Arrow Trucking CEO Who Left Hundreds Of Truckers Stranded Asks Judge To Go Easy On Him

Arrow Trucking CEO Who Left Hundreds Of Truckers Stranded Asks Judge To Go Easy On Him

The Arrow Trucking CEO responsible for stranding around 900 truck drivers before Christmas is asking a federal judge for leniency in in his sentencing.

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Arrow Trucking abruptly shut down days before Christmas in 2009, leaving its drivers without pay or a way to get home. Many of Arrow’s 1400 drivers only learned about the shut down after they filled up their rigs and discovered that their fuel cards didn’t work anymore. Others found out through word of mouth, the radio, or the internet. It was only through the kindness of fellow truckers that many of these stranded and unemployed drivers made it home for Christmas.

Former Arrow CEO James Douglas “Doug” Pielsticker recently pled guilty to conspiracy charges for his participation in a $25 million scheme to defraud the IRS and a Utah bank. He is facing 10 years behind bars.

Pielsticker is asking the judge to go easy on him during the sentencing phase of his case. He admits he made bad decisions, but says that he is not responsible for the company’s downfall. He blames Arrow’s failure on a bad economy and on the actions of subordinates, but many say that his outlandish spending habits are to blame.

Since Arrow shut down, Pielsticker has struggled to find work. He was fired as an Uber driver because the company was concerned about his connection to Arrow. He has also worked as an “independent driver” and a real estate broker.

His attorney asked the judge to “impose the shortest period of incarceration, if any, warranted under the circumstances.”

Pielsticker will be sentenced on October 8.

Ex-Trucking CEO Apologizes To Victims After Being Sentenced To 7.5 Years In Prison

Earlier this month, Doug Pielsticker, the former CEO of Arrow Trucking, begged a federal judge for a lighter sentence after pleading guilty to tax fraud and bank fraud.

On October 8th, his sentence was handed down and it appears that his pleas for mercy were not met. Pielsticker was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, out of a possible 8 years. The court also ordered him to pay $21 million in restitution and over $1 million in back taxes.

Despite pleading guilty to large scale fraud, Pielsticker is widely loathed for what many consider his most despicable act — abruptly shutting down his trucking company, two days before Christmas 2009, leaving 900 drivers stranded with no pay or gas to get home.

During his sentencing, Pielsticker issued an apology for his actions. “I’m sorry to my family. I’m sorry to the court. I’m sorry to the people of Arrow that worked for me,” he told Judge Gregory Frizzell.

His lawyer told reporters he hopes the media and public can “find a way in [their] heart to forgive and move on.”

Recent court records include more allegations about Pielsticker’s personal spending habits at the time his company was careening toward bankruptcy:

$150,000 for an interior designer

$80,000 for a baby’s nursery

$70,000 for a portrait of his second wife

$8,000 a month at Southern Hills Country Club for food and drinks

$3,000 to $4,000 spent regularly at In The Raw restaurant

$150,000 for a weekend in Dallas at the 2008 University of Oklahoma-Texas football game

$250,000 worth of shoes for his second wife

Owned 15 Rolex watches

Leased a private jet for personal trips and vacations

Is Arrow a good company?

Is Arrow a good company?

Lol that was my first good chuckle of the day!

Arrow Trucking CEO Who Left Hundreds Of Truckers Stranded Asks Judge To Go Easy On Him

The Arrow Trucking CEO responsible for stranding around 900 truck drivers before Christmas is asking a federal judge for leniency in in his sentencing.

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Arrow Trucking abruptly shut down days before Christmas in 2009, leaving its drivers without pay or a way to get home. Many of Arrow’s 1400 drivers only learned about the shut down after they filled up their rigs and discovered that their fuel cards didn’t work anymore. Others found out through word of mouth, the radio, or the internet. It was only through the kindness of fellow truckers that many of these stranded and unemployed drivers made it home for Christmas.

Former Arrow CEO James Douglas “Doug” Pielsticker recently pled guilty to conspiracy charges for his participation in a $25 million scheme to defraud the IRS and a Utah bank. He is facing 10 years behind bars.

Pielsticker is asking the judge to go easy on him during the sentencing phase of his case. He admits he made bad decisions, but says that he is not responsible for the company’s downfall. He blames Arrow’s failure on a bad economy and on the actions of subordinates, but many say that his outlandish spending habits are to blame.

Since Arrow shut down, Pielsticker has struggled to find work. He was fired as an Uber driver because the company was concerned about his connection to Arrow. He has also worked as an “independent driver” and a real estate broker.

His attorney asked the judge to “impose the shortest period of incarceration, if any, warranted under the circumstances.”

Pielsticker will be sentenced on October 8.

Sounds like a true con-artist. On top of that, he doesn't deserve a short sentence. Not only did those truckers not have pay or a way home in December in the winter for Christmas, but he also left them without jobs. And if it was because of the economy how come no other company experienced this? Why didn't he at least make sure the truckers had a way home or a full tank? He was at home in his mansion with his millions for Christmas! What a selfish *******.

The "shortest period of incarceration ... warranted by the circumstances" is whatever the maximum is for a $25 million fraud. According to the story, that's 10 years. If anyone deserved the max, this guy fits the bill - and it's definitely "warranted by the circumstances," since you brought it up, defense lawyer.

Is Arrow a good company?

Lol that was my first good chuckle of the day!

It WAS a good company. I heard it was one of the BEST flatbed companies around. I never drove for them.

Dave

Is Arrow a good company?

Lol that was my first good chuckle of the day!

It WAS a good company. I heard it was one of the BEST flatbed companies around...

Dave

Yes, I've heard that too. I saw a guy on another forum who claimed he was one of the drivers that was left stranded... talking about how much he missed his job at Arrow

Here's the thing. Daddy Pielsticker was killed in a plane crash. After that, the son took over, and shortly thereafter he started to make changes. He fired key members in the organization and hired people he knew from college.

You can get an e-book about the entire affair.

"Big Rigs, Posh Digs, Fast Cars, Dark Bars..."

It is only about 100 pages, as the author was trying to get the facts, and NOT the "The son was a creep, etc.," although some of that is included, because just about every driver was ****ed after the company shut down.

Dave

He deserves more than 10 years IMO.

Here's the thing. Daddy Pielsticker was killed in a plane crash. After that, the son took over, and shortly thereafter he started to make changes. He fired key members in the organization and hired people he knew from college.

You can get an e-book about the entire affair.

"Big Rigs, Posh Digs, Fast Cars, Dark Bars..."

It is only about 100 pages, as the author was trying to get the facts, and NOT the "The son was a creep, etc.," although some of that is included, because just about every driver was ****ed after the company shut down.

Dave

As bad as it is to say, isn't that the way things usually go when the kid takes over? Not 100% of the time but seems to happen more often then not.

...

You can get an e-book about the entire affair.

"Big Rigs, Posh Digs, Fast Cars, Dark Bars..."

I just purchased it on Amazon for Kindle, $4.49. Looks interesting. Gonna read it now... will keep me out of trouble here, on my day off.... Thanks for posting this!