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NASHVILLE -- With a year-long federal fraud investigation looming over it, the huge truck-stop chain owned by the family of the Cleveland Browns owner and Tennessees governor is doing some housecleaning at its highest levels. Bob Lanier Jersey . Several top executives at Pilot Flying J, including the president, abruptly left this week, more than a year after FBI agents raided the Knoxville, Tennessee, headquarters of the nations largest diesel retailer. Ten former employees have previously pleaded guilty to helping cheat trucking companies out of promised rebates and discounts. Those cases and this weeks departures, observers note, could indicate that prosecutors are entering the final phase of a methodical probe that has included records suggesting Pilot CEO and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam knew of the scheme, something he denies. One expert said Haslam might be cutting ties with his senior staff in a bid to persuade prosecutors not to charge the company his father founded decades ago, one in which his brother, Gov. Bill Haslam, still holds an undisclosed stake. Pilot President Mark Hazelwood and Scott "Scooter" Wombold, vice-president of national accounts, left the company Monday, with Haslam sending a company-wide email thanking Hazelwood for his service but saying nothing about why or how he was leaving. Tuesday saw the departure of five more members of the sales team. Dennis B. Francis, a Knoxville attorney who has worked in federal criminal defence for 40 years, said the only way this weeks departures make sense to him is if some of the people leaving are co-operating with prosecutors. For a defendant to get a lighter sentence than federal guidelines mandate, prosecutors have to file court papers saying that person provided substantial assistance to the government. Once prosecutors have the evidence they need to convict, they no longer offer any promises of special consideration. "They call it getting on the bus," said Francis, who is not involved in the Pilot case. "And theres only so much room on the bus." Wombolds attorney, John E. Kelly, said in an email that his client had been "helping the company repair many customer relationships during the past 14 months. Mr. Wombolds departure from the company is not connected to past guilty pleas entered into by former employees, and any inference that there is a connection is not accurate." Hazelwoods attorney declined to comment. Company representatives said they couldnt comment on specific personnel moves, which took place while Jimmy Haslam was meeting with fellow NFL owners in Atlanta. "Nothing more should be read into the events of this week than things playing themselves out," spokesman Tom Ingram said Wednesday. "Otherwise, the company continues to go full steam ahead and business as usual, and is doing very well." Jimmy Haslam has denied any previous knowledge of the fraud or any personal wrongdoing. The governor has said he is not involved with operating Pilot Flying J. Pilot agreed in November to pay out nearly $85 million to settle claims in a class-action lawsuit with 5,500 trucking companies. Several companies have filed separate lawsuits against Pilot that are ongoing. Nashville criminal defence attorney and former prosecutor David Raybin said that, based on his observations and experience, the departure of so many managers at once indicates that criminal charges could soon be filed. And he suggested that prosecutors are aiming high. "You dont make a bunch of people plead guilty at the lower levels and then let the top people off with a fine," said Raybin, who does not represent anyone in the case. "Theyre potentially jailing five to 10 people. You dont do that unless you are targeting the highest levels of the company." An affidavit filed last year to obtain a search warrant for Pilot headquarters states that a confidential informant told the FBI that both Hazelwood and Jimmy Haslam knew about the fraud at the company because it was discussed openly at sales meetings where both were present. Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who teaches at George Washington University Law School, said that while the sudden departures are unusual, they could mean any number of things. For example, Pilot might be fearful that the company could be charged criminally, or the companys board of directors may have decided that the people who have left recently were partly responsible for what happened. "One reason the company might fire them is to say, Look, were cleaning house. Were getting rid of the bad people, so dont indict the corporation," Eliason said. Fake Bucks Jerseys . Anderson is scheduled to have neck surgery April 8 to repair the injury, which occurred when he collided with the Celtics Gerald Wallace during a game in Boston on Jan. 3. The 6-foot-10 Pelicans forward, who had been averaging 19. Larry Krystkowiak Jersey .com) - In the absence of Dwight Howard, Donatas Motiejunas had a career night to keep the Houston Rockets winning streak alive. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/736t-yi-jianlian-jersey-bucks.html .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.SAN FRANCISCO -- With only a handful of wins over the past two years, the Colorado Rockies have grown to loathe their annual visits to AT&T Park. A five-run ninth inning against Giants closer Sergio Romo might just change how manager Walt Weisss club views its road trips to San Francisco. D.J. LeMahieu hit a tiebreaking single after going hitless in his first three at-bats, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Giants 7-4 on Friday night. "Its a tough place to play, not only for us but for everybody," said Weiss, whose club had dropped 15 of 18 at the Giants waterfront ballpark. "The Giants are always tough at home. To win a game like that, not only the first game of the series but the way we won it, (is) big for our club." The Rockies had gone five straight innings without a hit before scoring five times off Romo (3-2), who went into the night tied for most saves in the majors. Troy Tulowitzki had a leadoff single, but was replaced by Charlie Culberson after injuring his foot reaching first base. After Justin Morneau singled, Romo retired Wilin Rosario on a fly to centre field. He then intentionally walked Corey Dickerson to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Ryan Wheeler hit a two-run single before LeMahieus soft single to centre drove in Dickerson. "(Romo) does such a good job of keeping the ball down," Wheeler said. "Even the pitch I hit, I think it was a ball. I hit the barrel and it went up the middle." Michael McKenry added an RBI single off George Kontos, and LeMahieu scored while McKenry was caught in a rundown between first and second. Matt Belisle (1-2) pitched one inning for the win, and LaTroy Hawkins worked the ninth for his 12th save. "This team knows what to do and we continue to hold each other accountable, but you still have to get it done," Belisle said. "Tonight, thats what happened." The Rockies had to overcome an injuury-shortened night by starter Jorge De La Rosa. Cameron Reynolds Jersey. The left-hander, who had lost his previous two starts, was forced out of the game after the third inning due to tightness in his lower back. The Rockies bailed him out with their huge ninth, marking the eighth time this season Colorado has won in its final at-bat. "They found a way to find the holes," Romo said following his third blown save this season. "I have no explanation for that other than it was their night. I felt fine. I needed a groundball and it didnt work out." Up to that point, Weiss team hadnt done much. Tim Lincecum worked six solid innings for San Francisco. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three hits and two runs, retiring his final 10 batters. Three relievers combined to shut out Colorado over the next two innings before Romos collapse in the ninth. Morneau finished with two hits, the only Rockies player with multiple hits. De La Rosa struggled even before his back acted up. He had to strike out Lincecum to escape a bases-loaded jam in the second, then gave up a leadoff double to Angel Pagan in the third. After Hunter Pences RBI single, De La Rosa retired the next two batters but threw one pitch to Michael Morse before summoning team trainers and Weiss to the mound. Umpires allowed De La Rosa to make a few warmup pitches before Morse hit a tying single. Morse also doubled off Tommy Kahnle in the fifth, and Pence doubled and scored on a wild pitch by Chris Martin in the seventh. NOTES: C Rosario got hit in the face by a ball he fouled off that hit the ground and bounced straight up in the second inning. A team trainer came out to check on Rosario, who stayed in the game. ... Colorado RHP Christian Bergman (0-1) will make his second major league start on Saturday. The rookie allowed two runs in six innings in his pro debut on Monday. RHP Ryan Vogelsong (4-3) pitches for San Francisco. ' ' '