Mississippi Hotel Slapped With Price Gouging Fine

LAUREL, Miss. (AP) - The owners of a Laurel hotel will pay more
than $20,000 in fines, penalties and other costs involving a price
gouging case related to Hurricane Katrina.
Representatives for A.B.N.K. Incorporated, which owns the
41-room Econo Lodge, pleaded no contest Wednesday in Jones County
Justice Court to one count misdemeanor price gouging.
Under a no-contest plea, a person doesn't refute the charge or
charges, but doesn't admit guilt.
In April, a Jones County grand jury returned a 15-count
indictment against the owners of the Econo Lodge.
Judge David Lyons ordered the company to pay a maximum $1,000
fine, provide another $1,000 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund
and pay court costs.
In addition, the attorney general's office reached a separate
agreement with the company to pay $3,648 in restitution, $4,850
investigative costs, and a civil penalty of $10,000.
The amount the company increased the room rates was unavailable.