Release No.: 014-20
WASHINGTON, Jan 8, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on Dec. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Cecil Sellers Cattle Company Ltd., Sellers-CSCC Inc. and owner, Charles T. Sellers (respondents), of Amarillo, Texas, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. The Decision and Order is final and effective as of Dec. 19, 2019.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service resulted in the issuance of an administrative complaint on March 9, 2018. The complaint alleged respondents: failed to pay the full $6,162,540 owed for purchased livestock; failed to pay $4,946,139 when due as the full purchase price of livestock from January 2014 through March 2014; failed to pay the full $12,850,045 when due as the full purchase price of livestock from March 2015 through March 2016; and, issued insufficient funds checks for $692,584 as payment for livestock.
Under the consent decision, respondents were jointly assessed a civil penalty of $205,000, reducible dollar-for-dollar for restitution by respondents to the remaining unpaid livestock sellers, up to a total reduction of $110,578, in accordance with an understanding between the parties.
In addition, respondents, their agents and employees, directly or through any corporate or other device, must cease and desist from failing to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock and issuing checks to livestock sellers without having sufficient funds in the bank upon which they were drawn to pay such checks when presented.
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 P&S Act, contact Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov.
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