(July 22, 2008)—Drivers who recently bought gasoline at hundreds of Sumart stations around the state including four in Central Texas were probably shortchanged, state Department of Agriculture investigators said Tuesday.
A weekend investigation found 990 Sunmart pumps were rigged to favor the company by as much as one-tenth of a gallon for every five gallons sold.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples says he "strongly suspects this was an intentional act."
Investigators found all the pumps out of compliance at the Sunmart No. 113 at 10269 Highway 84 in Prairie Hill, the Sunmart No. 115 at 2431 Commerce W. in Buffalo, the Sunmart No. 168 on Interstate 35 in Georgetown and the Sunmart No. 169 at Interstate 35 and FM 1304 in Abbott.
State inspectors immediately shut down pumps found to be in violation.
Full List Of Stations
Sunmart, the operating name for Petroleum Wholesale, didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.
Staples says his office began investigating Friday, after noticing a spike in violations.
The statewide investigation found that 990 of Sunmart's 1,704 fuel pumps were found to be cheating consumers.
"At a time when families are struggling to purchase fuel, I am sure all Texans would agree with me that despicable violations such as these are repulsive and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Staples said.
"Given the strong indication this company has intentionally cheated consumers, I have passed along the results of ‘Operation Spotlight' to Attorney General Abbott and his office has opened an investigation into the matter."
Staples says the company could be fined as much as $100,000.
Texas Department Of Agriculture
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