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Enforcement Actions
2012 Enforcement Actions

Fiscal Year 2012 (October 2011-September 2012)

GIPSA issues a formal complaint, alleging specific violations, against a firm or individual when it initiates administrative legal action. The formal complaint is filed with the USDA Hearing Clerk's office and served on each accused party, known as a respondent.

Note: Each respondent has a right to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to rebut the charges brought in the complaint. The alleged charges may or may not be proven.

 
Respondent(s) State Docket Number Complaint Filed Decision/Dismissal Filed
Albert J. Huizenga and Aaron M. Lancaster, d.b.a Beef co D-12-201 1-25-12
(PDF; 360Kb)
Ark-MO Livestock Auction, LLC., Kent E. O'Neal, and Janet L. O'Neal MO D-12-106 12-13-11
(PDF; 360Kb)		 01-06-12
(PDF; 210Kb)
Brian Adams D-12-321 3-26-12
(PDF; 93Kb)
Big Dan's Trucking, Inc. MN D-12-205 1-19-12
(PDF; 185Kb)		 02-22-12
(PDF; 246Kb)
Bobby T. Tindel TX D-12-324 03-27-12
(PDF; 125Kb)
Boswell Livestock Commission Co., Inc., Ronald R. Bullard, Jr., and Kevin R. Bullard IN D-12-419 05-02-12
(PDF; 443Kb)
Bro Pack, Inc., and Andrew Broderg CA D-12-081 11-18-11
(PDF; 100Kb)
Bruce Camenzind NE D-12-249 02-17-12
(PDF; 256Kb)
Bruce Medley d/b/a B & M Livestock TN D-12-169 01-09-12
(PDF; 95Kb)
Clausen Meat Packing, Inc.,Michelle Tsao, and Kenneth Khoo CA D-12-213 1-27-12
(PDF; 112Kb)
Claypoole Livestock, Inc., and Timothy J. Claypoole CO D-12-135 12-21-11
(PDF; 112Kb)
Comanche Livestock Auction, Inc., and W. Raymond Brown, and Jo Ann Brown OK D-12-425 05-09-12
(PDF; 135Kb)
Darlington Livestock Market, Inc., and Robert B. Robeson SC D-12-172 1-9-12
(PDF; 107Kb)		 03-29-12
(PDF; 138Kb)
David Mosner, Inc. NY D-12-240 02-17-12
(PDF; 119Kb)		 05-09-12
(PDF; 108Kb)
D&H Mebane Stockmans's Corporation, d/b/a Western Stockman's Market and Dwight G. Mebane CA D-12-388 04-23-12
(PDF; 118Kb)		 05-10-12
(PDF; 138Kb)
Donald D. Baker Cattle Company, LLC, and Donald D. Baker VA D-12-398 04-27-12
(PDF; 170Kb)
Doyle Harms d.b.a. Harms Livestock SD D-12-187 1-19-12
(PDF; 107Kb)
Douglas Butler VT D-12-033 10-19-11
(PDF; 90Kb)
Dustin Ryan Conley dba Dustin Conley Cattle Co. TX D-12-360 04-12-12
(PDF; 87Kb)
Fred J. Berger, Ltd. d.b.a. Berger Cattle Company, and Fred J. Berger ND D-12-25 02-27-12
(PDF; 166Kb)
Garden Halal Meat Market, LLC, Mohamed Chitaoui, and Fedal Lahsane MA D-12-100 12-09-11
(PDF; 129Kb)
Gary Craig, d/b/a Craig Sheep Farm, Mingis Farms, and Tripple C Sheep Farm IL D-12-166 12-10-12
(PDF; 126Kb)
Gary N. Shifflett, Jr., dba Nelson Shifflett Livestock D-12-184 1-19-12
(PDF; 85Kb)
Gary Thompson LA D-12-028 10-19-11
(PDF; 130Kb)
Geoffrey S. Martin LA D-12-146 12-22-11
(PDF; 105Kb)
Glen Ratcliff IN D-12-134 12-21-11
(PDF; 106Kb)		 01-23-12
(PDF; 142Kb)
Golden West Cattle Co., LLC, and Michael Kastner CO D-12-206 1-26-12
(PDF; 93Kb)
Hatch Auction, Inc., DBA Cow House Auction, and Raymond L. Hatch NM D-12-08 1-26-12
(PDF; 133Kb)
Hardee County Livestock Market Corp.,and Janice P. Wheeler FL D-12-084 11-25-11
(PDF; 130Kb)
Headwaters Livestock Auction, LLC MT D-12-239 02-17-12
(PDF; 126Kb)
J. Cuiksa. Inc., and Jason Cuiksa KS D-12-361 4-12-12
(PDF; 113Kb)
James M. Brantley, James H. Brantley, d.b.a. Southeastern Provision, LLC TN D-12-125 12-20-11
(PDF; 96Kb)
Jeffrey H. Auerbach CO D-12-164 01-26-11
(PDF; 173Kb)
