Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Patton Junction Livestock Auction Inc. (Patton); Allan Sharrock; Sherri Sharrock; and Shelly Barks (Respondents), of Sedgewickville, Mo., on Aug. 25, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that Patton failed to maintain its custodial account, resulting in custodial shortages of $142,937 on Jan. 31, 2020, $164,719 on Feb. 29, 2020, and $115,497 on March 31, 2020. The custodial account shortages were partly due to Patton’s failure to deposit in their custodial account, within the time prescribed, an amount equal to the proceeds receivable from the sale of consigned livestock, and to Respondents’ unlawful payments using custodial account funds.
The investigation further revealed Respondents and Patton failed to maintain and properly use their custodial account. During this same timeframe, Respondents misused custodial account funds.
Under the consent decision, Respondents and Patton are ordered to cease and desist from failing to maintain their custodial account and misusing custodial account funds. Respondents are further assessed a civil penalty of $14,280, to be paid immediately. The full decision and order is available on the AMS Packers and Stockyards Enforcement page.
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 Kraig Roesch, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (303) 375-4291, or by email at kraig.roesch@usda.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
