FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    AT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1994                                   (202) 616-2765
                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888

          CONNECTICUT BICYCLE RETAILER CHARGED WITH PRICE-FIXING

 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Connecticut bicycle dealer was charged
today with participating in a conspiracy to fix the retail prices
of bicycles, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of
Justice announced today.
 This is the second case resulting from the Antitrust
Division's continuing investigation into collusive practices by
bicycle retailers in the Hartford area.
 A one-count felony charge filed in U.S. District Court in
Hartford said Farr's Inc. of Manchester and other area retailers
conspired to fix retail prices on bicycles from the early 1980s
until 1991.  At the same time, Farr's pleaded nolo contendere or
no contest to the charge which is an admission of guilt.
 Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of
the Antitrust Division, said the investigation is being conducted
by the Antitrust Division's New York Field Office with the
assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
 As part of the plea agreement, Farr's agreed to cooperate
with the government's investigation.  
 The maximum penalty for a corporation convicted under the
Sherman Act for a violation occurring after November 16, 1990, is
a fine of $10 million, twice the pecuniary gain the corporation
derived from the crime, or twice the pecuniary loss caused to
victims of the crime, whichever is greatest.
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94-550