<p> The USDA has cited <B>Lombardo Imports Inc.</b>, a Las Vegas, Nevada-based company for failure to pay for produce.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The company has allegedly failed to pay <B>$738,006 to 51 sellers for 331 lots of produce</b> purchased between November 2009 through January 2012. Consequently, Lombardo Imports can no longer operate in the produce industry until <B>March 27, 2016</b>, at which time it may apply for a PACA license, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <B>Thomas Lombardo</b>, the company’s sole principal, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until <B>March 27, 2015</b>, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0" target="_new"> Agricultural Marketing Service </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
