Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on May 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default against Willis Bryant Gregory (Gregory) of Albany, Miss., for violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed from November 2017 to January 2018, Gregory engaged in business as a market agency, buying livestock on commission in commerce without obtaining the necessary bond or bond equivalent. During this time, Gregory purchased 436 head of cattle, valued at $334,880, on a commission basis.
The P&S Act requires that every market agency, packer, and dealer must execute and maintain a bond applicable to the activity or activities in which the entity engages. Operating without an adequate bond or bond equivalent is a violation of the P&S Act.
Under the Default Decision and Order, Gregory was assessed a civil penalty of $4,000 and was suspended as a registrant from all livestock operations as a market agency until he files an adequate bond to secure his operations subject to the Act. The full Default Decision and Order is available at https://www.usda.gov/oha/oalj.
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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