US

Cleveland Browns owner says truck stop company owned by his family subject of criminal probe

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Gov. Bill Haslam speaks to reporters during an impromptu visit the press suite in the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. The Republican governor said he still doesn't know why federal agents searched the Knoxville headquarters of the family-owned Pilot Flying J chain of truck stops. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig). (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS MONTH IN DATE - Gov. Bill Haslam speaks to reporter s during an impromptu visit to the press suite at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. The Republican governor said he still doesn't know why federal agents searched the Knoxville headquarters of the family-owned Pilot Flying J chain of truck stops. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig). (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS MONTH IN DATE - Gov. Bill Haslam speaks to reporters during an impromptu visit in the press suite at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. The Republican governor said he still doesn't know why federal agents searched the Knoxville headquarters of the family-owned Pilot Flying J chain of truck stops. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig). (The Associated Press)

A truck stop company owned by the family of Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says it is under criminal investigation after an FBI raid.

Jimmy Haslam, the CEO of Pilot Flying J, said Tuesday in Knoxville that the investigation appears to involve what he called a small number of trucking customers who were owed rebates that weren't paid.

Jimmy Haslam, who owns the Cleveland Browns, says the company disputes that.

Bill Killian, the U.S. Attorney in Knoxville, told The Associated Press that four search warrants have been served on Pilot. He said the reasons for the warrants are sealed.

FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents locked down the Pilot Flying J headquarters Monday and ordered employees out of the building as they conducted their search.