Thursday, four former Pilot/Flying J employees involved in a fuel rebate scheme pleaded guilty to the charges in federal court. The four are John “Stick” Freeman, former vice president of sales; John Spiewak, former regional sales manager in Ohio; Vicki Borden, former director of wholesale and inside sales; and Katy Bibee, a former account representative. The defendants appeared before Judge Curtis Collier, who is hearing the case since it was moved from Knoxville, the city where the company has its’ main headquarters, for publicity reasons. Four other former employees, including former Pilot President Mark Hazelwood, are set to appear before a judge in Chattanooga next month for fraud. Sentencing for Freeman, Spiewak, Bibee and Borden is set for Jan. 24, 2018.