Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default against James B. Cristel (Cristel) and Dixie Harr, doing business as Edwardsville Livestock (Harr), Edwardsville, Ill., on Nov. 2, 2021, for violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from April 6 through Nov. 2, 2018, Cristel and Harr failed to pay the full purchase price of livestock purchases totaling $96,000 to three livestock sellers. In addition, the investigation revealed that between August 22 and Oct. 19, 2018, Cristel and Harr failed to timely pay the full purchase price of six livestock purchases from various livestock sellers. Payments for these livestock purchases were between four and 161 days late. During the same period, Cristel and Harr issued checks and authorized electronic payments that the bank returned unpaid or denied because Respondents failed to maintain sufficient funds when presented.
Under the Default Decision and Order, Cristel and Harr were ordered to cease and desist from failing to timely pay the full purchase price of livestock, issuing checks for livestock purchases without sufficient funds in its bank account to pay for those checks, and failing to keep and maintain all accounts, records, and memoranda that fully and accurately disclose all transactions as required by the P&S Act. Cristel and Harr are suspended as registrants from all livestock operations for five (5) years. During this time, they are prohibited from being employed by any entity where they would engage in activities subject to the Act. After three (3) years of the suspension period, Cristel and Harr may request a supplemental order be issued terminating the suspension if they demonstrate to the satisfaction of AMS that all unpaid livestock sellers identified in the complaint have been paid in full.
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 (202) 720-7051, or by email at Kraig.Roesch@usda.gov.
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