Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on March 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Default Decision against Kyle Sorrels (Sorrels) for an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
In June 2015, Sorrels signed a Consent Decision Order in which he agreed to cease and desist from failing to pay timely for livestock purchases in accordance with the P&S Act. In March 2016, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) conducted an investigation to confirm compliance with the Consent Decision. The investigation revealed that on 26 dates from Aug. 6, 2015, to Feb. 2, 2016, Sorrels purchased livestock and failed to pay for the livestock purchases within the time frame required by the P&S Act.
AMS initiated enforcement action to address Sorrels’ failure to abide by the terms of the Cease and Desist Order. Sorrels was served with a complaint which he failed to answer. This resulted in the issuance of a Decision and Order Without Hearing by reason of default. The Default Decision ordered Sorrels to cease and desist from failing to pay, when due, for livestock purchases within the time frame required by the P&S Act. The Default Decision also ordered Sorrels to pay a civil penalty of $16,000.
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 P&S Act, contact Stuart Frank, Director, Packers and Stockyards Division, Fair Trade Practices Program at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov.
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