoke out and deliverd this verdict .
Kneecap says
I think they should go a step further. We as drivers are the backbone of their business and as such should be treated better. Better showers would be a start, bigger and better laid out parking areas and everyone who has a card should get a some bonus points the next time we swipe. I’m sure many have forgotten their comment that they want RVers to be their main customers not dirty truck drivers. I haven’t. I personally will keep going down the road to a Loves even if fuel is higher.
Joe Leonard says
I made the same rule even id Loves is higher i will stop there
Rob S says
Fine of of a couple of years profit (based on previous years profits) would get their attention. This is just walking around money to them. If companies are people they need to hurt like people.
NewDriver says
Good. Only problem now will be stopping their register people from trying to upsell me two crapy pieces on pizza instead of the ONE I asked for! Geez! Can’t I order a damn pizza slice without hearing…”They’re two for 5.99 sweetie, you want two? How about some of the same of Cat Burgers today sweetheart? Damn! Let me be!!!
AzDon says
I think they should hafta change their name to “Pirate”
Robert says
They won’t lose their money and neither will the shareholders. They will just jack the prices on everything in the store, which are already overpriced. After all, how can a corporation that has split the gas only stations from their truck stops get their coffee from the same place and charge different prices for it if it isn’t overpriced at the latter? And they know they have truckers/travelers over a barrel and can command the price.
jaybee says
Pay it back and pay it fowrd….
jaybee says
Pay it back!
Bill says
Hey guys, I was talking to a manager of Flying j in kentucky a while back and asking him how do they make enough money in this store to stay in business. He said there is no way of staying in business depending on sales from the store, everything is to high. Then he looked at me and said, they have the fuel prices so high that they were even talking about buying all new trucks.
Billy Rankin says
I did not read on sentence that had anything to do with “Justice”e. I did read Graft, Bribery, and 101 on how to grease palms. But I will continue to be the sheeple I am and use all of the amenities provided at an exorbitant cost .
jnvt123 says
Great who gets the money the corrupt govt….Frick en joke..big scam the govt has to get money
Gregory R Velazquez says
I agree ….greedy gov gets more than the companies that got ripped ….how does that work ? Doesn’t say what the greedy lawyers got either …i can just imagine 🤔
shawn says
I try every chance i can to avoid those to stops they are nasty and service is pitiful
michael says
I use to fuel their until the scandal. Now i fuel up at loves and they are so much better then pilot. Its a shame that pilot bought out flying j and dragged them down with them.
SawedOff says
I don’t use either one of them, unless I need to take a dump or need a parking spot for a 10 hour break. Two dollars for a refill of coffee IN MY OWN CUP is nothing but pure ass greed! Twelve bucks for a shower???!!! Too bad they didn’t get hit harder.
Fat Paty says
This is one of the reasons I go to Love’s and or TA/Petro… At Love’s I get rewarded for buying their fuel , the more per month you buy , the more points you get the next month. They to me are a better outfit. TA/Petro , they are also doing better for the way they treat drivers , they up graded alot of the showers and stores to be and make drivers happier. PFJ’s…all they worry about is then selves , and my fuel milage goes down when I used their fuel , I’m thinking they water down the fuel as well. Glad to see that still no one can run to far from the long arm of the law.