Federal Judge Curtis Collier has issued a 48-page order denying a new trial for former Pilot Travel Centers president Mark Hazelwood.
He said initial Hazelwood attorney Rusty Hardin of Houston, Tex., did not follow federal rules of filing notice of an appeal within 14 days of the verdict.
Judge Collier also denied a request by Brad Henry, the new Hazelwood lawyer, for time to file a supplemental motion for a new trial.
The Chattanooga judge said Hazelwood received a fair trial.
Hazelwood is facing sentencing next week in Chattanooga after a jury found him guilty on several counts.
Prosecutors are asking that he get 14-17 years in federal prison.
Attorney Henry said he should be allowed to stay on home confinement or, at the least, get three years in prison.
Prosecutors said Hazelwood led in a fraud that bilked trucking firms out of millions of dollars of promised rebates.