Following the report, the Tennessee Attorney General got involved and is launching an investigation into price gouging. On Sunday, Colvin's attorney issued a statement, saying Colvin was donating all the rest of the supplies, about "17,700 bottles of stuff," according to the NYT story, to churches near him.
"If you're putting our community at risk in order to make a buck during a time of crisis, in addition to rotting in hell, you'll face the full weight of the legal power granted to me by the people of Oregon." Deschutes DA John Hummel
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It's reports like that which have Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel on the lookout for price-gougers in the area. Not only are price gouging and hoarding supplies during crises such as a virus outbreak ethically dubious, the practice can mean that fewer supplies are available for people who may need them.
John Hummel
Hummel's even using some colorful language to describe people who engage in the practice.
"I encourage anyone who experiences excessive pricing of good related to COVID-19 to immediately call the DOJ's [Department of Justice's] Consumer Protection hotline at 1-877-877-9392. If the Governor determines an 'abnormal disruption of the market' exists in Deschutes County, and makes such a declaration, I will have a zero tolerance policy toward offenders," Hummel wrote Sunday. "If you're putting our community at risk in order to make a buck during a time of crisis, in addition to rotting in hell, you'll face the full weight of the legal power granted to me by the people of Oregon."
The Source has not gotten wind of any local price gouging reported to us as of yet, but alert us to any information you have related to this or other COVID-19-related stories by emailing [email protected].
And see all our updated COVID-19 coverage at our COVID-19 HQ page.
