Georgia man accused of hoarding face masks, price-gouging

A Georgia businessman is accused of hoarding face masks as COVID-19 pandemic spre in U.S. and of price-gouging by selling m for about double what he paid, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said Thursday.

Milton Ayimu, 22, of Stockbridge, was arraigned Thursday on two charges, both of m violations of Defense Production Act of 1950, Pak said in a news release.

Ayimu did t immediately respond to an email sent Friday evening through his website, BabyPuuPu.com, which sells baby clothing, accessories and toys.

President Donald Trump invoked Defense Production Act on March 18 to try to overcome shorts in masks, ventilators and or supplies. A week later, U.S. health secretary listed face masks among scarce materials under law.

Ayimu, also kwn as Don Milton, is accused of buying more than 200,000 masks from a foreign country at $2.50 each in early March, and of selling m through website for about $5 each from n until May.

“Ayimu allegedly saw unprecedented COVID-19 global pandemic as an opportunity to make a profit,” Pak said. “Desperate to find personal protective equipment during pandemic, thousands of customers unfortunately paid his inflated prices.”

During same period, according to news release, “manufacturers of auntic N95 masks continued selling face masks for pre-pandemic price of under $2.00 per mask.”

Ayimu h more than 22,000 financial transactions during two months he sold face masks, statement said. It did t say how many involved face masks.

news release did t mention Ayimu’s plea, and his case was t available Thursday in online court records. He was charged in a criminal information, news release said.