JLA, LLC d/b/a Marshall Livestock Auction and Carey Jones MO D-12-188 1-20-12
(PDF; 120Kb)
Lloyd Nash TN D-12-170 1-09-12
(PDF; 146Kb)		 02-14-12
(PDF; 488Kb)
Karnes City Auction, Inc., Brian Morris, and Ronald Morris TX D-12-210 1-26-11
(PDF; 146Kb)
Kao Vang and Chue Thao,d/b/a California Fresh Meats CA D-12-002 10-04-11
(PDF; 104Kb)
Kopp's Turkey Sales, Inc. dba Kopp's Turkeys, Inc. OH D-12-175 02-09-12
(PDF; 29Kb)
Lester J. Gemmen Jr. D-12-354 02-10-12
(PDF; 118Kb)
Mark K. Holder, d/b/a Mark Holder Livestock TN D-12-171 01-10-12
(PDF; 176Kb)
Marshall Livestock Auction, Inc. - Special Account, and Carey Jones MO D-12-243 02-24-12
(PDF; 175Kb)
Michael T. Godberson D-12-034 10-19-11
(PDF; 171Kb)
Michael Bret Wagner D-12-168 01-09-12
(PDF; 87Kb)
Mohammad S. Malik and Kiran Enterprises, Inc. d.b.a Trenton Halal Meat Packing Co., NJ D-12-072 11-17-11
(PDF; 300Kb)
Murray L. Edwards FL D-12-91 11-30-11
(PDF; 297Kb)
Nebraska Beef, Ltd., NE D-12-127 11-28-11
(PDF; 112Kb)
New Wilmington Livestock Auction, Inc. and Thomas R. Skelton PA D-12-241 02-17-12
(PDF; 232Kb)
Nick Pesetsky and, Pesetsky Land and Cattle, LLC OK D-12-144 12-22-11
(PDF; 61Kb)
North American Bison Cooperative and North Dakota Natural Beef, LLC., ND D-12-050 11-04-11
(PDF; 155Kb)		 03-22-12
(PDF; 214Kb)
Ocala Livestock Market, Inc., Michael Yeomans, aka Tony Yeomans, and Tobitha Yeomans FL D-12-012 10-04-11
(PDF; 104Kb)		 05-17-11
(PDF; 144Kb)
Pamela Hill and John Clark, dba Tri-State Livestock OK D-12-185 1-19-12
(PDF; 148Kb)		 05-16-11
(PDF; 139Kb)
Pasqual A. Leone dba P.A. Leone Livestock NY D-12-387 04-23-12
(PDF; 193Kb)
Riata Cattle Company, Inc., and Porfirio Garcia a/k/a Fedo Garcia TX D-12-390 04-24-12
(PDF; 156Kb)
Richard Hale ID D-12-204 1-25-12
(PDF; 130Kb)
Richard Hunter d.b.a. H & H Farms, D-12-203 1-25-12
(PDF; 123Kb)
Rick Shannon OK D-12-133 12-21-11
(PDF; 104Kb)
Robert M. Self D-12-167 01-09-12
(PDF; 216Kb)
Robert Smith, d/b/a 4S Cattle Company and FourS Cattle Company TX D-12-017 10-04-11
(PDF; 87Kb)		 05-09-12
(PDF; 198Kb)
Robert Witt and Thomas Witt NE D-12-322 03-27-12
(PDF; 115Kb)
Ronald Ryan Shepard, Jr., a/k/a Ronald Ryan Sheppard, Jr., a/d/a Ron Shepard, Jeremy E Pierce, Brookfield Cattle Company, LLC IL D-12-357 04-12-12
(PDF; 240Kb)
Sammy Simmons and Wendy Simmons, d/b/a People's Livestock of Cartersville GA D-12-131 12-21-11
(PDF; 86Kb)
Shirley Dance, Mike Whitfield, N.B. Hutchinson, Jr., Pete Pingrey, d.b.a. Gowan Stockyards MS D-12-029 11-19-11
(PDF; 305Kb)		 11-23-11
(PDF; 104Kb)
Stephen Smeal, d/b/a Fatted Calf Cattle Farms #6 TX D-12-376 04-20-12
(PDF; 154Kb)
Steve Lukens KS D-12-141 12-21-11
(PDF; 65Kb)
Steven Demarest, Brenda Demarest, P. Scott Baldwin, and Deborah Baldwin, d/b/a Wyalusing Livestock Market PA D-12-245 02-17-12
(PDF; 177Kb)
Stony Pike Livestock Commission, Inc., Ronald R. Bullard, Jr., and Kevin R. Bullard IN D-12-400 04-27-12
(PDF; 149Kb)
Sugarcreek Livestock Auctions, Inc., and Leroy H. Baker, Jr. OH D-12-079 11-18-11
(PDF; 178Kb)
The Smithfield Packing Company, Inc., VA D-12-190 1-20-12
(PDF; 130Kb)		 03-28-12
(PDF; 160Kb)
Thomas Kinderknecth, Barbara Kinderknecht, and Quinter Livestock, Inc. KS D-12-250 02-22-12
(PDF; 115Kb)
Tony Wells dba Tony Wells Livestock, AR D-12-105 12-12-11
(PDF; 97Kb)
Tyson Farms, Inc. NC D-12-123 12-20-11
(PDF; 100Kb)
Whispering Oaks Farms, LLC, and Mike D. Ester MO D-12-089 11-30-11
(PDF; 95Kb)		 01-25-12
(PDF; 166Kb)
Williams Cattle Co., Inc., KY D-12-009 10-04-11
(PDF; 104Kb)

