Laberboard » a £10 discount for the Real Madrid home leg on Ap

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. 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. Scarpe Air Max Tavas Scontate . Team officials did not indicate the extent of the injury Saturday, simply listing Rose with "left knee soreness." Rose has played two preseason games without any sign of problems. The first NBA game in South America now will be missing its biggest star. Air Max 1 Outlet Italia . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. http://www.airmaxitaliascarpe.it/scarpe-air-max-2019-scontate.html .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday. Nike Air Max Tn Outlet . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold. Scarpe Air Max 97 Scontate . Sizemore, who turned 29 on Jan. 4, has been limited to six games over the past two seasons because of an injured left knee that twice required surgery. He originally got hurt on Feb. 25, 2012, during a fielding drill in Oaklands first full-squad spring training workout and had surgery that March 21 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists he will have no extra personal motivation when his side face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. Pellegrini was manager at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2010, but was sacked after just one season in charge and replaced by Jose Mourinho.The 62-year-old, however, remains focused on reaching the final in Milan rather than gaining retribution against his former employers. No, it is not an extra motivation. Always the motivation is to play the semi-final of the Champions League, said Pellegrini, who is to leave his post at the Etihad Stadium in the summer ahead of the arrival of Pep Guardiola, the current Bayern Munich boss. Who will win the Champions League? Which of the four teams will be lifting the trophy in Milan It is a difficult draw. It didnt matter which of the three teams we had to play, the three were difficult.I think the options to continue are the same for the teams and we will expect to do a very good game against a big team. Manuel Pellegrini (R) speaks to Cristiano Ronaldo on the touchline during his time as Real Madrid boss Real Madrid are within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who they beat 2-1 in the Nou Camp a fortnight ago, and Pellegrini does not expect them to lose focus on the league as they chase an 11th European crown. Mannchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is happy that theyve been drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League I think always for a big team it is important to arrive to the last stage of the Champions League and try to win it, but also not to leave out their domestic games, he said.ddddddddddddeal Madrid know every year they must win titles and be involved in all the competitions. Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring against PSG in the last eight this week In this moment I think they are playing the semi-final of the Champions League and they still have options in the Spanish league, so as always it is a team that is involved in all.City have announced that season card holders and members who have attended all five of their home games in the competition this season will be entitled to a £10 discount for the Real Madrid home leg on April 26. Pellegrini says he had no preference over semi-final opponents The club were criticised for pricing seats at up to £60 for Tuesdays quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain and the match only sold out the day before the game, albeit securing a club-record European attendance of 53,039.This time tickets will be priced from £35-60 for adults, but the club will reward the loyalty of more than 20,000 fans by offering a cut-price deal. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarter-final second leg Pellegrini hopes the Champions League will continue to grow in the hearts of fans following the apathy of previous seasons.The Chilean said: I think the fans will enjoy the way this club continue going further in the competition.They will enjoy more and more the Champions League, it is the most important club competition in the world. I hope in the future they will enjoy it more than now. Also See: City draw Real in semis European draws recapped City, Liverpool helping PL Wholl win the Champions League ' ' '