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Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J company engaged in a fraudulent rebate scheme for "many years,"according to a federal affidavit unsealed by the FBI on Thursday.
The documents reveal that Haslam knew about the fraud, in which Pilot employees withheld fuel price rebates and discounts from trucking customers in order to boost profits:
"(A confidential informant) further advised that the rebate fraud has occurred with the knowledge of Pilot's current President Mark Hazelwood and Pilot's Chief Executive Officer James A. "Jimmy" Haslam III due to the fact that the rebate fraud-related activities have been discussed during sales meetings in Knoxville, Tenn., in which Hazelwood and Haslam have been present.''
The investigation has been ongoing since May of 2011, and federal officials put Pilot Flying J headquarters on lockdown Monday. Haslam has denied any involvement in the scheme and is cooperating with the investigation. He is currently visiting the Browns' training facilities.
Haslam is the CEO of Pilot Flying J, the largest truck stop chain in America. He purchased the Browns in October of 2012.
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