WASHINGTON (July 29, 2008) – Italy's Manuli Rubber Industries Ltd., the president of its former U.S. subsidiary and the manager of Parker ITR S.R.L.'s oil and gas business unit have pleaded guilty to participating in price-fixing.
Robert L. Furness of Manuli will serve 14 months in jail and pay a $75,000 criminal fine, and Giovanni Scodeggio of Parker ITR will serve a sentence yet to be determined and pay a $20,000 fine, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Manuli will pay a fine of $2 million.
Both Manuli and Furness also agreed to cooperate fully in the department's ongoing antitrust investigation. Manuli is the first corporation to be charged in the investigation.
Three other Manuli executives have been charged for their roles in the conspiracy.
Charles J. Gillespie, a former regional sales manager, pleaded guilty in May, and has yet to be sentenced. Francesco Scaglia, the deputy manager of Manuli's Oil & Marine Division, and Val M. Northcutt, another regional sales manager, were indicted in September 2007 in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in the conspiracy.
The case is scheduled for trial in West Palm Beach, Florida, in October.