Three former executives at Pilot Flying J have been sentenced to jail time for their roles in the infamous fuel rebate scam which defrauded trucking companies out of tens of millions of dollars. All three pled guilty to charges brought against them. None of them will serve more than 30 months in prison.
John “Stick” Freeman was the former head of the Pilot sales team. It was he who allegedly led sales meetings where he instructed employees how to go about defrauding trucking companies. Freeman explained his involvement by saying “our culture at the very top was to be hyper-competitive.”
According to his attorney, Freeman became a cooperating witness “on day one.” Because of that cooperation, he was sentenced to only 30 months in prison. He will also have to pay a fine of $100,000 and serve two years of probation.
Vicki Borden, another former executive, will also serve 30 months in prison and two years of probation, but will only have to pay a $75,000 fine.
The former executive with the lightest sentence was regional sales director Brian Mosher. The prosecution called him “one of the government’s most important witnesses.” Mosher has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, two years of probation, and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
“I am deeply ashamed of defrauding my friends and customers,” said Mosher during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. “I have had countless sleepless nights over this.”
Source: truckinginfo, knoxnews, chattanoogan, wbir, wvlt, truckersreport, truckersreport, truckersreport
Brian Starr says
I bet you lost sleep only thing you’re sorry about is that you
got caught
Shar says
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Kaliko Weems says
Exactly
Lee Mundy says
Jackpot, you nailed it.
Bud Anderson says
You wasnt ashamed when you was getting all that money
Harris says
Right!!
Robert says
Sleepless nights didn’t stop him from stealing. Guess he slept during the day.
timothy mach says
They should of received more then just what they got 😡😡😡😡😡
Jesse Yeatts says
had countless sleepless nights over this.” Yea, after you got caught thief. Not because you felt anything for the hard working men and women you stole from and took bread out of their children’s mouths. You rich assh*les should ALWAYS get maximum sentences not the minimum. But let a hungry person break into your house and steal a stereo you’re the kind that would scream “put him away for life”. PATHETIC!
Albert says
Yep
Teebone says
Scumbags of the highest order….like the other commenter….you wasnt ashamed when you was getting the money….i hope you ALL are remorseful AND broke. Start Over, making the Pilot coffee!!!
Jeff says
And this is why people do what they do. And the court system is a joke. Even tho u are guilty as f—k. We as the people who take the screwing every time. So they are rats who deserve a break and the courts give them less of a sentencing. So I would like to know where all the money was spent
Kaliko Weems says
I’m sure it didn’t go to fines or restitution. Chump change for these SOBs. America needs to bring back lynching and public spankings.
Billy Jones says
And the owner still walks free.
Butch McTavish says
This is exactly what people are sick of with this lopsided “Justice system”.
The rich get away with murder while the poor spend max sentences for theft or drugs.
Pathetic.
James Allen Oglesby says
100 percent agreed
MrYowler says
Not a “justice system”. A “legal system”.
Jason P Kennedy says
So some of the companies recovered some of their money
What about the the little guy that was leased on to one if these companies that got ripped
off what do they get? I’ll tell you. A big fat goose egg ,nothing ,squat,forgotten about, ZERO,ZILCH,NADA
J.C says
Sleepless my A,he didn’t lose S he is only sorry that they got caught…the justice system is so sad..
MrYowler says
…LEGAL system…
AL Len says
Those damn cockroaches
Wesley says
You are a pos. They all got 3 years or less and they been doing this for almost a decade! Justice isn’t served here!
scott says
He only had to pay a 100,000 fine and probably made millions in theft. what a deal. I should give up my truck driving job for fraud.
PDE says
Three years in club fed. Yeah they really threw the book at them
Lori Hutchinson says
I was a Pilot GM almost 15 years ago and all of these people knew exactly what they were doing! There is absolutely no way Jimmy Didn’t know either. They were absolutely anal when it came to the financials of each store and I KNOW they knew where each and every dollar came from and how! This is a total disgrace! A little guy gets years for small dollar theft and these people get a slap on the hand for blatantly stealing millions from hundreds of people for years!!! Ugh! It makes me sick!!!!!
Joshua McDaniel says
I hear that that. My wife and I both worked there when the raid happened. We were in different departments, and we both resigned the day after.
Marc says
Welcome to America, money worshiped here
Arthur says
Flying J should pay restitution to the truckers as discounts on their fuel for 5 years to offset the thelf commented by them selfish convicts
Supreme says
Yep. 24 months. They will be able to get in shape, rest, and enjoy their rip off riches.
–
Damn. Financial Penalties should be higher. They should have to go back to around minimum wage and rebuild from scratch.
