Pilot raid unrelated to tax issues, says CEO

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Updated Apr 24, 2013
Photo from Knoxvillebiz.comPhoto from Knoxvillebiz.com

The FBI and IRS raid of Pilot Flying J’s headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., “does not involve any tax issues,” said the company’s CEO, Jimmy Haslam, at a news conference held Tuesday afternoon. Rather, he says, the investigation and lockdown stem from alleged unpaid rebates. “We of course disagree with that,” Haslam said in the press conference.

Federal agents locked down the facility on Monday and told nonessential employees to leave.

Haslam said in his press conference that the company has not closed any of its truck stops and that fuel suppliers continue to work with the company.

He also said some members of his sales staff were issued subpoenas, but he was not. Moreover, no one has been arrested.

According to an article on Knoxvillebiz.com, Pilot Flying J does business with more than 3,000 trucking companies, and an attorney for the U.S. federal government said the investigation is ongoing.

The company issued an open letter to truck drivers Tuesday — Click here to see Overdrive‘s coverage.

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