Matt Colvin of Hixson, Tennessee and his brother Noah got the attention of the Tennessee Attorney General after buying over 17,000 hand sanitizers and medical goods. The two are now being investigated for price gouging.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III has ordered Matt Colvin and Noah Colvin to stop buying and selling medical goods and products following reports of possible price gouging while an investigation into their actions is underway.

The Attorney General has reason to believe the brothers bought these items at stores in both Tennessee and Kentucky.

“We will not tolerate price gouging in this time of exceptional need, and we will take aggressive action to stop it,” said Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. “During this pandemic, we ask that you report suspicious activity to the Division of Consumer Affairs and refrain from threatening or hostile communication with individuals or businesses you may suspect are price gouging. Our team will review complaints closely and we are prepared to act to protect Tennesseans.”

“This is a time where we have to focus on helping our neighbors, not profiting from them,” said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. “We’re not going to tolerate selfish actions that put the health of Kentuckians at risk, and I’m grateful for Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s partnership in bringing an end to this harmful scheme.”

Last Thursday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared a state of emergency prompted by the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus. The declaration triggers the state’s anti-price gouging law which prohibits vendors from charging too much during a crisis tied to a state of emergency.

Under the law, the Attorney General’s Office can put a stop to price gouging and seek refunds for consumers. The courts may also impose civil penalties against price gougers for every violation. The law applies to all levels of the supply chain from the manufacturer to the distributor to the retailer.

Click here to file a complaint:

https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html.

Report as many details as possible such as the name and location of the merchant, the date and time of your purchase, the method of payment, the price of the item in days prior to the sudden price increase, and the price you paid. Always keep your receipts. Include pictures of the displayed price if possible.”