Pocono News Section

Local DA's Now Investigating A&B Fuel

Local DA's Now Investigating A&B Fuel - Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 6:12PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 @06:12pm EST
GOULDSBORO, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --Four district attorneys are now investigating the sudden shutdown of a Gouldsboro oil and propane company last week. This news comes as WBRE News learns, the company owners were trying to sell the business just days before they stopped delivering fuel. The sale did not go through because of the high number of prepaid accounts that company had not satisfied.

Not even this place of worship could escape A&B Fuel's sudden shutdown last week. "We have $8,000 worth of oil we're not going to get," says Stan Manking. Manking, chair of the finance committee for Mt. Pocono United Methodist, says his church has been pre-buying its oil for several years from the now defunct Gouldsboro business. Now the century–and-a-half old congregation has to dig deeper. Manking says "you make cuts in other places. We do have some reserves so that are supposed to be going for somewhere else.”

Joe Occhipinti of State Petroleum says "we're hearing a lot of sob stories --a lot of people crying on the phone." State Petroleum in Olyphant has received 700 calls from A&B Fuel customers needing oil. It didn't come as a surprise though. Occhipinti was considering buying the company. He says A & B Fuel owners approached him to buy the company two weeks ago. But when he started looking at all the pre-buys there was no way he "could off set it."

Occhipinti doesn't allow pre-buys because it's not good business in this fluctuating oil market. Now his company is helping out...even bending the rules for A & B. "We're putting them on payment plans. We're stretching out payments. We are doing everything to get them oil."

If you are a victim, here are the numbers for the district attorney in your area. They will be investigating for possible criminal activity.

In Lackawanna County 963-6717
Monroe County 517-3052
Pike County 296-3482
Wayne County 253-4912

All victims should contact the
PA Attorney General 1-800-441-2555 or