USDA Reaches Consent Decision Against Clinton Livestock Auction LLC and its owners, Jack and Sandra Berry

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Clinton Livestock Auction LLC, doing business as Clinton Livestock Auction (Clinton); Jack and Shelly Berry (Respondents), of Clinton, Okla., on May 23, 2022, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that Clinton and Respondents failed to properly maintain its custodial account resulting in custodial shortages of $77,176 on June 21, 2020, and $26,707 on July 26, 2020. The shortages were due, in part, to failure to deposit into the custodial account an amount equal to the proceeds received from the sale of consigned livestock.

Under the consent decision, Clinton and Respondents are suspended from operating livestock sales for seven (7) consecutive days or until the custodial account violations have been corrected. The suspensions commence on May 27, 2022.

Clinton and Respondents are ordered to cease and desist from failing to maintain their custodial account and to timely deposit into their custodial account an amount equal to the proceeds receivable following the sales.

The P&S Act is a fair-trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.

For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Kraig Roesch, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (303) 375-4291, or by email at kraig.roesch@usda.gov.

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