ICE PACKAGING COMPANY AND ITS EXECUTIVES PLEAD GUILTY TO CUSTOMER ALLOCATION CONSPIRACY

On October 13, 2009, Arctic Glacier International (“AGI”) and three of its former executives, Frank Larson (former senior VP of operations), Keith Corbin (former VP of sales), and Gary Cooley (former VP of sales and marketing), pled guilty for their role in a conspiracy to allocate customers of packaged-ice in the Detroit metropolitan area and southeastern Michigan. The company agreed to pay a criminal fine of $9 million.

According to the Department of Justice (“DOJ), AGI took part in this anticompetitive behavior from 2001 to 2007. Specifically, Mr. Larson and Mr. Corbin were involved in the same conspiracy between March 1, 2005 and July 17, 2007. Mr. Cooley took part in the conspiracy between June 1, 2006 and July 17, 2007.

According to the charges, AGI and its former executives conspired with another ice packaging to company to allocate customers of packaged ice by exchanging information for the purpose of adhering to the agreed customer allocations and refraining from competing for the allocated customers.

AGI and its former executives have agreed to cooperate in the DOJ’s ongoing investigation.

Andre Barlow
(202) 589-1834
abarlow@dbmlawgroup.com