Gas Stations Named in Price Gouging Probe

New York State attorney general Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday he's filing lawsuits against four area gas stations for allegedly violating a state price gouging statute in the days immediately following superstorm Sandy.

Monetary settlements have already been reached with 25 other stations totaling $167,850, he said, and investigations are pending against "dozens" of others. The settlements require those gas stations pay penalties to the state.

The lawsuits, filed in Kings, Nassau and Suffolk County Supreme Courts, accuse the stations of charging consumers "unconscionably excessive prices" after the November storm.

“Six months ago this week, as New Yorkers were sitting in lines waiting for hours to buy critical supplies of gasoline, some shady business owners were trying to make a fast buck at their expense,” said Schneiderman in a statement. “Today, we are sending a powerful message that ripping off New Yorkers during a time of crisis is against the law and we will do everything in our power to hold them accountable.”

The four gas stations named in lawsuits are:

Greenpoint Truck Stop, Inc/Sonomax, 278 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222 

• Difference between wholesale price and retail price prior to storm: $0.98
• Difference between wholesale price and retail price immediately following storm: $1.85
• Increase in wholesale/retail spread before-and-after the storm: 88 percent
• Retail price immediately following the storm: $4.59

• Difference between wholesale price and retail price prior to storm: $1.07
• Difference between wholesale price and retail price immediately following storm: $1.45
• Increase in wholesale/retail spread before-and-after the storm: 35 percent
• Retail price immediately following the storm: $4.59

• Difference between wholesale price and retail price prior to storm: $1.04
• Difference between wholesale price and retail price immediately following storm: $1.80
• Increase in wholesale/retail spread before-and-after the storm: 73 percent
• Retail price immediately following the storm: $4.59

• Difference between wholesale price and retail price prior to storm: $0.78
• Difference between wholesale price and retail price immediately following storm: $1.18
• Increase in wholesale/retail spread before-and-after the storm: 51 percent
• Retail price immediately following the storm: $4.29

• SJM Petroleum/BP, 1009 State Rt. 109, Farmingdale, NY 11735 
  
• BP/Lightning Petroleum, 1007 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787 
  
• BP/King of Sunrise, Inc., 700 W Sunrise Highway, Valley Stream, NY 11580 
• Broadway Auto Care, 351 Scranton Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563 
• Citgo, 1090 Portion Road, Farmingville, NY 11738 
• United Technical Group Inc./ Sunoco, 900 Atlantic Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510
• Greenvale Oil Inc./BP, 724 Elmont Road, Elmont, NY 11003
• Citgo, 1050 Udall Road, Bay Shore, NY 11706
• East End Marketing, 2670 North Jerusalem Avenue, North Bellmore, NY 11710
• East End Marketing Corp, 235 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735
• Road Ready, 2786 North Jerusalem Road, North Bellmore, NY 11710
• Greenvale Service Station, 120 Northen Boulevard, Greenvale, NY 11548
• Setauket Food Mart/BP, 728 Rte 25A, East Setauket, NY 11733
• BP, 1577 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566
• Virgin International/Coastal, 1575 Route 112, Port Jefferson, NY 11776
• S&Z Best Inc/Citgo, 1338 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003
• 3300 HT Corp, 3300 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY 11756
• Al's One Stop Auto/Shell, 516 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, New York 11570
• Hill Enterprise, Inc/Citgo, 3818 Sunrise Highway, Seaford, New York 11783
• 267 East Main Street Realty Corp./Coastal, 267 East Main Street, Patchogue, New York 11772