Three years after the FBI raided Foothills Regional Airport looking for evidence of wrongdoing, the last person charged in the case, at this point, is expected to be sentenced next month.
Randy Hullette, who is facing a maximum 30-year sentence for witness tampering and embezzlement, was scheduled to be sentenced in February but his attorney asked for and received a continuance in the case. The reason for the continuance was sealed.
Hullette’s sentencing has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 11 in courtroom 1 at the federal courthouse in Asheville, according to government documents. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger will preside over the sentencing.
Hullette pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 21, 2013.
It’s unclear whether the case will be considered closed after Hullette’s sentencing. The original FBI search warrant called for seizing any files, records or information related to Hullette Aviation, Burkemont Service Center, RANMAC, Inc., Jeffrey Rose, Grady Rose Tree Service, Jimmy “Ron” Gilbert, Gilbert Grading and Construction, Simon Roofing and Parton Lumber.
The FBI raided the airport in June 2012. 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 2014 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 on June 9, 2014.
After reporting to prison, Nelson filed an appeal to his sentencing to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, saying he had questions about the process.
Nelson’s appeal was dismissed in December.
He pleaded guilty in September 2012 to conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering.
Adkins, who also pleaded guilty in September 2012 to public corruption conspiracy and embezzlement, was sentenced June 3, 2014, to time served, four months of house arrest and three years supervised release; had to pay a $200 assessment; and jointly pay, along with Nelson, $85,305.59 in restitution.
The federal government revoked Adkins’ bond in February 2014 after he taped urine to his body to try to pass a drug test. In November 2013, he admitted to taking Xanax, which is commonly used to treat anxiety.
Adkins was jailed in Marion on Feb. 11, 2014, and held until his sentencing on June 3, 2014.
Original article can be found here: http://www.morganton.com
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