2 Pilot Employees Plead Guilty

Two employees of the truck stop chain owned by the family of Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam have pleaded guilty in a federal probe of the company's business practices. Regional sales director Arnold Ralenkotter and regional accounts representative Ashley Judd are the first to be charged. Federal prosecutors allege members of Pilot Flying J's sales team deliberately withheld rebates to boost Pilot profits and pad sales commissions. Ralenkotter has agreed to cooperate with authorities. The announcement was made on the same day that the team introduced Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown in a new, ambiguous role. The team says Brown will work with players and represent the organization at corporate and public functions, among other unspecified duties. Brown was fired by former team president Mike Holmgren. He set what was the league record for rushing yardage before retiring in 1965 at the peak of his career.