PC Express says
Ya’ll looking at this wrong. We’re all drivers or previous employees, these criminal deeds touched our lives in one way or another. However these sorry guilty pos’s went before a jury of “their” peers, not before the hard working men and women of the trade, a jury who were apethetic to our plight and or probably don’t like the trucking industry at best. Is there any wonder why they would get off scott free?
Mr. Curmudgeon says
no jury. Plea deals.
Kaliko Weems says
I’m sure it didn’t go to fines or restitution. Chump change for these SOBs. America needs to bring back lynching and public spankings. They went before a jury of “their” piers and not a jury of folks who earn each and every dollor. The hard working truckers busting out to make sure those SOB’s children wake up to a lovely Christmas day. Ugh
Jesus Sanchez says
All white very lite sentences
Was a black, 20 years
Mandatory ,with out parole, justice suck.
Katie says
I knew they would have to be somebody on here that would try pulling the race card.
James Allen Oglesby says
Race plays a major role in sentencing. Call it a “card,” or a fact, or whatever you want.
Death Master says
No race dont play role in sentencing . Money plays a role in sentencing .
Ariel Castillo says
You already know, man.
Howard Henry says
Facts!
Sara says
Dear Jesus are you a white Mexican? I’m white I’m a Cherokee Indian what’s your trouble with color? This isn’t about color it’s about people who rip off society and mainly trucking companies. Get educated with race We all came from God.
zee says
well, truckers,no matter that we are all human, will tell the truth
just like it is. Truckers are treated as indentured servants, we all know
this, we do this job because it fulfills the need to be servants for
a cause, that being helping our fellow human beings.
We just happen to bring America it’s everything.
And Sanchez is telling it like it is, there is great inequity i our justice system. The weasel should have got ten years, 5 on probation, pumping fuel and washing bays, hauling trash, cleaning showers and restrooms.
And yes, playing the card will always incense someone, but for Sanchez, this is not the case, a joker in the deck is a joker in the deck.
put aside the card, and we can learn what is is to be a real human.
Go Bless You!
Kaliko Weems says
Thank you for pulling the race card. Race had nothing to do with it. Study the jury and attorneys before making it ANOTHER unnecessary race issue.
H says
really a race comment, had to be one. they should have received harsher sentences and penalties I believe, but what they got sure wasn’t because they were white.
Johnny says
The only way you can get there attention is quit doing any business with Pilot/Flying J
If they cheat you once they will do it again Truth be known, their probably cheating you on some other scams right now.
Samuel Gallezzo says
If a truck driver stole a candy bar at a Flying J he would get mor than 30 months.
Craig Bernhardt says
The way I look at it, it was a fraud (the Pilot) stealing money from the frauds (trucking companys). I’m not sad at all.
Mark Fleenor says
I worked for Pilot/ Flying J for twenty yrs.,they are a bunch of crooks & The Justice System is a complete Joke! Justice served…..give me a break!
Vanya Kouveli says
“The love of money is the root cause of all evil” (Jesus Christ) I guess they all, crooks and judges, were members in the same Masonic lodge or Rotary club. Too bad I can’t avoid fueling there from time to time.
Lori says
Tens of millions of $$$ vs $275000. That’s quite a difference…which Pilot gets to keep? Not really seeing where the corporation is being punished. They should have to pay restitution.
Emanuel Payne says
Nothing said about repayment of the stolen money, why wouldn’t they have to make restitution? These are thieves, thieves with suits instead of sunglasses and hoodies, again, theives.!
When or will ever the justice be equally given for the same crime ? I’m sure the billionaire Haslem, who owns PFJ knew of this theft, either fuel or food they rip drivers off everyday with their astronomical prices for their goods and services !
Buck says
Turn those damn fog lamps off I’m tired of being blinded every night
Robert says
Close your eyes!!!
waynesworld says
He paid someone off to get that small sentence
Vic says
I had herd of some other money making tactics from Flying J and Pilot truck stops. As a over the road trucker. I try to buy my fuel from the little guy.
Mark says
I have a question non related. On the 3 lane interstates where no trucks allowed in the left lane why in God’s name do MOST of the governed trucks doing 63 or maybe 65 have to be in the middle? Please, someone enlighten me!
Kaliko Weems says
Because there is a difference between a driver and a trucker. You are obviously a trucker, grab a gear, hit that hammer lane and if they, should, maybe, doubtful, have a CB, you will get a chuckle when told, “you can’t be in that lane, it illegal”. Your response, “so is 100mph, shut up stupid”.
