Gas gouging?

A chain of convenience stores in the B'port Area is being accused of temporarily halting the sale of gasoline in order to increase its profit margin. The "bagged" pumps at the convenience stores sent some Brazosportians into a panic over a perceived gas shortage. The pumps now have been "de-bagged" even though there apparently weren't any fuel truck deliveries, reports the local paper. Hmmmm.

Here's selected portions of the email I was sent:

...They are NOT out of gas. He has chosen to shut down and wait
on the prices to go up later today or tomorrow so he can make a huge
profit. He will then purchase gas at a lower price when President Bush
releases
some of the oil reserves and be able to sell it at a premium. He plans
to
"make a killing". This information was received from a reliable source
and
is not here say. I would like to challenge all of you - DO NOT DO
BUSINESS AT (NAME REDACTED)... He is taking advantage of the people of Brazozport
and doesn't deserve our business now or in the future. It is this kind
of greed that has put our country in the shape it is in. We don't need
people
like him. I hope you agree. Please feel free to share this info with
others.

The local paper in Clute has been doing some reporting on this (see links at bottom of this post) and supposedly KTRK-TV (Channel 13) out of Houston is down here preparing a report.

Since I don't know if these allegations are true, I elect not to name the convenience store chain that's on the receiving end of these accusations. We'll see if the mainstream news media (which is to say, not me), or maybe the state attorney general's office, can get to the bottom of it.
[The Facts, story 3]
[The Facts, story 2]
[The Facts, story 1]