Release No.: 080-18
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2018 – On June 5, 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture and Robert Rawls (Rawls), Brookhaven, Mississippi, settled a complaint filed against Rawls for suspected violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Terms of the settlement are set forth in a consent decision in which Rawls agreed to cease and desist from violating the P&S Act, and serve a suspension of five-years beginning June 11, 2018. The Consent Decision became final and effective on June 6, 2018.
The alleged violations that led to the complaint against Rawls were revealed in a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) investigation that found Rawls failed to pay when due for livestock purchases on 26 occasions in March, 2014. Failing to pay when due is a violation of Section 409(a) of the P&S Act. AMS also found that Rawls maintained deceptive and fraudulent records on 13 occasions from January 15, 2014, through March 12, 2014. Deceptive practices are a violation of Section 312(a) of the P&S Act.
Rawls’ suspension is ordered to last for five years, however, the consent decision provides that Rawls may seek salaried employment by another registrant or packer during the period of suspension, subject to verification by AMS.
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 Brett Offutt, Fair Trade Practices Program, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at s.brett.offutt@ams.usda.gov.
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