UK Members of Marine Hose Cartel Plead Guilty

The two Dunlop Oil and Marine executives and the Lincolnshire based consultant charged in the US for their participation in a price fixing cartel have entered a guilty plea. The one-count felony charges were laid in a Houston court on December 5, and the three men subsequently filed court documents detailing their plea arrangements. The pleas will be entered on December 12.

While the maximum penalty for the charge against the three men is ten years in prison and a US$1 million fine, the guilty plea has paved the way for lighter sentences. Consultant Peter Whittle has agreed to serve 30 months in prison and pay a fine of $100,000; Bryan Allison will serve two years and pay $100,000; David Brammar has agreed to a 20 month sentence and will pay a $75,000 fine. All three men have requested to serve their sentences in the UK.

According to Michael Ramsey, the lawyer representing Bryan Allison, the price fixing cartel did not originate with his client and the other members. “This has been going on since the 1970s, on an on-and-off basis,” he said. “In 2000, these guys inherited the scheme when they took their jobs.’”

Mr. Ramsey added that the three men may also be fined by the European Union for their participation in the cartel.