AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed more price gouging lawsuits against businesses accused of taking advantage of Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey on Monday.

In the cases, consumers were allegedly charged excessive prices for gasoline.

Attorney General Paxton said, in part:

Price gouging is illegal, unconscionable and completely opposite the spirit of cooperation we saw just about everywhere else in our state before, during and after the hurricane. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute more cases arising from Harvey.”

After a state disaster has been declared, Texas law prohibits selling necessities such as drinking water, food, medicine, and fuel at an exorbitant or excessive price. Paxton named the following defendants in Hurricane Harvey price gouging lawsuits.

• Big Willy’s
 which has locations south/southwest the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, charged $3.99 and $4.99 per gallon of unleaded gasoline at numerous stations

• Tejano Mart in Laredo, which charged consumers up to $9.99 per gallon of unleaded regular gasoline.   

Anyone who believes they’ve been scammed or price gouged should call the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at (800) 621-0508, email consumeremergency@oag.texas.gov, or file a complaint online at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint.