Source: http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f215400/215454.htm
Timestamp: 2014-03-07 22:25:55
Document Index: 474539019

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 3563', '§ 3663', '§ 3013', '§ 3553', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3571', '§ 3013', '§ 8', '§ 5', '§ 1621', '§ 1623', '§ 401', '§ 1503', '§ 1001', '§ 1503']

Plea Agreement : U.S. v. Builder's Concrete & Supply Co., Inc.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BUILDER'S CONCRETE & SUPPLY CO., INC. Defendant.
| FILED:	MARCH 30, 2006	IP 06-54-CR-01 M/F	PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States of America and Builder's Concrete & Supply Co., Inc. ("the defendant"),
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Indiana, hereby enter into the following Plea
Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure ("Fed. R.
beyond a reasonable doubt for it to be found guilty;
1(b)-(f) above. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), the defendant will waive Indictment and plead
ready mixed concrete was sold in the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area beginning in or about
July, 2000 and continuing until May 25, 2004 in violation of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1.
3.	The defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will plead guilty to the
from in or about July, 2000 and continuing until May 25, 2004. During the Relevant Period, the
defendant was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Indiana with its principal
place of business in Fishers, Indiana. During the Relevant Period, the defendant was a producer of
ready mixed concrete and was engaged in the sale of ready mixed concrete in the Indianapolis,
Indiana metropolitan area and elsewhere. Ready mixed concrete is a product whose ingredients
include cement, aggregate (sand and gravel), water, and, at times, other additives. Ready mixed
concrete is made on demand and, if necessary, is shipped to work sites by concrete mixer trucks. During the Relevant Period, the defendant, through some of its officers and
other persons and entities engaged in the production and sale of ready mixed concrete, the primary
purpose of which was to fix the price of ready mixed concrete sold in the Indianapolis, Indiana
metropolitan area. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant, through its officers and
employees, engaged in conversations and attended meetings with representatives of other ready
mixed concrete producers in the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area. During those meetings
and conversations, the defendant and its co-conspirators reached agreements to fix the price at
which ready mixed concrete was to be sold in the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendant's President on at least
two occasions hosted meetings among the conspirators at which prices, discounts, and conditions
of sale for the metropolitan Indianapolis, Indiana area were discussed and agreed upon by the
defendant and its coconspirators. Those meetings were held in a horse barn located adjacent to the
defendant's President's home on property he owns in Fishers, Indiana. The defendant's President
also made numerous telephone calls and participated in several meetings among smaller numbers
of individuals to ensure the compliance of his coconspirators with the conspiracy agreements. In
addition to the defendant and its President, more than five individuals associated with the
defendant's corporate coconspirators participated in the conspiracy on behalf of the companies they
owned or by which they were employed. During the Relevant Period, the corporate conspirators purchased substantial
quantities of equipment and supplies from outside Indiana which were necessary to the production
and distribution of ready mixed concrete. During the Relevant Period, the business activities of the
corporate conspirators who produced and sold ready mixed concrete affected by this conspiracy
were within the flow of, or substantially affected, interstate trade and commerce.
Acts in furtherance of this conspiracy, including the conspiratorial meetings
and conversations described above, were carried out within the Southern District of Indiana. In
addition, sales of ready mixed concrete affected by this conspiracy were made by one or more of
the conspirators to customers within the Southern District of Indiana.
5. The defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty which may be
imposed against it upon conviction for a violation of Section One of the Sherman Act completed
prior to June 22, 2004 is a fine in an amount equal to the greatest of:
pursuant to Section 8B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G.," "Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines"), 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(2), or 18
U.S.C. § 3663(a)(3), the Court may order it to pay restitution to the victims of the offense;
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B), the Court is required to order it to
pay a $400.00 special assessment upon conviction for the charged crime; and
probation of at least one year, but no more than five years.
defendant understands and agrees that the Guidelines determinations will be made by the Court by
a preponderance of the evidence standard. The defendant further understands and agrees that
although the Court is not ultimately bound to impose a sentence within the applicable advisory
Guidelines range, its sentence must be reasonable based upon consideration of all relevant
sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8, the United
attributable to the defendant or to determine the defendant's applicable Guidelines range, except to
the extent provided in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8(b).
