Texas Takes Aim at 'Gas Pill'

Texas Takes Aim at 'Gas Pill'

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - What do mothballs and toilet bowl deodorant bars have to do with drastically improving gas mileage?

Nothing, say prosecutors who are going after a company that claims a small ball made with the chemicals in those products is a "gas pill" that can boost mileage 25 percent or more.

"It's natural for people to look for ways to save money," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Wednesday. "Sometimes, scammers come out of the woodwork."

Abbott announced a lawsuit against BioPerformance Inc., a day after a San Antonio judge signed a temporary restraining order forcing the Dallas company to cease alleged deceptive acts and freeze its assets.

The pills, which are dropped into gas tanks, are part of an illegal pyramid scheme, Abbott said. According to the lawsuit, the company makes money by getting consumers to purchase in bulk, then sell the pills to others.

BioPerformance and owners Lowell Mims and Gustavo Romero of Irving could not immediately be reached for comment.

The company's Web site says "area managers," who buy in with 13 bottles for $499, can earn up to $730,000 a year.

If found in violation of state deceptive trade laws, the owners of BioPerformance could be fined $20,000 per violation.