Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/303226/US-Department-of-Justice-Antitrust-Case-Brief-00750-200356
Timestamp: 2018-06-18 10:24:04
Document Index: 482750857

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3571', '§ 3559', '§ 3583', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 3013', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3612', '§ 3572', '§ 3013', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 1001', '§ 1503', '§ 1621', '§ 1623', '§ 401', '§ 1503', '§ 1621', '§ 1001', '§ 1623', '§ 1503', '§ 401', '§ 240', 'art, 10']

US Department of Justice Antitrust Case Brief - 00750-200356 | United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines | Plea
US Department of Justice Antitrust Case Brief - 00750-200356
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOHN F. CASEWELL, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Criminal No.
02-710 Filed: 09-27-02 Violation: 15 U.S.C. § 1
PLEA AGREEMENT The United States of America and John F. Casewell (“defendant”) hereby enter into the following Plea Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(e)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (“Fed. R. Crim. P.”): RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT 1. The defendant understands his rights: (a) (b) (c) to be represented by an attorney; to be charged by Indictment; as a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, 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 him in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; (d) (e) 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 at which the United States would have to prove every essential element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt for him to be found guilty; (f) 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 at trial; and to appeal the imposition of sentence against him. AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS
The defendant waives the rights set out in Paragraph 1(b)-(h) above, including all
jurisdictional defenses to the prosecution of this case, and agrees voluntarily to consent to the jurisdiction of the United States to prosecute this case against him in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The defendant also waives the right to appeal the imposition of the sentence against him, so long as the sentence imposed is consistent with the recommended sentence contained in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement. Further, 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 District of New Jersey. The Information will charge the defendant with participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the price of carbon cathode block, as defined in the Information, that was sold in the United States and elsewhere beginning at least as early as February 1996 and continuing until at least December 1997, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. 3. 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 4. Had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented 2
evidence to prove the following facts: (a) For purposes of this Plea Agreement, the “relevant period” is that period
at least as early as February 1996 and continuing until at least December 1997. During the relevant period, the defendant was Sales Director of Hepworth Refractories, Ltd., an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United Kingdom and with its principal place of business in Sheffield, England. During the relevant period, Hepworth Refractories, Ltd., was a producer of carbon cathode block and was engaged in the sale of carbon cathode block in the United States and elsewhere. Hepworth Refractories, Ltd., sold carbon cathode block in the United States through it’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Hepworth Refractories, Inc. Carbon cathode block is a carbon product with great strength and resistence to heat and chemical reaction. Because of its superior conductivity properties, it is commonly used in aluminum smelters or pots in the production of primary aluminum in the United States and elsewhere. (b) During the relevant period, the defendant participated in a conspiracy with
other persons and entities engaged in the manufacture and sale of carbon cathode block, the primary purpose of which was to fix the price of carbon cathode block sold in the United States and elsewhere. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant engaged in conversations and attended meetings with representatives of other major carbon cathode block producing firms. During such meetings and conversations, agreements were reached to fix the price of carbon cathode block to be sold in the United States and elsewhere. (c) During the relevant period, carbon cathode block sold by one or more of
the conspirator firms, and equipment and supplies necessary to the production and distribution of carbon cathode block, as well as payments for carbon cathode block, traveled in interstate and
foreign commerce. The business activities of Hepworth Refractories, Ltd., and co-conspirators, in connection with the production and sale of carbon cathode block affected by this conspiracy, were within the flow of, and substantially affected, interstate and foreign trade and commerce. (d) During the relevant period, acts in furtherance of this conspiracy were
carried out within the District of New Jersey. POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE 5. The defendant understands that the maximum penalty which may be imposed
against him upon conviction for a violation of Section One of the Sherman Antitrust Act is: (a) (b) a term of imprisonment for three (3) years (15 U.S.C. § 1); a fine in an amount equal to the greatest of (1) $350,000, (2) twice the
gross pecuniary gain the conspirators derived from the crime, or (3) twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to the victims of the crime by the conspirators (15 U.S.C. § 1; 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b) and (d)); and (c) a term of supervised release of one (1) year following any term of
