Created: 10/23/2009 1:10:39 PM 
Raleigh, NC -- Two gas stations in Yadkinville and one in Troy have agreed to pay $15,000 to resolve price gouging allegations.
NC Attorney General Roy Cooper says LR&S, Inc. will pay $7,700 for alleged price gouging by its Four Sister Center and Yadkinville Food Mart gas stations in Yadkinville, and Steve Compton will pay $7,800 for alleged price gouging at Tire Pro of Troy, also known as Troy BP.
Cooper filed suit in October of 2008 against Steve Compton, owner and manager of Tire Pro, also known as Troy BP, located at 104 Courthouse Square in Troy, contending that the gas station raised its prices on September 12, 2008 from less than $4 a gallon to $5.99 per gallon. Fortunately, no consumers purchased gas at that inflated price, according to the Attorney General's investigation.
To resolve price gouging claims, Compton will pay $2,000 to an energy assistance fund, $5,000 in civil penalties to North Carolina schools, and $800 to cover the costs of the investigation.
Cooper filed suit against LR&S in June of 2009 based on evidence that Four Sisters Center gas station at 513 E. Main Street and Yadkinville Food Mart at 909 N. State Street raised their retail prices for gas from under $4 a gallon to as much as $5.679 a gallon within a matter of hours on September 12, 2008.
To resolve price gouging claims, LR&S will pay $2,000 to an energy assistance fund, $5,000 in civil penalties to North Carolina public schools, and $700 to cover the costs of the investigation. LR&S will also pay refunds to consumers who can provide a receipt or other proof showing that they were overcharged for gas on September 12. LR&S cannot identify these consumers through its credit and debit card processing system.
The Attorney General's Office has collected more than $70,000 through their price gouging investigation.
A total of 14 gas stations were forced to make payments against price gouging allegations from September 2008. During that time, some Triad say stations were charging more than $5 per gallon for regular unleaded gas.
