State attorney general orders Springfield-area man to stop price gouging for surgical masks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Wednesday he ordered a Springfield-area man to cease and desist for price gouging.

According to a news release from the attorney general's office, the man was selling surgical masks at inflated prices.

Investigators in the AG's office said the man initially charged $12.50 per mask.

The report shows the man agreed to sell the masks to an undercover investigator at $5 apiece. According to the announcement, the price was almost double the usual cost.

Investigators said the man about 600 surgical masks before the coronavirus pandemic. Schmitt said the man has since stopped selling the masks and returned them to retailers.

A spokesperson for Schmitt's office said the attorney general has received 266 reports of price gouging around the state. That's up from about 32 such reports as of last week.