CEO accused of suffocating a man on a cruise ship in a barefoot dance incident – Country
The California CEO is facing federal assault charges after surveillance footage showed him dancing barefoot on a Virgin Navigation cruise ship.
According to a federal criminal lawsuit filed on April 1, the incident occurred in international waters on March 31.
Authorities claim that Kenneth Degiorgio, CEO of First American Finance, attacked a man and was identified as a master's degree at the On Rocks Bar on the boat. The complaint said the security supervisor reviewed the videotape and “determines Degiorgio is the videotape of the male displayed in the surveillance video.”
On the dance floor, the complaint immediately gave the wife of Degiorgio, Nichol Degiorgio.
The complaint said the victim was dancing barefoot on the dance floor on the boat when Degiorgio's wife asked him to wear shoes.
“N. Degiorgio told him, ‘Look, we’re all grown up here, can you wear shoes?’ The male replied, “Shut up f-ing b —h. ”
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It is worth noting that Degiorgio's wife is responsible for the incident and told FBI agents and task force officials that she “should not tell unknown men to put on shoes” and that “unknown men have never touched her.”
The complaint said security footage showed Degiorgio standing up, crossing the dance floor, grabbing the victim, grabbing him and holding him around his neck.
Ma told authorities that during the attack, Dediorgio said, “I'm going to kill you.” The document also said that Dediorgio “used a lot of force” and felt like his “throat will be torn off.”
Degiorgio was ordered to stay in his room until the ship arrived at the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
After the FBI reviewed the video, they tried to interview Degiorgio, who asked a lawyer and refused to answer any questions.
A spokesperson for the Degiorgio legal team told NBC News that he is protecting his wife.
“Mr. Degiorgio responded to the act of the person who harassed his wife, making her feel threatened and intimidated,” a spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.
They added: “Despite the charge of a simple misdemeanor, Mr. Degiorgio looks forward to being relieved of any wrongdoing.”
Degiorgio is charged with assault in the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison.
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