Crowley Liner Services pleaded guilty to a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and was ordered to pay a $17 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry. According to the charges, Crowley engaged in a conspiracy to fix base rates for water transportation of certain freight between the continental United States and Puerto Rico from as early as January 2006 until at least April 2008. The government also alleged that Crowley and its co-conspirators engaged in meetings for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon rates and sold Puerto Rico freight services at collusive and noncompetitive rates.