Sentencing for former chairman of Foothills Regional Airport (KMRN) continued, again

The sentencing of the former chairman of Foothills Regional Airport has been continued once again.

Randy Hullette was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10 at the federal courthouse in Asheville. However, his attorney, Sean Devereux, again filed a motion to continue his client’s sentencing.

This is the third time a federal judge has signed off on continuing Hullette’s sentencing.

As with previous times the sentencing has been continued, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger granted a motion on Wednesday to seal the documents.

Before Reidinger signed off on the continuance, a conference about Hullette was held in Reidinger’s chambers on Wednesday that included government attorney Don Gast and Devereux, according to court documents.

Hullette pleaded guilty to witness tampering and embezzlement on Aug. 21, 2013, and is facing a maximum 30-year sentence.

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, W.Va. 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.

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.

Source:  http://www.morganton.com