The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Jaime Chavira of Dexter, New Mexico, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Chavira applied for registration, obtained a $10,000 bond and paid a penalty of $1,400.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from March through September 2020, Chavira purchased 218 head of livestock in 14 transactions at posted livestock markets and resold at least 59 head of the same livestock at a posted livestock market two days later. In each traced transaction, Chavira engaged in the business of a livestock dealer, buying and selling livestock in interstate commerce at posted livestock markets without registering with the secretary of agriculture or maintaining an adequate bond or bond equivalent.