On December 6, 2013, a federal judge sentenced the former president of SeaStar Line LLC to five years in prison for his role in a price-fixing conspiracy – the longest-ever prison sentence imposed for an antitrust violation.  (U.S. v. Frank Peake, Case No. 3:11-cr-00512, U.S. Dist. Ct., DPR.).  The executive was convicted of engaging in a conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges to government and commercial customers for ocean freight between the Continental U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The five year sentence is not the only significant sentence imposed as a result of the conspiracy.  Other participants have received sentences of four years, 34 months, 29 months and 20 months, and more prosecutions are underway.  In addition, the three companies involved, SeaStar, Horizon Lines LLC and Crowley Liner Services have been ordered to pay more than $46 million in criminal fines.