Former airport chairman could be sentenced this year: Foothills Regional (KMRN), Morganton, North Carolina

The former chairman of Foothills Regional Airport could be sentenced in December.

Officials at federal courthouse in Asheville said Randy Hullette has been penciled in on the court calendar for December and could be sentenced on Dec. 4 or Dec. 16. The federal court in Asheville holds sentencing every other month and there are two dates in late October set for sentencing, according to court officials.

A final presentence investigation report for Hullette has been filed, which is the last step before sentencing, according to court officials. The presentence investigation report, which can contain sensitive information including medical and psychological reports, is sealed and not available to the public.

Hullette pleaded guilty Aug. 21, 2013, to embezzlement and witness tampering after an FBI investigation into wrongdoing at the airport. Hullette faces a total maximum sentence of 30 years.

The FBI raided the airport in June 2012, seizing files, records, computers, log books and other information. The warrant included records from the airport involving former airport manager Alex Nelson, former operations manager Brad Adkins and Hullette. The investigation revealed the three defrauded the airport of at least $100,000.

Nelson was sentenced in February to three years in prison and three years supervised probation. He also was ordered to pay $179,781.51 in restitution. Nelson reported to prison in Beckley, West Virginia, June 9.

In March, Nelson appealed his sentencing to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, saying he had questions about the process. That process is on-going, according to federal court documents.

He pleaded guilty in September 2012 to conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering.

Adkins was sentenced June 3 to time served, four months of house arrest and three years supervised release; had to pay a $200 assessment; and jointly pay $85,305.59 in restitution.

The federal government revoked Adkins’ bond in February after he taped urine to his body to try to pass a drug test. In November, he admitted to taking Xanax, which is commonly used to treat anxiety.

Adkins was jailed in Marion on Feb. 11 and held until his sentencing on June 3.

- Source:  http://www.morganton.com