Former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood’s Sentencing Delayed

Mark Hazelwood
Former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood (left) was arraigned Feb. 9, 2016. (Michael Patrick/Knoxville News Sentinel)

A federal judge has postponed the sentencing date for convicted former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood until Sept. 26.

On Feb. 15, a jury found Hazelwood guilty of witness tampering and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for his leadership role in a massive scheme to cheat truckers out of their diesel fuel rebates.

Hazelwood had asked for a four-month postponement of his original Aug. 22 sentencing date after he fired his attorney.

“A four-month continuance is unreasonable considering the circumstances and cannot be granted,” U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier said in an Aug. 7 order. “The Court nevertheless concludes that a one-month continuance of his sentencing hearing is in the interest of justice, giving defendant Hazelwood the benefit of the doubt, and given the amount of data involved in the offense conduct.”