CITGO Fined $450K for Selling Unbranded, Off-Brand Fuel in New Jersey

Texas-based CITGO Petroleum Corporation has agreed to pay $456,610 and implement a compliance program for been selling unbranded or off-brand gasoline, US Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs's investigation found that CITGO motor fuel was in violation of the Motor Fuels Act.

In 2014, the Division found bills of lading, invoices and fuel delivery tickets from earlier in that year from various CITGO retail-dealers in New Jersey that showed that at least 14 of the retail-dealers were selling a significant quantity of unbranded or off-brand motor fuel, according to Porino.

The retail-dealers investigated were from as far north as Mahwah and as far south as Millville.

As a result, CITGO entered into a Consent Order with the Division that addresses motor fuel brand integrity among all CITGO-affiliated distributors and retail-dealers operating in New Jersey.

Under the terms of the Consent Order, CITGO will hold a Motor Fuel Brand Integrity training session with its distributors and the Division, conduct quarterly audits of retail-dealers for brand integrity, and designate a corporate brand integrity monitor. These terms are intended to ensure that only CITGO motor fuels are delivered to CITGO retail-dealers, and that these locations sell only CITGO motor fuels to consumers.

“The State of New Jersey takes very seriously its obligation to protect consumers from deceptive practices,” stated Porrino. “This Consent Order helps to ensure that consumers purchasing CITGO gas receive exactly what they expect and are paying for.”

(Image via Shutterstock)

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