Guilty pleas in truck stop chain probe

Two employees of the truck stop chain owned by the family of Tennessee’s governor and the owner of the Cleveland Browns pleaded guilty Wednesday to scamming the company’s customers out of rebates, a practice well-known among both sales staff and executives as ”jacking,” according to court documents. Court papers outlining the plea deals say regional sales director Arnold Ralenkotter and regional accounts representative Ashley Smith Judd were part of the conspiracy to boost profits and pad commissions at Pilot Flying J, which is owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. Ralenkotter and Judd were the first charged in the federal investigation, and both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The pleas were entered in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. Judd’s attorney did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment, though Ralenkotter’s attorney said he is cooperating with authorities. Both were charged earlier this month in a document typically filed when defendants are cooperating with investigators. ”This is a man who’s admitted doing something wrong, but he’s trying to make amends by cooperating and providing substantial assistance,” said Ed Yarbrough, a former federal prosecutor representing Ralenkotter, 51. The conspiracy charges carry up… Read full this story

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