imprisonment. If the defendant violates any condition of supervised release, the defendant could be imprisoned for the entire term of supervised release (18 U.S.C. § 3559(a)(5); 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b)(3) and (e)(3); and United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.”) § 5D1.2(a)(3)). 6. In addition, the defendant understands that: (a) pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5E1.1, 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) and U.S.S.G. § 5E1.3, the Court is
required to order the defendant to pay a $100.00 special assessment upon conviction for the charged crime. SENTENCING GUIDELINES 7. Sentencing for the offense to be charged will be conducted pursuant to the
U.S.S.G. Manual in effect on the day of sentencing. 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). SENTENCING AGREEMENT 8. Pursuant to Fed R. Crim. P. 11(e)(1)(C), the United States and the defendant
agree that the appropriate disposition of this case is, and agree to recommend jointly that the Court impose, a sentence requiring the defendant to pay to the United States a Guidelines criminal fine of $28,000, payable in installments as set forth below with interest accruing under 18 U.S.C. § 3612(f)(1)-(2) with no incarceration, no probation and no restitution (“the recommended sentence”). The United States and the defendant further agree that for purposes of determining the U.S.S.G. sentence in this case, the volume of affected commerce attributable to defendant's principal is $2,767,000. (a) The United States and the defendant agree to recommend, in the interest of
justice, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3572(d)(1), that the fine be paid in the following installments: within ninety (90) days of imposition of sentence--$7,000 (plus any accrued interest); at one
hundred and eighty (180) days after the imposition of sentence--$7,000 (plus any accrued interest); at two hundred and seventy (270) days after imposition of sentence--$7,000 (plus any accrued interest); and at the one-year anniversary of the imposition of sentence--$7,000 (plus any accrued interest); provided, however, that the defendant shall have the option at any time before the one-year anniversary of prepaying the remaining balance (plus any accrued interest) then owing on the fine. (b) 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) and U.S.S.G. § 5E1.3 in addition to any fine imposed. 9. The United States and the defendant agree that the applicable United States
Sentencing Guidelines recommended range of incarceration exceeds the term contained in the recommended sentence set out in Paragraph 8 above. The United States and the defendant further agree that subject to the full and continuing cooperation of the defendant, as described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and prior to sentencing in this case, the United States will move, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1, for a downward departure from the Guidelines sentence in this case and will request that the Court impose the recommended sentence set out in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement, with no incarceration, because of the defendant's substantial assistance in the Government's investigation and prosecutions of violations of federal criminal law in the carbon cathode block and other industries.
Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant described in
Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and before sentencing in the case, the United States will
fully advise the Court and the Probation Office of the fact, manner, and extent of the defendant’s cooperation and his commitment to prospective cooperation with the United States’ investigation and prosecutions, all material facts relating to the defendant’s involvement in the charged offense, and all other relevant conduct. 11. The United States and the defendant understand that the Court retains complete
discretion to accept or reject the recommended sentence provided for in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement. (a) If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the United States
and the defendant agree that this Plea Agreement, except for Paragraph 11(b) below, shall be rendered void. (b) If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the defendant will
be free to withdraw his guilty plea (Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(4)). If the defendant withdraws his plea of guilty because the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, this Plea Agreement, the guilty plea, and any statement made in the course of any proceedings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 regarding the guilty plea or this Plea Agreement or made in the course of plea discussions with an attorney for the government shall not be admissible against the defendant in any criminal or civil proceeding, except as otherwise provided in Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(6). In addition, the defendant agrees that, if he withdraws his guilty plea pursuant to this subparagraph of the Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations period for the offenses subject to this Plea Agreement will be tolled for the period between the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement and the date the defendant withdrew his guilty plea or for a period of sixty (60) days after the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement, whichever period is greater. For a period of three (3)
consecutive days following such a withdrawal of the guilty plea under this subparagraph, the United States shall take no action, based upon either the offenses subject to this Plea Agreement or any actual or alleged violation of the Plea Agreement, to revoke the defendant’s release on his personal recognizance, to subject the defendant to service of process, arrest or detention, or to prevent the defendant from departing the United States. DEFENDANT’S COOPERATION 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 any cathode block products used in the production of primary aluminum, any other federal investigation resulting therefrom, including but not limited to the investigation of the product industries set forth in Appendix A hereto, 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: (a) producing in the United States and at other mutually agreed-upon
