Attorney General investigating complaints of price gouging

Photo by MCSO
Sheriff Randy Waters served A & M Grocery in Pine Knot with a Subpoena and Civil Investigative Demand from the Attorney General’s Office on May 13, 2021.

Voice Staff Report
editor@tmcvoice.com

The Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, after receiving complaints from consumers, is investigating the retail price for gas/fuel charged at a local business on May 11, 2021. McCreary Sheriff Randy Waters served A & M Grocery in Pine Knot with a Subpoena and Civil Investigative Demand from the Attorney General’s Office on May 13, 2021.
The complaints originated from May 11th from customers who felt the price for gas was out of line with the charges at other stations. The price A & M was reportedly charging was $3.14 a gallon for regular gas. This was during a time when people were afraid the gas supply to stations would be in short supply due to the Colonial pipeline cyber attack and were panic buying. The price at local gas stations on May 11th ranged from $2.83 to $2.89 per gallon.
The letter to A & M Grocery and the Registered Agent Robert Tedder from the KYOAG informed them of the Subpeona and Civil Investigative Demand and the Attorney General’s Office was opening an investigation into the complaints, “believing it to be in the public interest.” The letter stated, “To the extent your current pricing, marketing, and sales practices are in violation of Kentucky law, you are hereby directed to immediately cease and desist from such violations.”
The investigation is to ascertain whether A & M has engaged in any act or practice declared to be unlawful by KRS 367.110 to 367.300, which is cited as the Consumer Protection Act. A & M and the Registered Agent have until May 28, 2021 to produce the requested documents and submit them to Rebecca Price, Assistant Attorney General at the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.