In a bold move to combat exploitation during crises, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee has launched lawsuits against two gas stations accused of outrageous price gouging during Hurricane Beryl. This action follows a flood of over 250 complaints received by the Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO), highlighting a troubling pattern of price hikes amid the hurricane’s chaos.

The first lawsuit targets BTCM Aviation LLC, Real Estate Chapter Texas LLC, and Houston Ventures LLC, which run a gas station at 5910 W. Loop S., Bellaire, TX. This location reportedly charged $3.79 and $4.29 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, marking increases of 25% and 41%, respectively, from the pre-hurricane rate of $3.03. The second lawsuit addresses A2S PetroTech LLC, operating at 5003 N. Main St., Baytown, TX, where premium gasoline was priced at a staggering $5.49 per gallon—a 44% markup from the $3.80 pre-hurricane price.

“My office worked tirelessly to respond to the flood of price gouging complaints we received during this crisis,” said County Attorney Christian Menefee. “While many businesses complied with our cease and desist requests, these companies refused to justify their egregious price increases. This lawsuit serves as a clear warning: we will not tolerate attempts to exploit our community during disasters. We are committed to protecting Harris County consumers from such predatory practices.”

The HCAO remains vigilant in its investigation of price gouging and encourages residents to retain receipts and report any suspected price gouging during declared emergencies. For more information or to report price gouging, visit the Harris County Attorney's Office website at https://cao.harriscountytx.gov