Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Four Former Pilot Executives Plead Guilty to Rebate Fraud

John Freeman, former sales VP of Pilot Flying J, has pleaded guilty alongside three other former Pilot employees of mail fraud and wire fraud after the FBI found that Pilot defrauded 5,500 customers of over $56 million.

by Staff
September 22, 2017
Four Former Pilot Executives Plead Guilty to Rebate Fraud

Four former Pilot employees pleaded guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud. Photo: Evan Lockridge

2 min to read


Four former Pilot employees pleaded guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud. Photo: Evan Lockridge

John Freeman, former sales VP of Pilot Flying J, pleaded guilty alongside three other former Pilot employees of mail fraud and wire fraud, making millions of dollars through fraudulent diesel rebates, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The other individuals who plead guilty include former Pilot Regional Sales Manager John Spiewak, former Pilot Director of Inside Sales Vicki Borden, and former Regional Sales Representative Katy Bibee, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Ad Loading...

Freeman came up with the plan to give trucking customers one diesel rebate, while surruptitiously charging them a different price, according to published reports. Spiewak oversaw the rebate contracts, while Borden monitored profits from the fraudulent rebates. Bibee negotiated the rebates with customers, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. An investigation by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service found that the plan to commit fraud began as early as 2008, and possibly earlier.

In October, former President Mark Hazelwood, former VP of National Sales Scott Wombold, and former regional sales representatives Heather Jones and Karen Mann will stand trial in Chatanooga, Tennessee. The guilty pleas open the possibility of Freeman, Spiewak, Borden, and Bibee testifying at October's trial, alongside 10 other former employees who also pleaded guilty, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The FBI found that Pilot defrauded 5,500 customers of over $56 million. Pilot reached a settlement with authorities and customers in 2014 for $92 million and $87 million, respectively.

More Drivers

Illustration of truck owner operator and magnifying glass with the word "regulations"
Driversby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 26, 2026

Owner-Operator Model Gets Boost as DOL Proposes 2024 Independent Contractor Definition Reversal

For an industry that has watched this issue go back and forth for years, the independent contractor proposal marks the latest swing in the regulatory pendulum.

Read More →
 Truck with door open and enforcement officer talking to driver about ELD
DriversFebruary 26, 2026

FMCSA Reinstates Field Warrior ELD to Registered Device List

One electronic logging device has been reinstated to the FMCSA's list of registered ELDs.

Read More →
Photo of truck driver in yellow safety vest walking alongside tractor-trailer
Driversby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 25, 2026

How One Company is Using Smart Suspension Technology to Reduce Driver Injuries and Improve Retention

America’s Service Line adopted Link’s SmartValve and ROI Cabmate systems to address whole-body vibration, repetitive strain, and driver turnover. The trucking fleet is already seeing measurable results.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with photos from some of the 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For honorees
Driversby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 24, 2026

CarriersEdge Announces 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For

The 18th annual contest recognizing the best workplaces for truck drivers sees changes to Top 20, Hall of Fame

Read More →
Illustration of driver students around trucks with distressed graphic elements and safety cones
Driversby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 19, 2026

FMCSA Targets 550+ ‘Sham’ CDL Schools in Nationwide Sting Operation

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued more than 550 notices of proposed removal to commercial driver training providers following a five-day nationwide enforcement sweep. Investigators cited unqualified instructors, improper training vehicles, and failure to meet federal and state requirements.

Read More →
 Illustration showing a driver behind the wheel, DOT offices, and examples of problematic non domiciled CDL
Driversby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 18, 2026

DOT Alleges Illinois Issued Illegal Non-Domiciled CDLs

Illinois is the latest state targeted and threatened with the loss of highway funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation in its review of states' non-domiciled CDL issuance procedures. The state is pushing back.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
 Illustration showing a driver behind the wheel, DOT offices, and examples of problematic non domiciled CDL
Driversby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 12, 2026

FMCSA Locks in Non-Domiciled CDL Restrictions

After a legal pause last fall, FMCSA has finalized its rule limiting non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses. The agency says the change closes a safety gap, and its revised economic analysis suggests workforce effects will be more gradual than first thought.

Read More →
Photo of Stone's Truck Stop
Driversby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 5, 2026

Trucker Path Names Top Truck Stops for 2026

Truck driver ratings reveal the best chain and independent truck stops in the country.

Read More →
SponsoredFebruary 1, 2026

Stop Watching Footage, Start Driving Results

6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Podcast thumbnail saying "Are we in for more regulatory turbulence?"
DriversJanuary 23, 2026

What FMCSA’s New Enforcement Push Means for Fleets in 2026 [Podcast]

Listen as transportation attorney and TruckSafe Consulting President Brandon Wiseman joins the HDT Talks Trucking podcast to unpack the “regulatory turbulence” of last year and what it means for trucking fleets in 2026.

Read More →