JOC Staff | Jan 24, 2013 1:15PM EST
The antitrust conspiracy trial of former Sea Star Lines CEO Frank Peake, accused of involvement in price-fixing by carriers between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico, is nearing the end of its second week.
Peake was indicted in November 2011. His trial began in San Juan on Jan. 14, following jury selection. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel R. Dominguez is presiding.
Witnesses have included Peter Baci, former senior vice president of Sea Star, and Gabriel Serra, who was senior vice president and general manager for Puerto Rico services at Horizon Lines.
Baci and Serra were among five former Sea Star and Horizon officials who pleaded guilty to antitrust violations or hiding evidence.
Sea Star, Horizon and Crowley Liner Services pleaded guilty to criminal antitrust violations for fixing prices between 2002 and 2008, when the FBI raided carriers’ offices.
The three lines paid a total of more than $46 million in criminal penalties in addition to more than $57 million in class-action civil settlements to direct or indirect customers, in addition to civil settlements with individual customers.
