WASHINGTON (April 18, 2008) — Another marine hose sales executive — the eighth so far — has pleaded guilty in an ongoing marine hose cartel case brought by the U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
Charles J. Gillespie, a former regional manager for Manuli Rubber Industries S.p.A. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty in Houston federal district court to one count of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by participating in a plan to fix prices, rig bids and allocate market shares in the marine hose market in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Under the deal, which is subject to court approval, Gillespie will serve a year and a day in prison, pay a $20,000 fine and cooperate fully with Justice Department investigators. Charges still are pending against four other marine hose executives. Two of them — Francesco Scaglia and Val M. Northcutt, both of Manuli — are set to go to trial in May before the Fort Lauderdale federal district court.