Department of Justice Seeks to Dismiss One Remaining Charge Against Former Pilot Flying J Vice President Scott Wombold After Successful Appeal in 2020
Knoxville, Tenn. (July 27, 2021) – Bass, Berry & Sims, a leading national law firm, announces the successful conclusion of a decade-long white collar criminal case against client Scott Wombold, former Pilot Flying J Vice President. In February 2018, after a three-month long trial, Wombold was acquitted on six out of seven counts against him. Following an appellate ruling in October 2020 in the Eastern District of Tennessee striking down Wombold’s one count conviction, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee filed a motion this morning seeking leave to dismiss, with prejudice, the one remaining criminal charge– bringing an end to a case that began in February 2011.
John Kelly of Bass, Berry & Sims’ Washington, D.C. office, who led Wombold’s legal defense team in the 2018 trial and subsequent proceedings, stated that, “We are thrilled for Scott Wombold and his family based on the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to request dismissal of the one remaining count against Mr. Wombold from the original trial. This case has been a massive cloud hanging over Mr. Wombold and his family for more than nine years. Mr. Wombold has maintained his innocence from the first day we met him, and we have believed in him every step of the way. We are grateful that the government made the right decision today to walk away from this case, and we look forward to Judge Collier ruling on the motion. Now Mr. Wombold and his family can move forward in peace, rebuild their lives, and put this challenging time behind them.”
Throughout Wombold’s legal proceedings, his legal team at Bass, Berry & Sims included John Kelly, David Esquivel, Danielle Dudding Irvine, Michael Tackeff, Chris Climo, Alex Agee, and Jacquelyn Papish. Many others within the firm worked on this matter and contributed to the successful result.
The case is United States v. Mark Hazelwood, et al.
About Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
With nearly 300 attorneys representing numerous publicly traded companies, Fortune 500 businesses, and executives, Bass, Berry & Sims has been involved in some of the largest and most significant litigation matters, investigations and business transactions in the country. Our attorneys work seamlessly across substantive practice disciplines, industries and geographies to deliver highly effective service and business-focused solutions. For more information, visit www.bassberry.com.
Media Coverage
The decision was covered in the following media outlets:
- “A Boatload of Worthy Litigation of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs,” Law.com (July 30, 2021)
- “Feds Drop Pilot Flying J Fraud Case After 6th Circ. Defeat,” Law360 (July 27, 2021)
- “Prosecutors Won’t Seek Retrial in 3 Pilot Flying J Cases,” Associated Press (July 27, 2021) – article republished in The Washington Post, ABC News
- “Government Bombshell: Prosecutors Want to Drop Criminal Case Against Former Pilot President, Vice President, Sales Employee,” WBIR (July 27, 2021)