NJ penalties shadow Trump-backed Freedom Fuel outlets

New Jersey regulators have levied about 196 violations totaling $429,900 against stations linked to Shamikh Kazmi and Blue Owl that later joined the Freedom Fuel discount network, largely for underground storage tank/registration and air-permit issues, including delivery bans that briefly blocked fuel and a $50,000 penalty for one Atlantic County station’s unregistered/unfinished tank. Some penalties predate Freedom Fuel’s existence, and a second Atlantic County station faced a similar ban; as of now one major penalty remains unpaid. The state AG is also reviewing compliance with a law prohibiting selling gas below cost. The White House had praised Freedom Fuel for lowering pump prices, while saying it wasn’t aware of the regulators’ dealings—the same network Trump promoted in posts and press releases.