JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Employees at nearly a dozen gas stations in Northeast Florida tell the I-TEAM they are out of work after the gas stations abruptly closed, at least for now.
The gas stations are owned by MNV Energy -- a company based in South Florida. News4Jax learned the company is facing a lawsuit.
Gas pumps at a Sunoco station off Kings Road were covered with plastic bags, as the tanks were run dry. Employees at the gas station told the I-TEAM they lease the station from MNV Energy, and have a contract to get gas from the company, but the company suddenly stopped supplying them with fuel. It's one of three filling stations that left its doors open, despite not having any gas to sell.
There are 11 gas stations around Duval and Clay counties owned by MNV Energy that are closed for now. Employees who contacted us said the shutdowns were sudden. Some employees said they are owed pay for hours they've worked, and that management won't return their phone calls.
Etan Mark, an attorney in Miami who represents 12 plaintiffs in the lawsuit against MNV Energy, said the owner of the company, Sergio Delmico, has been elusive. Mark represents investors who ventured more than $2 million into two South Florida gas stations owned by MNV Energy with the promise of a 12 percent annual return.
The lawsuit alleges the investors have not received what they were promised and claims the gas stations were mismanaged.
MNV Energy owns nearly 40 gas stations throughout the state of Florida, and the majority of them have contracts with Shell. Mark said some of the gas stations in South Florida, and their employees, are experiencing the same abrupt closures that have been seen here in Jacksonville.
The I-TEAM called the offices of MNV Energy for comment, but was unable to reach a representative, Shell told News4Jax to contact the wholesaler who handles this part of the country. The wholesaler did not immediately respond to the I-TEAM.