Release No.: 002-20
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on Dec. 17, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an administrative complaint against Isaiah Michael Perry (Perry) of Tennessee for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from October 2018 through January 2019, Perry purchased 738 head of livestock from three livestock sellers for $439,995 and failed to pay the sellers a total of $408,372. The investigation also revealed that Perry issued four checks for livestock purchases totaling $182,686 without sufficient funds in his bank account.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases and failure to issue the full payment for purchases is an unfair trade practice and a violation of the P&S Act.
Perry will have 20 days following receipt of the complaint to respond directly to the USDA Administrative Law Judge or be found in violation and subject to penalty.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $28,061 per violation against any person after notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. If the allegations are admitted, or proven in an oral hearing, Hagler may be ordered to cease and desist from violating the (P&S) Act and assessed a civil penalty.
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 Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov.
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