Mystery Freedom Fuel stations that sold discounted gasoline tied to NFL coach and commodities trader

Source: Politico

07/15/2026 08:00 AM EDT


A pair of New Jersey businessmen — including an NFL assistant coach — with connections to Republican politics were involved in forming a mysterious network of Philadelphia-area gas stations offering discount prices, according to a document obtained by POLITICO.

Baltimore Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown and former commodities trader Yoni Gontownik signed the certificate of formation to incorporate the Freedom Fuels Network LLC on June 23, just a week before President Donald Trump touted it on social media.

The network of 25 stations offered discounts of up to 50 cents per gallon around Independence Day, prompting questions as to who was behind the effort and how it could sell gas well below market rate in the area. Despite promoting the network, the White House has declined to reveal who is behind it, saying only that it is a private company willing to take a hit on its profit margins to help American drivers struggling with high prices following the war in Iran.

Brown, who is also the former mayor of Evesham Township, New Jersey, has flirted with running for higher office as a Republican several times. He launched a political action committee to explore a gubernatorial run in 2016 and mulled a bid for Congress in 2021, calling himself a “proud Trump supporter” in a Facebook post, according to the New Jersey Globe.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/15/trump-promoted-freedom-fuel-stations-linked-to-ravens-coach-and-commodities-trader-00998334