Kwik Chek Charged with Alleged Gas Price Fixing
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kwik-Chek Food Stores Inc., along with one of its agents, Jarrod "Judd" Thomas, was charged by the Oklahoma federal grand jury with allegedly conspiring to fix the price of retail gasoline and diesel fuel sold in Antlers, Okla.
The indictment, filed Sunday in the U.S. District Court in Muskogee, Okla., charges Thomas, acting on behalf of Kwik-Chek, conspired to fix the prices of retail gasoline and diesel with competing retailers in Antlers. The U.S. Department of Justice reported the conspiracy allegedly began as early as 2002 and continued until at least June 2007.
"There can be no tolerance for these kinds of conspiracies," Thomas O. Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the department's Antitrust Division, said in a statement. "The Antitrust Division is committed to enforcing the antitrust laws to protect American consumers."
According to court documents, the indictment states Thomas and co-conspirators allegedly discussed and agreed to raise, fix and maintain the prices for gasoline and diesel products sold to customers.
Under the terms of the of Section One of the Sherman Act, punishment includes a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million for individuals and $100 million for corporations.
The indictment, filed Sunday in the U.S. District Court in Muskogee, Okla., charges Thomas, acting on behalf of Kwik-Chek, conspired to fix the prices of retail gasoline and diesel with competing retailers in Antlers. The U.S. Department of Justice reported the conspiracy allegedly began as early as 2002 and continued until at least June 2007.
"There can be no tolerance for these kinds of conspiracies," Thomas O. Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the department's Antitrust Division, said in a statement. "The Antitrust Division is committed to enforcing the antitrust laws to protect American consumers."
According to court documents, the indictment states Thomas and co-conspirators allegedly discussed and agreed to raise, fix and maintain the prices for gasoline and diesel products sold to customers.
Under the terms of the of Section One of the Sherman Act, punishment includes a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million for individuals and $100 million for corporations.