Chesapeake Energy, facing multiple lawsuits from landowners over claims of underpaid royalties, has revealed that the company has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice and several states over its alleged wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
State attorneys and federal prosecutors have demanded that Chesapeake produce documents, give testimony and provide information relating to the alleged underpayments. Separately, the company has revealed that it has been subpoenaed regarding possible violations of anti-trust laws. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, Chesapeake faces racketeering charges.<\/p>\n
The federal and state investigations come as Chesapeake continues to face a number of civil lawsuits from landowners. Dozens of landowners in Texas and Oklahoma have sued Chesapeake, claiming that the company used accounting tricks to avoid paying them the full royalty payments they were due for allowing Chesapeake to drill for oil and gas under their land.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lawsuits allege that Chesapeake engaged in sham transactions with affiliated companies in order to manipulate natural gas (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chesapeake Energy, facing multiple lawsuits from landowners over claims of underpaid royalties, has revealed that the company has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice and several states over its alleged wrongdoing. State attorneys and federal prosecutors have demanded…<\/span><\/p>\n