Source: http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f241300/241397.htm
Timestamp: 2014-04-17 07:28:06
Document Index: 748822128

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3742', '§ 2241', '§ 2255', '§ 3742', '§ 3571', '§ 3559', '§ 3583', '§5', '§ 3583', '§5', '§ 3663', '§ 3013', '§1', '§1', '§ 6', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§2', '§\n3013', '§ 1001', '§ 1503', '§ 401', '§ 1503']

Plea Agreement : U.S. v. Manuli Rubber Industries, S.p.A. and Robert L. Furness
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. ROBERT L. FURNESS,
FILED by KZ D.C.
S.D. OF FLA. - W.P.D.
The United States of America and Robert L. Furness ("defendant") hereby enter into the
to be represented by an attorney; to be charged by Indictment; to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against him; to have a trial by jury, at which he would be presumed not guilty of the charge and the United States would have to prove every essential element of the charged
offense beyond a reasonable doubt for him to be found guilty; to confront and cross-examine witnesses against him and to subpoena witnesses in his defense at trial; not to be compelled to incriminate himself; to appeal his conviction, if he is found guilty; and to appeal the imposition of sentence against him. AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY
U.S.C. § 3742 or a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 or § 2255, that challenges the sentence imposed
does not affect the rights or obligations of the United States as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742(b)-(c). Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), the defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at
Southern District of Florida. The Information will does charge the defendant with participating in a
combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids, fixing prices,
and allocating market shares for sales of marine hose sold in the United States and elsewhere,
beginning at least as early as 2000 and continuing until as late as May 2, 2007 in unreasonable
restraint of foreign and interstate trade and commerce in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15
For purposes of this Plea Agreement, the "relevant period" is that period beginning at least as early as 1999 and continuing until as late as May 2, 2007. From the
beginning of the relevant period until approximately December 31, 2006, the defendant
was the president of a subsidiary corporation of Manuli Rubber Industries SpA ("Manuli")
with its principal place of business in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From on or around
January 1, 2007 until the end of the relevant period, the defendant worked as a consultant
for Manuli. During the relevant period, Manuli was a manufacturer of marine hose and
was engaged in the sale of marine hose in the United States and elsewhere. Marine hose is
a flexible rubber hose used to transfer oil between tankers and storage facilities and/or
buoys. During the relevant period, the volume of commerce attributable to the defendant
was greater than $10 million, but less than $40 million. During the relevant period, co-conspirators of the defendant entered into and engaged in a conspiracy, the primary purpose of which was to suppress and eliminate
competition by rigging bids, fixing prices and allocating market shares for sales of marine hose sold in the United States and elsewhere. The defendant joined and participated in the
conspiracy from at least as early as 2000 until as late as May 2, 2007. In furtherance of the
conspiracy, the defendant attended meetings and engaged in discussions with executives
from other marine hose manufacturers, and with an individual who acted as the coordinator
of the cartel. During such meetings and discussions, the defendant and co-conspirators
agreed to rig bids, fix prices and allocate market shares for the sale of marine hose in the
United States and elsewhere. Each of the conspiring manufacturers provided a
co-conspirator, who acted as a coordinator, with information about upcoming marine hose
jobs. The coordinator then designated, based on rules agreed to by the conspirators, which
of the conspiring manufacturers would win the job, referring to the winning conspirator as "champion." After the champion had been designated, the coordinator provided the other
designated champion would win the job. During the relevant period, marine hose sold by one or more of the
the manufacture and/or sale of marine hose affected by this conspiracy were within the flow of, and substantially affected, interstate and foreign trade and commerce. Acts in furtherance of this conspiracy were carried out within the Southern District of Florida within the relevant period. Manuli has operations in
Broward County. In addition, on at least one occasion, members of the conspiracy,
including the defendant, attended a meeting in Monroe County during which the
conspirators discussed the implementation of the conspiracy. Both Broward and Monroe
counties are within the Southern District of Florida. POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
5.	The defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty which may be imposed against him upon conviction for a violation of Section One of the Sherman Antitrust Act as alleged in Case 08-60198 Hurley/Vitunac is:
18 U.S.C. § 3571(b) and (d)); and a term of supervised release of three (3) years following any term of imprisonment (18 U.S.C. § 3559(a)(3); 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b)(2); and United States
§5D1.2(a)(2)). If the defendant violates any condition of supervised release, the defendant could be imprisoned for up to two (2) years (18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3)). 6.	In addition, the defendant understands that:
pursuant to U.S.S.G. §5E1.1 or 18 U.S.C. § 3663(a)(3), the Court may order him to pay restitution to the victims of the offense; and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(A), the Court is required to order the defendant to pay a $100.00 special assessment upon conviction for the charged crime. SENTENCING GUIDELINES
3553(a). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. §1B1.8, the United States agrees that self-incriminating information
that the defendant provides to the United States pursuant to this Plea Agreement will not be used to