8.	Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(B), the defendant will recommend that it be
sentenced to pay a fine to the United States of no less than $1.5 million and the United States will
recommend that the defendant be sentenced to pay a fine to the United States of no more than
$11.5 million ("Recommended Fine Range"). Once the Court has determined the fine amount,
both parties are free to argue as to the appropriate payment schedule. The United States contends
that had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented evidence to prove that the
gain derived from or the loss resulting from the charged offense is sufficient to justify a fine of
$11.5 million, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d). For purposes of this plea and sentencing only, the
defendant waives its rights to contest this calculation. In light of civil cases filed, which potentially
provide for a recovery of a multiple of actual damages, the United States agrees that it will not seek
a restitution order for the offense charged in the Information. The defendant understands that the
Court will order it to pay a $400 special assessment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B) in
addition to any fine imposed.
9.	The United States and the defendant agree that the applicable Guidelines fine range
exceeds the fine range contained in the Recommended Fine Range set out in Paragraph 8 above. The United States and the defendant further agree that the Recommended Fine Range is
appropriate, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 8C3.3(b), due to the inability of the defendant to pay a fine
greater than that recommended without substantially jeopardizing its continued viability.
10.	The United States and the defendant agree that there exists no aggravating or
United States Sentencing Commission in formulating the Sentencing Guidelines that should result
in a departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0. The United States and the defendant also agree not to
seek or support any sentence outside of the advisory Guidelines range nor any Guidelines
adjustment for any reason that is not set forth in this Plea Agreement. The United States and the
defendant further agree that the Recommended Fine Range set forth in this Plea Agreement is
reasonable. 11.	Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant
described in paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, and before sentencing in the case, the United
States will fully advise the Court and the United States Probation Office of the fact, manner, and
extent of the defendant's cooperation and its commitment to prospective cooperation with the
involvement in the charged offense, and all other relevant conduct. To enable the Court to have
the benefit of all relevant sentencing information, the United States may request that sentencing be
postponed until its cooperation is complete. 12.	The United States and the defendant understand that the Court retains complete
discretion to accept or reject the Recommended Fine Range provided for in paragraph 8 of this
the Court does not impose a sentence consistent with the Recommended Fine Range contained in
this Agreement, it nevertheless has no right to withdraw its plea of guilty. DEFENDANT'S COOPERATION
antitrust and related criminal laws involving the manufacture and sale of ready mixed concrete, any
other federal investigation resulting therefrom, and any litigation or other proceedings arising or
resulting from any such investigation to which the United States is a party ("Federal Proceeding"). The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant shall include, but not be limited to:
the defendant, requested by attorneys and agents of the United States;
using its best efforts to secure the ongoing, full and truthful cooperation, as
defined in paragraph 14 of this Plea Agreement, of the current and former directors,
excluding Gus B. Nuckols III, a/k/a Butch Nuckols, John Blatzheim, and Timothy Kuebler,
including making these persons available, at the defendant's expense, for interviews and the
provision of testimony in grand jury, trial and other judicial proceedings in connection with
any Federal Proceeding as described above. 14.	The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of each person described in paragraph
documents, and other materials, requested by attorneys and agents of the United States;
making himself or herself available for interviews, not at the expense of the
any Federal Proceeding as defined above;
Federal Proceeding as defined above, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings, fully, truthfully, and under oath, subject to the penalties of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1623), contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401 - 402), and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503); and
agreeing that, if the agreement not to prosecute him or her in this Plea Agreement is rendered void under paragraph 16(c), the statute of limitations will be tolled
as to him or her for any Relevant Offense as defined in paragraph 15 will be tolled for the
15.	Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea Agreement
and the imposition of a sentence within the Recommended Fine Range, and subject to the
cooperation requirements of paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, the United States agrees that it
will not bring further criminal charges against the defendant for any act or offense committed on or
before the date of this Plea Agreement that was undertaken in furtherance of an antitrust conspiracy
metropolitan area. The non-prosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of any
Agreement and the imposition of a sentence within the Recommended Fine Range and
subject to the exceptions noted in Paragraph 16(c), the United States will not bring criminal