Types of Enforcement Actions

The Packers and Stockyards Program (P&SP) monitors industry activities and conducts regulatory compliance reviews and investigations to determine whether subject persons and firms are in compliance with the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) and regulations. Violations are resolved according to their seriousness as follows:

  • Notice of Violations - Form giving regulated entities official notice of the alleged violations found. Violations are corrected, when practical, without resorting to legal proceedings.
  • Stipulation Agreements - Legal agreement citing violation(s) found, the civil penalty amount GIPSA will accept in settlement of the alleged violation(s) without pursuing a formal action, and a statement for signature by the alleged violator, agreeing to pay the civil penalty and waive the right to a hearing.
  • Administrative Actions - Legal actions taken within USDA. A complaint, alleging specific violations, is filed against a firm or individual. The accused party has a right to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The judge's decision may be appealed to the USDA Judicial Officer. The accused party may appeal the Judicial Officer's ruling to a U.S. Appeals Court, and further to the Supreme Court of the United States.
  • Court Actions - Legal action may be taken, through the Justice Department, in a U.S. District Court against those subject to the P&S Act.

The resolutions of many legal actions are judicial opinions and orders.

Penalties for violations can include:

  • Cease and desist orders;
  • Suspension of business operations subject to the P&S Act;
  • Civil penalties up to a maximum of $27,000 per violation of the poultry trust provisions, and $11,000 per violation of the other provisions in the P&S Act and regulations; and/or
  • Permanent injunctions, fines, and jail sentences for actions taken through the Justice Department.