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US: DOJ’s largest antitrust probe likely to earn even more guilty pleas

By  |  September 30, 2013

As part of the US Department of Justice’s largest antitrust case, nine auto parts companies and two executives have already pleaded guilty to bid-rigging charges. But as the case begins to wind down, reports say additional guilty pleas are likely to come in.

The DOJ announced that nine car parts suppliers agreed to a $740 million fine and a guilty plea to bid-rigging charges, adding to the more than $1.6 billion in fines issued in the case since September 2011.

But an antitrust lawyer advising several companies accused in the DOJ’s case says that even more guilty pleas will likely be entered, as the nine that agreed to the fines last week had co-conspirators.

Reports say, however, that the DOJ is using an extensive leniency program for firms that implicate others in the bid-rigging cartel.

Full Content: Automotive News

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