Second ex-’K’ Line executive sentenced to prison

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A former “K” Line executive has become the second to plead guilty and be sentenced to prison for involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices for roll-on, roll-off shipments of vehicles to and from the U.S.

Takashi Yamaguchi, who was a general manager and executive officer in “K” Line’s car carrier division, was sentenced Friday to 14 months in prison. Another former “K” Line executive drew an 18-month sentence in the case a week earlier.

Yamaguchi admitted conspiring to allocate customers and routes, rig bids and fix prices for the sale of international ocean shipments of roll-on, roll-off cargo to and from the United States and elsewhere, between July 2006 and April 2010.

After pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison and fined $20,000. The Justice Department said Yamaguchi has agreed to assist the department in its continuing investigation.

Previously, three corporations have agreed to plead guilty and to pay criminal fines totaling more than $136 million, including “K” Line, which was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $67.7 million in November 2014.