The U.S. DOJ Forms Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group to Focus on Energy Markets

May 02, 2011

Thomas P. O'Brien, Daniel Prince & Kathryn C. Wanner

Spurred by increasing public frustration over rising gasoline prices, on Thursday, April 21, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of an Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group. The Oil and Gas Fraud Working Group (the Working Group) has been tasked with ensuring that American consumers are not victims of price gouging at the pump, either through price manipulation or fraud in the commodities market. In his memorandum announcing the formation of the Working Group, Attorney General Eric Holder declared that where consumers are harmed by unlawful conduct that has the effect of increasing gas prices, state and federal authorities should take swift action.

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