Gainesville, Florida - The company that provided the fuel which was then sold by Freedom Fuel Network at a discounted price is being sued for allegedly stealing about $4 million worth of gas between May and July.
Mansfield Oil Company sued KRSM – a company that supplied fuel to Freedom Fuel Network – for allegedly picking up approximately 1.1 million gallons of fuel and failing to pay for it.
The fuel was provided to KRSM between May 21 and July 7 and is worth more than $3,998,000. Mansfield Oil Company is also suing KRSM President Syed Kazmi, but not Freedom Fuel Network.
"KRSM disputes the allegations in this case, which is an accounting dispute over fuel invoices mis-priced by Mansfield Oil," Mauro Tucci, Kazmi's lawyer, said in a statement cited by the Guardian.
The lawsuit puts egg on the face of President Donald Trump, who publicly supported Freedom Fuel Network shortly before the July 4 long weekend. He touted their low gas prices, which contrast with the high prices seen at other service stations.
"Just as I promised, Oil Prices are plummeting FAST, and Gas Prices at the pump are dropping too, but not as fast as they should be," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.
"I am pleased to announce that a VERY smart Retailer, located throughout the Northeast, is stepping up," he said. "This Retailer is taking the lead, and others should follow. They are doing this because they love the USA."
Mansfield Oil Company said in the lawsuit that the reason Freedom Fuel Network was able to offer such discounted prices in July was possibly due to them receiving cheap stolen fuel.
"KRSM was able to sell such fuel for such low prices and garner such publicity because it never paid Plaintiff for such fuel," the lawsuit alleges.