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Custom Wristbands’ online price-fixing fallout continues

The e-commerce company Custom Wristbands, along with its affiliates and chief executive, pleaded guilty in district court to a price-fixing scheme involving promotional products sold in the United States.

   The e-commerce company Custom Wristbands, and its affiliates Kulayful Silicone Bracelets, Kulayful.com, Speedywristbands.com, Promotionalbands.com, Wristbandcreation.com and 1inchbracelets.com, as well as its chief executive Christopher Angeles pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix prices for customized promotional products sold online to customers in the United States.
   According to court records in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston, the conspirators attended meetings and communicated in person and online to carry out their price-fixing scheme.
   From June 2014 to June 2016, the defendants and their co-conspirators agreed to fix prices on customized promotional products sold online, including wristbands. 
   In addition to guilty plea, Custom Wristbands has agreed to pay a $409,342 criminal fine.
   Angeles is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1 million for individuals.
    Both defendants have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division investigation. The plea agreements are subject to court approval.

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.