locations all documents, including claimed personal documents, and other materials, wherever located, in the possession, custody, or control of the defendant requested by attorneys and agents of the United States; (b) making himself available for interviews in the United States and at other
mutually agreed-upon locations upon the request of attorneys and agents of the United States; (c) responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United States in
connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely implicating any person or intentionally
withholding any information, subject to the penalties of making false statements or declarations (18 U.S.C. § 1001) or obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503); (d) otherwise voluntarily providing the United States with any material or
information, not requested in (a) - (c) of this paragraph, that he may have that is related to any Federal Proceeding; and (e) 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 in the United States, 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). GOVERNMENT’S 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 of the guilty plea called for by this Plea Agreement and the imposition of the recommended 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 any cathode block products used in the production of primary aluminum and such other products as are set forth in Appendix A hereto. The non-prosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any crime of violence. 14. The United States agrees that when the defendant travels to the United States for
interviews, grand jury appearances, or court appearances pursuant to this Plea Agreement or
meetings with counsel in preparation therefor, the United States will take no action, based upon any offense subject to this Plea Agreement, to subject the defendant to arrest, detention or service of process, or to prevent the defendant from departing the United States. This paragraph does not apply to the defendant’s commission of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements or declarations (18 U.S.C. § 1001), making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1623), obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503), or contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401 - 402) in connection with any testimony or information provided or requested in any Federal Proceeding. 15. (a) Subject to the full and continuing cooperation of the defendant, as
described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and upon the Court’s acceptance of the defendant’s guilty plea and imposition of sentence in this case, the United States agrees not to seek to remove the defendant from the United States under Section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, based upon the defendant’s guilty plea and conviction in this case, should the defendant apply for or obtain admission to the United States as a nonimmigrant (hereinafter referred to as the “agreement not to seek to remove the defendant”). The agreement not to seek to remove the defendant is the equivalent of an agreement not to exclude the defendant from admission to the United States as a nonimmigrant or to deport the defendant from the United States. (Immigration and Nationality Act, § 240(e)(2)). (b) The Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice has
consulted with the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States Department of Justice (“INS”). The INS, in consultation with the United States Department of State, has agreed to the inclusion in this Plea Agreement of this agreement not to seek to remove the defendant.
So that the defendant will be able to obtain any nonimmigrant visa that he
may need to travel to the United States, the INS and the Visa Office, United States Department of State, have concurred in the granting of a nonimmigrant waiver of the defendant’s inadmissibility. This waiver will remain in effect so long as this agreement not to seek to remove the defendant remains in effect. While the waiver remains in effect, the Department of State will not deny the defendant’s application for a nonimmigrant visa on the basis of the defendant’s guilty plea and conviction in this case, and the INS will not deny his application for admission as a nonimmigrant on the basis of his guilty plea and conviction in this case. (d) This agreement not to seek to remove the defendant will remain in effect
so long as the defendant: (i) acts and has acted consistently with his cooperation obligations under this Plea Agreement; (ii) is not convicted of any felony under the laws of the United States or any state, other than the conviction resulting from the defendant’s guilty plea under this Plea Agreement or any conviction under the laws of any state resulting from conduct constituting an offense subject to this Plea Agreement; and (iii) does not engage in any other conduct that would warrant his removal from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The defendant understands that should the Antitrust Division become aware that the defendant has violated any of these conditions, the Antitrust Division will notify the INS. The
INS will then determine, in consultation with the Antitrust Division, whether to rescind this agreement not to seek to remove the defendant. (e) The defendant agrees to notify the Assistant Attorney General of the
Antitrust Division should the defendant be convicted of any other felony under the laws of the United States or of any state. (f) Should the United States rescind this agreement not to seek to remove the
defendant because of the defendant’s violation of a condition of this Plea Agreement, the defendant irrevocably waives his right to contest his removal from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act on the basis of his guilty plea and conviction in this case, but retains his right to notice of removal proceedings. 16. The defendant understands that he may be subject to administrative action by
federal or state agencies other than the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, based upon the conviction resulting from this Plea Agreement, and that this Plea Agreement in no way controls whatever action, if any, other agencies may take. However, the United States agrees that, if requested, it will advise the appropriate officials of any governmental agency considering such 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.
REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL 17. The defendant has reviewed all legal and factual aspects of this case with his
attorney and is fully satisfied with his attorney’s legal representation. The defendant has thoroughly reviewed this Plea Agreement with his attorney and has received satisfactory explanations from his attorney concerning each paragraph of this Plea Agreement and alternatives available to the defendant other than entering into this Plea Agreement. After conferring with his attorney and considering all available alternatives, the defendant has made a knowing and voluntary decision to enter into this Plea Agreement. VOLUNTARY PLEA 18. The defendant’s decision to enter into this Plea Agreement and to tender a plea of
guilty is freely and voluntarily made and is not the result of force, threats, assurances, promises, or representations other than the representations contained in this Plea Agreement. The United States has made no promises or representations to the defendant as to whether the Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained within this Plea Agreement. VIOLATION OF PLEA AGREEMENT 19. The defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good faith,
during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending, that the defendant has failed to provide full and truthful cooperation, as described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, or has 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 may also notify his counsel by telephone of its intention to void any of its obligations under this Plea Agreement (except its obligations under this paragraph), and the defendant shall be
subject to prosecution for any federal crime of which the United States has knowledge including, but not limited to, the substantive offenses relating to the investigation resulting in this Plea Agreement. The defendant may seek Court review of any determination made by the United States under this paragraph to void any of its obligations under the Plea Agreement. The defendant agrees that, in the event that the United States is released from its obligations under this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against the defendant for any offense referred to in Paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations period will be tolled for such offense for the period between the date of the signing of this 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. 20. 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, information, testimony, or evidence provided by him to attorneys or agents of the United States, federal grand juries, or courts, and any leads derived therefrom, may be used against him in any such further prosecution. In addition, the defendant unconditionally waives his right to challenge the use of such evidence in any such further prosecution, notwithstanding the protections of Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(6) and Fed. R. Evid. 410.
ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT 21. 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. 22. The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized by the
Attorney General of the United States to enter this Plea Agreement on behalf of the United States. DATED: 09-13-02 Respectfully submitted /s/ ______________________________ JOHN F. CASEWELL Defendant /s/ _______________________________ ROBERT L. HICKOK, ESQUIRE Counsel for John F. Casewell /s/ ________________________________ EDWARD S. PANEK PEDRO DE LA TORRE Attorneys, U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division 170 S. Independence Mall West The Curtis Center, Suite 650 West Philadelphia, PA 19106 Tel: (215) 597-7401
APPENDIX A TO THE PLEA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JOHN F. CASEWELL The protections afforded and the obligations imposed by the terms of the Plea Agreement between the United States and John F. Casewell regarding Mr. Casewell’s participation in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition in the sale of carbon cathode block (including Paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Plea Agreement) shall pertain with equal force to Mr. Casewell’s participation in and/or information regarding any antitrust conspiracy involving the manufacture or sale of the following products: 1. 2. [Redacted] [Redacted]
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