charges against any current or former director, officer, or employee of the defendant for any
act or offense committed before the date of this Plea Agreement and while that person was
furtherance of an Antitrust conspiracy involving the manufacture and sale of ready mixed
concrete in the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area, except that the protections granted
in this paragraph shall not apply to Gus B. Nuckols III, a/k/a Butch Nuckols, John
Blatzheim, or Timothy Kuebler;
Proceeding, the United States may request that person's cooperation under the terms of this
Plea Agreement by written request delivered to counsel for the individual (with a copy to
the undersigned counsel for the defendant) or, if the individual is not known by the United
States to be represented, to the undersigned counsel for the defendant;
If any person requested to provide cooperation under paragraph 13(b) fails to
comply with his or her obligations under paragraph 14, then the terms of this Plea
Except as provided in paragraph 16(e), information provided by a person
(18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1623), or obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503);	If any person who provides information to the United States under this Plea
Agreement fails to comply fully with his or her obligations under paragraph 14 of this Plea
Agreement, the agreement in paragraph 16(d) not to use that information or any
information directly or indirectly derived from it against that person in a criminal case shall
Documents provided under paragraphs 13(a) and 14(a) shall be deemed
responsive to outstanding grand jury subpoenas issued to the defendant. 17.	The defendant understands that it may be subject to administrative action by federal
or state agencies other than the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, based upon
administrative action of the fact, manner, and extent of the cooperation of the defendant as a matter
for that agency to consider before determining what administrative action, if any, to take.
18.	The defendant has reviewed all legal and factual aspects of this case with its
attorney and is fully satisfied with its attorney's legal representation. The defendant has thoroughly
reviewed this Plea Agreement with its attorney and has received satisfactory explanations from its
attorney concerning each paragraph of this Plea Agreement and alternatives available to the
defendant other than entering into this Plea Agreement. After conferring with its attorney and
considering all available alternatives, the defendant has made a knowing and voluntary decision to
20.	The defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good
notify its counsel by telephone of its intention to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement
(except its obligations under this paragraph), and, thereafter, the defendant shall be subject to
this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against the defendant for any offense referred to
in Paragraph 15 of this Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations for such offense will be tolled for
the period between the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the date
the United States gave notice of its intent to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement or the
date that the court rules that this Plea Agreement is null and void, whichever is later. 21.	The defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution of it resulting
from the release of the United States from its obligations under this Plea Agreement based on the
or evidence provided by it to attorneys or agents of the United States, federal grand juries, or
courts, and any leads derived therefrom, may be used against it in any such further prosecution. In
22.	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 Plea Agreement
cannot be modified except in writing, signed by the United States and the defendant.
defendant as evidenced by the Resolution of the Board of Directors of the defendant attached
hereto and incorporated by reference in this Plea Agreement. See Attachment A.
24.	The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized by the
DATED: 3/30/06
GUS B. NUCKOLS III	President	Builder's Concrete & Supply Co., Inc. _______________/s/________________ C. JOSEPH RUSSELL	Counsel for Builder's Concrete &
_______________/s/________________ JONATHAN A. EPSTEIN _______________/s/________________
ERIC L. SCHLEEF Attorneys, U.S. Department of Justice
Fax: 312.353.1046	Attachment A
Resolutions of the Board of Directors of Builder's Concrete & Supply Co., Inc.
On March 28 , 2006, after discussion, the Board of Directors of Builder's
Concrete & Supply Co., Inc., composed of Gus B. Nuckols, II only unanimously approved the following resolutions:
-The execution, delivery and performance of the Plea Agreement between Builder's
Concrete & Supply Co., Inc. and the United States Department of Justice, in substantially
the form of the presented draft, as appended hereto as Attachment A, is hereby approved.
-Gus B. Nuckols III, President of Builder's Concrete & Supply Co., Inc., is hereby
authorized and directed to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of Builder's
Concrete & Supply Co., Inc. the Plea Agreement.
-Gus B. Nuckols III is hereby authorized to represent Builder's Concrete & Supply Co.,
Inc. At any hearing in order to waive any and all rights of Builder's Concrete & Supply Co.,
Inc. referred to in the Plea Agreement and to plead "Guilty" in accordance with the
provisions of the Plea Agreement in the name, and on behalf, of Builder's Concrete &
-Gus B. Nuckols III is hereby authorized and empowered to take any and all actions
required or appropriate in order to carry out the intent and purpose of the preceding