BENTON — The Justice Department announced today that the owners and operators of the Williams Trailer Court mobile home park in Marion have agreed to pay $75,000 to settle allegations that they discriminated against African Americans and families with children, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. The settlement was approved today by the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

The settlement agreement resolves a lawsuit alleging that the owners and operators of the park violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent mobile homes to African Americans and families with children.

The lawsuit is based on the results of testing conducted by the department’s fair housing testing program. The testing conducted by the department revealed that the manager and part owner of the park, Lyle Williams, falsely told African

Americans inquiring about renting mobile homes that no homes were available, while telling white home-seekers that such mobile homes were available.

The testing also revealed that Williams unlawfully discouraged families with children from living there. In addition to Lyle Williams, the lawsuit also names as defendants the park’s other two owners, Kyle Williams and David Williams.

Under the terms of the settlement, defendants will establish a settlement fund in the amount of $45,000 to compensate victims of the discriminatory practices.

Defendants also will pay $30,000 in civil penalties to the United States. In addition, the agreement requires defendants to implement a nondiscrimination policy, establish new nondiscriminatory application and rental procedures, and undergo training on the Fair Housing Act.