FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AT
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1995                              (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
            TENNESSEE DAIRY CHARGED WITH RIGGING BIDS

                 TO SUPPLY MILK TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The Department of Justice today filed
charges against Weigel Inc., doing business as Broadacre Dairies,
of Powell, Tennessee, for participating in a conspiracy to rig bids
on contracts to supply milk to public school boards within the
Knoxville, Tennessee area.  
     The case was filed in the United States District Court in
Knoxville.  It is the second case brought by the Antitrust Division
involving the sale of milk in Tennessee and the 127th in the United
States.
     Broadacre Dairies was charged with participating in a
combination and conspiracy dating back to early 1983 and continuing
at least through August 1990.  In its filing, the Department
charged a conspiracy to:
     * allocate certain contracts to the defendant and co-conspirators
     * refrain from submitting bids 
     * submit collusive, noncompetitive and rigged bids
     * supply milk at artificial and noncompetitive prices
     Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Antitrust Division, said the charge arose in connection with a
grand jury investigation in Knoxville into collusive practices by
dairy products suppliers in Tennessee.  The investigation was
conducted by the Division's Atlanta Field Office.  
     The maximum penalty which may be imposed against a corporation
convicted of a violation of the Sherman Act occurring prior to
November 16, 1990, is a fine not to exceed the greatest of:  $1
million, twice the gross pecuniary gain the corporation derived
from the crime, or twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to the
victims of the crime.
     To date, Antitrust Division milk cases have resulted in the
conviction of 63 corporations and 59 individuals.  A total of $59
million in fines have been imposed.  Grand juries in twelve states
continue to investigate the milk industry.  

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