Short Answer: Federal antitrust violations under the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1-2) carry severe penalties including up to 10 years in federal prison for individuals, fines up to $100 million for corporations, and treble damages in civil suits. The DOJ Antitrust Division actively prosecutes price-fixing, bid-rigging, market allocation, and monopolization schemes. An experienced federal antitrust defense attorney can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
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Federal antitrust prosecutions — price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation — carry severe penalties including prison time. These cases are built on economic evidence, cooperating witnesses, and corporate documents.
Not every agreement between competitors violates the Sherman Act. Per se violations are limited to hardcore cartel conduct — price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation. Other competitive conduct is judged under the rule of reason.
Antitrust conspiracy requires proof of an actual agreement — not just parallel conduct, industry custom, or conscious parallelism. Mere price similarity in a competitive market does not establish a criminal agreement.
Most antitrust matters are civil, not criminal. Criminal antitrust charges are reserved for the most egregious per se violations. Understanding which track you are on shapes the entire defense strategy.
DOJ Antitrust Division investigations often involve grand jury subpoenas, dawn raids, and international coordination. A rapid, coordinated response is essential.
The Antitrust Division's Leniency Program offers the first company or individual to self-report complete immunity. Understanding the timing, scope, and requirements of leniency applications is critical for clients who may qualify.
Antitrust cases turn on market definition, competitive effects, and economic analysis. Retaining an economic expert early can challenge the government's market definition and show pro-competitive justifications for the challenged conduct.
Cross-border antitrust investigations involve multiple agencies — DOJ, European Commission, and others. Coordinating defense strategy across jurisdictions prevents inconsistent positions and protects against extradition risk.
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This defense resource covers antitrust violations cases alongside a full range of federal practice areas — RICO, money laundering, wire fraud, public corruption, antitrust, crypto fraud, and federal appeals.
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Cartel Conduct and the Sherman Act Cartel allegations under U.S. antitrust law are primarily governed by the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1-2), which prohibits…
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The Statutory Architecture of Cartel Charges Cartel allegations in federal antitrust enforcement arise primarily under Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.…
18 U.S.C. § 1343 : Wire fraud carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The actual sentence depends on the amount of los
Mission and Scope of Antitrust Defense Guide The mission of the Antitrust Defense Guide is to provide deep niche authority on antitrust defense, merger…
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An antitrust investigation examines suspected anticompetitive conduct such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, market allocation, or monopolization. Federal enforcement is led by the DOJ Antitrust Division and the FTC.
A criminal defense attorney investigates the charges, challenges the prosecution's evidence, negotiates with prosecutors, and represents the client at trial. Early involvement of counsel often improves outcomes.
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