Federal officials have unsealed the search warrants used in Monday’s raid on Pilot Flying J headquarters in West Knoxville, reports the News Sentinel.
A confidential informant working with federal agents has alleged that a rebate fraud scheme at Pilot Flying J occurred with the knowledge of top executives, including CEO Jimmy Haslam, according to an affidavit made public on Thursday.
The affidavit was filed in support of a search warrant application. Federal agents raided the company on Monday.
The affidavit was filed by Robert H. Root, a special agent with the FBI. It said that in May of 2011, a confidential human source, referred to as CHS-1, contacted the FBI to report knowledge of fraudulent activity by employees.
The affidavit said a current sales employee, referred to as CHS-2, had confided to CHS-1 that employees had been intentionally charging certain customers a higher price than the contractually agreed upon price, then concealing that fact.
The affidavit said CHS-2, a current regional director of sales, was contacted by agents in October and confirmed the existence of the fraud.
According to the affidavit, CHS-2 said the fraud has occurred with the knowledge of Haslam and company president Mark Hazelwood. Specifically the person said rebate fraud-related activities have been discussed during sales meetings in Knoxville at which Hazelwood and Haslam were present.
Root said based on information obtained in the investigation, there is probable cause to believe certain Pilot employees have conspired and schemed to engage in rebate fraud for many years.
Specifically, it said there is probable cause to believe certain employees conspired to defraud customers that were deemed by some employees to be too unsophisticated to catch that their agreed-upon discount deal with Pilot was being changed.