Release No.: 036-19
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2019 – On March 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued a complaint against James Steven Kemp (Kemp), Pleasant Shade, Tennessee, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act (Act).
The alleged violations were revealed by an AMS investigation that found Kemp failed to pay $431,783 when due for 824 head of livestock purchased in 24 transactions from June 2014 to October 2014.
Payment for all livestock is due before the close of the business day following the purchase and transfer of possession of the livestock. Failure to pay when due for livestock is a violation of the P&S Act and places livestock sellers at risk of not being paid timely or at all.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $11,000 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, Kemp may be ordered to cease and desist from violating the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, suspended and/or assessed a civil penalty.
The Packers and Stockyards 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, 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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