increase the volume of affected commerce attributable to the defendant or in determining the
defendant's applicable Guidelines range, except to the extent provided in U.S.S.G. §1B1.8(b). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 6B1.4, the United States and the defendant enter into the following
The base offense level for the offense to which the defendant is pleading
guilty, as established by U.S.S.G. § 2R1.1(a), is 12. The offense to which the defendant is pleading guilty involved participation
in an agreement to submit non-competitive bids, within the meaning of U.S.S.G. § 2R1.1(b)(1), which increases the offense level by 1. The volume of commerce attributable to the defendant within the meaning of
U.S.S.G. § 2R1.1(b)(2) is more than $10,000,000, but less than $40,000,000, which
increases the offense level by 4. Based on the defendant's role in the offense, a 3-level increase in the offense level is appropriate pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b). For purposes of U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, a 3-level reduction of the offense level
then the United States shall no longer be bound by this stipulation. Based on the foregoing, defendant's adjusted offense level for the offense to
which he is pleading guilty is 17. The Guidelines sentencing range for offense level 17 is
24 to 30 months imprisonment. The defendant's appropriate Guidelines fine range within
the meaning of §2R1.1(c)(1) is $210,000 to $1,050,000. SENTENCING AGREEMENT
8.	Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(B), the United States and the defendant agree
impose a sentence requiring the defendant to serve a period of imprisonment of fourteen (14)
months and require the defendant to pay to the United States a criminal fine of $75,000, payable in
full before the fifteenth (15th) day after the date of judgment ("the recommended sentence"). The
seek or support any sentence outside of the Guidelines range or any Guidelines adjustment for any
sentence set forth in this Plea Agreement is reasonable. The United States agrees that it will not
seek an order of restitution because of the availability of civil causes of action. The defendant
understands that the Court will order him to pay a $100 special assessment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §
3013(a)(2)(A) in addition to any fine imposed.
9.	The United States and the defendant agree that the applicable Guidelines incarceration and fine ranges exceed the term of imprisonment and fine contained in the
criminal law in the marine hose industry.
charged offense, and all other relevant conduct. The United States may request, and the defendant
will not oppose, that sentencing be postponed until his cooperation is complete.
12.	The defendant will cooperate fully and truthfully with the United States in the prosecution of this case, the conduct of the current federal investigation of violations
of federal antitrust and related criminal laws involving the manufacture or sale of marine hose, any
the defendant, requested by attorneys and agents of the United States; making himself available for interviews, not at the expense of the United
States, upon the request of attorneys and agents of the United States; responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United States in connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely implicating any person or
statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.); otherwise voluntarily providing the United States with any non-privileged material or information, not requested in (a) - (c) of this paragraph, that he may have that is
related to any Federal Proceeding; and when called upon to do so by the United States in connection with any Federal Proceeding, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings, fully,
contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401 - 402), and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.). UNITED STATES' AGREEMENT
13.	Subject to the full, truthful, and continuing cooperation of the defendant, as described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and upon the Court's acceptance
sentence, the United States will not bring further criminal charges against the defendant for any act
or offense committed before the date of this Plea Agreement that was undertaken in furtherance of
an antitrust conspiracy involving the manufacture or sale of marine hose ("Relevant Offense"). The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of any kind, to any
15.	The defendant has reviewed all legal and factual aspects of this case with his attorneys and is fully satisfied with his attorneys' legal representation. The defendant has
thoroughly reviewed this Plea Agreement with his attorneys and has received satisfactory
whether the Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained within this Plea Agreement.
otherwise violated any provision of this Plea Agreement, the United States will notify the defendant or his counsel in writing by personal or overnight delivery or facsimile transmission and
this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against the defendant for any Relevant Offense, the statute of limitations period for such offense shall be tolled for the period between the date of
the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the date the United States gave gives notice of
its intent to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement. 18.	The defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution of him resulting from the release of the United States from its obligations under this Plea
Agreement based on the defendant's violation of the Plea Agreement, any documents, statements,
the use of such evidence in any such further prosecution, notwithstanding the protections of Fed. R.
Evid. 410.
19.	This Plea Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the United States and the defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal charge in this case. This
21.	A facsimile signature shall be deemed an original signature for the purpose of executing this Plea Agreement. Multiple signature pages are authorized for the purpose
_______________/s/________________ Robert L. Furness	Defendant _______________/s/________________ 7/24/08 Stephen Pave, Esq.	7600 Red Road, Suite 200	South Miami, FL 33143-5408	305-661-1984	Counsel for Defendant July 24, 2008