DOJ Criminal Cartel Enforcement: Six-Month Summary

This is the first in what we expect to be a series of updates on DOJ criminal actions in the cartel area. Here, we look at highlights over the last six months in the DOJ's investigations of the auto parts industry, LIBOR, and municipal real estate auctions.

Auto Parts

According to the DOJ, its investigation into price-fixing and bid-rigging in the auto parts industry has netted over $2 billion in fines and is the largest criminal investigation the Antitrust Division has ever pursued. In recent months, the DOJ has secured guilty pleas and sentences from Japanese and U.S.-based manufacturers for cartels relating to a wide range of automobile components.

Hitachi Metals Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $1.25 Million in Fines