MrYowler says
Usually, this is done to avoid constant courtesy lane changes to accommodate merging traffic. Sometimes it happens because the driver knows that the right lane is about to become an exit-only, and that traffic is unlikely to accommodate him, when he needs to get over. Rarely, construction, weather, or road conditions make it challenging or dangerous to be in the right lane. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…”
Jon says
I would be willing to do 30 months in a posh prison in order to get 20 million.
Michael Grossman says
Me too
Shar says
Me too. Where do I sign up?
Then again, are these trucking companies not going to file a civil case to get their money back?
These guilty parties should have their assets frozen.
MrYowler says
Works out to about $1000/hr, 24/7 – 30 days per month…
Sara says
I hope they don’t choose their next career as a truck driver
Emmett says
Wow!
raymond m atkinson says
It aint about the race, it’s about the money. OJ could afford the dream team and he literally got away with murder, though he hasn’t done so well recently.
Johnny lawler says
So I’m curious what happened to all the money. How much of it did they spend. How much did the government recover. Is the trucking company is going to get any money back. Or they just got fines and get to keep their hidden so I’m curious what happened to all the money. How much of it did they spend. How much did the government recover. Is the trucking company is going to get any money back. Or they just got finds out and get to keep their hidden money. I don’t work when I push the button that’s why said it tells him I got to get a stylus we have a stylus in the drawer are you gonna give me a call
Kelly Rivers says
I’m with you Buck. Turn off them Damn fog lights / Driving lights. They are for Extreme fog / blizzards only.
zee says
bet they all slept well ,mattresses stuffed with ill gotten gains.
Until they got caught, an rolled over onto the lumps of guilt.
Turned state, just like weasels.
The people in power get the brakes,literally, when it comes to jail sentences.
Bill May says
Weren’t sorry about anything except getting caught. Should have bamboo shoots dug under the nails daily for the length of the sorry sentences they got…
Brian says
Sounds like they were pretty smart. Knowing a way around this crooked justice system to get a barely nothing penalty and collect 10’s of million dollars while doing it. Money they don’t have to give back! Who wouldn’t if they had the opportunity. Them and their family for decades are set for life. It’s a doggie dog world. Snooze you lose
Shar says
They’re always sorry when they get caught. And their lawyers prep them in contrition. And it works.
Boo hoo, I had sleepless nights because of all the guilt. Wah!
Dave Tremblay says
My father always said that justice in America is in direct proportion to the amount of money you have. 10’s of millions bought a whole lotta justice…for themselves!
bil.com says
Oregon has a really neat law in cases like this ,that the plaintiff can recover (3) three times their loss, Why is it that this judge says nothing about any kind of restitution ?
Dan says
Tens of millions of dollars it says then pay the government 275,000 dollars and a little time out.. Seems regular criminals would have to reimburse the people who were robbed along with a fine and jail time.. If they don’t go nuts spending money after their time out they shouldn’t have to work for the rest of their lives..
Now that is some really harsh punishment is it not?
David Stout says
Well, I guess these executives can all get a job driving for Waste Management when they get out if prison.
Waste Management hires Ex-Cons.
KOSHERGUY says
I hope they all get some good lovin’ in prison . Squeal like a pig 🐖. They screwed everyone else so now it’s their turn . 😊
Larry Harris says
Dixie Mafia is real!
Matthew smith says
They definitely deserved it. If not for that then at least for ruining my career and buying out flying j and destroying what used to be one of the best truck stops out there. I’ll buy fuel now at 50 gallons at a time before I ever before I ever stand in line at either ever again. Always only 1 register open, 20 people in line and 3 pilot/flying j employees standing around doing nothing all day long. Hang em, hang em low so the wolves can eat their dead rotting carcasses.
Lord ALIVEnnnKICKING says
Yup American justice at its best smh…what a joke….
Mike Dumelow says
I know that my opinion is going to be an unpopular one, but I do believe in second chances. I have learned over the years that just because someone made a (or a few) bad DECISIONS doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad PEOPLE. Many a good person has been lured by fame and fortune into making very bad decisions. While I didnt know any of these people personally, I hope that a lesson has been learned, some humility is acquired, and whatever defect of character that caused their moral and spiritual void is corrected.
William Harrison says
Damn sound like you have experience. Ex-con yourself?
Barbara says
So as an OO, do I get my bonuses that weren’t paid to me but to the company I leased on to? Also how many years back did the investigation go? Did the FBI also get records from the companies that bought the fuel?
Dave Danger says
If they all became cooperating witnesses, who was the big fish?
Royce says
The sentence they received seems a little harsh. 30 months could be a lifetime in one of those hell holes.