Washington, D.C., July 24, 2026 – On June 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a Consent Decision and Order with Gary Seals d/b/a Gary Seals Livestock of Dunlap, Tenn., settling an administrative complaint USDA filed on April 6, 2025, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
A USDA investigation revealed Seals failed to pay timely for 712 head of livestock totaling $1,019,088 from June 27, 2023, through July 10, 2023, and issued six nonsufficient funds checks totaling $787,462. The livestock sellers were not fully paid until July 2025.
Under the Consent Decision and Order, Gary Seals Livestock was ordered to cease and desist from failing to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock and issuing nonsufficient funds checks. Gary Seals Livestock also agreed to pay a $12,000 civil penalty.
The Secretary of Agriculture has authority to act against violators, including issuing cease and desist orders, suspending registrations, and imposing other remedies authorized by the P&S Act.
For more information, contact Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051 or Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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