2 months ago
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The CEO of a southern California-based home mortgage lending company was arrested on Tuesday and accused of attacking a fellow cruise passenger who insulted his wife because she asked him to stop dancing barefoot.
First American Financial Corporation CEO Kenneth DeGiorgio, 53, was charged with assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States following the heated confrontation on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship on Monday, according to a federal complaint obtained by HuffPost.
Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
DeGiorgio’s wife told FBI agents that the incident began when she confronted a passenger who was dancing barefoot on the dance floor of the “On The Rocks” bar, saying, “Look we are all grown-ups here, can you put your shoes on?” according to the complaint.
According to the wife’s testimony, the man responded by saying, “Shut up, you fucking bitch.” Surveillance footage cited in the complaint shows the man dancing, before displaying a middle finger to DeGiorgio’s wife.
Moments later, DeGiorgio comes into frame and places his hands on the victim’s neck and begins choking him, according to the complaint. The victim stumbles and falls while being choked by DeGiorgio.
The victim told FBI agents that he felt as if his throat was going to be ripped out, according to the complaint. He recalled DeGiorgio stating, “I am going to fucking kill you.”
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DeGiorgio declined to answer the FBI agents’ questions about the incident without a lawyer, though his wife told agents that she should not have told the victim to put his shoes on, and that he never touched her, according to the complaint.
A spokesperson for DeGiorgio’s legal team told HuffPost he “responded to the actions of an individual who harassed his wife, making her feel threatened and intimidated.”
“Although charged with a simple misdemeanor, Mr. DeGiorgio looks forward to being absolved of any wrongdoing,” the spokesperson said.
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