KINGSLAND, Ga. -- After its pumps were locked twice this year by state regulators, three gas stations along Interstate 95 in Camden County, Ga., reopened last week under new management, reported News4Jax-TV. The three Cisco Travel Plazas—one at Exit 1 in St. Marys and two at Exit 6 in Kingsland—were ordered closed in February after Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors found they were not providing the amount of gasoline indicated on the pumps.
Inspectors found that customers were shorted one quart of fuel for every five gallons of fuel pumped.
The gasoline pumps [image-nocss] were allowed to open two weeks later when Cisco's owners agreed to pay half of a $500,000 fine, but were closed again in April when the state said they had not paid the fine. The pumps remained locked until earlier this month, according to the report, when they were purchased by a new company and reopened as Patco's Energy Express.
Under terms of the sale, Patco will pay the remaining fines due the state in installments, said News4Jax.
While gasoline is being dispensed, diesel fuel will not be available until later this month, the report added.
In a civil complaint filed in early March by Brunswick Judicial Circuit, District Attorney Stephen Kelly accused 12 people affiliated with Cisco Travel Plaza of conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, including fraud and theft. In addition to complaints that the Cisco pumps were "intentionally altered" to short customers on fuel purchases, the court filing also said customers who paid for premium-grade gasoline were actually dispensed lower-octane fuel.
Chief Superior Court Judge James Tuten ordered the assets of the 12 defendants frozen pending the outcome of the case.
Kelly has said that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) probe into Cisco's practice is continuing and criminal charges could be filed.
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