Menu
People and Pop Culture

Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Allegedly Was Aware Of Rebate Scheme As CEO Of Company

Browns Owner and Pilot Flying J CEO JIMMY HASLAM III allegedly was "present during discussions of an alleged scheme that cheated businesses out of millions of dollars and inflated the profits of his multibillion-dollar truck stop company," according to a federal affidavit cited in a front-page piece by Allyn & Roche of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. The document, filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville and released on Thursday, indicated that more than "30 employees were named as being involved, in addition to Jimmy Haslam, who was listed separately." Employees if caught would "chalk up the discrepancies to 'computer glitches.'" The FBI in the affidavit cited a source who said that the alleged fraud was "discussed in sales meetings where Jimmy Haslam and company President MARK HAZELWOOD were present." The affidavit additionally indicates that Haslam "for years sent reports documenting the practice, and at one meeting, Jimmy Haslam thanked an employee, now implicated in the fraud, for saving the company money." Haslam held a news conference Tuesday in which he said that he "disagreed with any allegations that the company did not pay rebates to customers." Haslam in a news release Thursday said, "I’ve read the affidavits. I now understand more clearly the questions the federal investigators are exploring" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/19). In Cleveland, Caniglia & Grant in a front-page piece note the affidavit says that FBI and IRS agents are "investigating charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/19). Browns VP/Media Relations NEAL GULKIS said that the team has "no comment" (AP, 4/18). Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel tweeted, "Pilot Flying J the Cleveland Browns of truck stops?" (TWITTER.com, 4/18).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2013/04/19/People-and-Pop-Culture/Haslam.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2013/04/19/People-and-Pop-Culture/Haslam.aspx

CLOSE