Justice Department investigates supply-chain disruptions and targets companies that exploit the crisis to increase their charges
FBI and DOJ will investigate individuals and companies that conspired to fix prices, wages, rig bids and allocate markets.
Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ Antitrust Division, stated in a Thursday statement that temporary supply chain disruptions shouldn’t be used to cover illegal conduct. “The Antitrust Division won’t allow companies to conspire to overcharge consumers in the guise supply chain disruptions.”
In particular, the FBI and DOJ will be investigating individuals and companies that conspire to fix prices, wages, rig bids, or allocate markets. This was stated in a DOJ press release.
These two agencies will cooperate to prosecute anyone involved in exploitative behavior.
Luis Quesada, Assistant Director of FBI Criminal Division, stated that “the lingering problem of supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic” has given criminals an opportunity to fix prices and charge customers. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and investigate any schemes that violate our antitrust laws or impede our economic recovery,” Quesada said.
DOJ acknowledged that, while many businesses have found innovative ways to address supply chain problems and rising prices due to transportation constraints, routine business disruptions, and difficulty obtaining raw material, some bad actors have profited from those disruptions to make more.
