Source: http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f234200/234211.htm
Timestamp: 2014-11-27 12:10:37
Document Index: 471470348

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 3742', '§ 3742', '§ 1', '§2', '§1']

Plea Agreement : U.S. v. The Home City Ice Company
WESTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. THE HOME CITY ICE COMPANY, Defendant. )
) Criminal No. CR-1-07-140
FILED UNDER SEAL Lifted 6/17/08 Filed: 6/17/08
Violation: 15 U.S.C. § 1 PLEA AGREEMENT The United States of America and The Home City Ice Company ("defendant"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Ohio, hereby enter into the following Plea Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure ("Fed. R. Crim. P."): RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT The defendant understands its rights: to be represented by an attorney; to be charged by Indictment; as a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Ohio, to decline to accept service of the Summons in this case, and to contest the jurisdiction of the United States to prosecute this case against it in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio; to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against it; to have a trial by jury, at which it 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 it to be found guilty; to confront and cross-examine witnesses against it and to subpoena witnesses in its defense at trial;
to appeal its conviction if it is found guilty; and to appeal the imposition of sentence against it. AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS The defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out in Paragraph 1(b)-(g) above. The defendant also knowingly and voluntarily waives the right to file any appeal, any collateral attack, or any other writ or motion, including but not limited to an appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742, that challenges the sentence imposed by the Court if that sentence is consistent with or below the applicable guidelines range in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement, regardless of how the sentence is determined by the Court. This agreement does not affect the rights or obligations of the United States as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742. Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall act as a bar to the defendant perfecting any legal remedies it may otherwise have on appeal or collateral attack respecting claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), the defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment to a one-count Information to be filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Information will charge the defendant with participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by agreeing with other packaged ice manufacturers to allocate customers and territories in southeastern Michigan and the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area, beginning at least as early as January 1, 2001 until July 17, 2007, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. The defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will plead guilty to the criminal charge described in Paragraph 2 above and will make a factual admission of guilt to the Court in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, as set forth in Paragraph 4 below. FACTUAL BASIS FOR OFFENSE CHARGED Had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented evidence sufficient to prove the following facts: For purposes of this Plea Agreement, the "relevant period" is that period beginning at least as early as January 1, 2001 until July 17, 2007. During the relevant period, the defendant was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Ohio and was doing business in multiple states with its principal place of business in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the relevant period, the defendant was a producer of packaged ice in multiple states and was engaged in the sale of packaged ice. Packaged ice is marketed as a high-grade ice for human consumption and is sold in varying sizes, blocks, big bags and small bags. The high volume sizes are big bags, which range from 20 pounds to 25 pounds and small bags, which typically contain 7 pounds of packaged ice.
The parties agree that the defendant employed more than 200, but less than 1000 individuals. During the relevant period, the defendant, through its officers and employees, but primarily through its deceased vice-president of sales and marketing, participated in a conspiracy among packaged ice producers, the primary purpose of which was to allocate customers and territories of packaged ice sold in southeastern Michigan and the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area. In furtherance of the conspiratorial activity, the defendant, through its officers and employees, primarily through its deceased vice president of sales and marketing, engaged in discussions and attended meetings with representatives of other packaged ice producers. During these discussions and meetings, agreements were reached to allocate customers and territories of packaged ice to be sold in southeastern Michigan and the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area. Pursuant to U.S.S.G. §2R1.1 and U.S.S.G. §1B1.3, the parties agree that the defendant's volume of commerce affected by its conspiratorial conduct was at least $100 million. uring the relevant period, packaged ice sold by one or more of the conspirator firms, and equipment and supplies necessary to the production and distribution of packaged ice, as well as pay