The CEO of a California-based financial services company faces a federal assault charge of choking a man on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship.
The incident happened early Monday in international waters on the Resilient Lady cruise ship, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Authorities allege that Kenneth DeGiorgio, the CEO of First American Financial Corp., choked a male victim following an incident that involved his wife, Nichol DeGiorgio.
A spokesperson for DeGiorgio's legal team said he was protecting his wife.
"Mr. DeGiorgio responded to the actions of an individual who harassed his wife, making her feel threatened and intimidated," the spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.
The complaint alleges that the victim, identified by the initials M.A., was dancing barefoot on the dance floor in the ship's On The Rocks bar when DeGiorgio’s wife asked him to put his shoes on.
The wife told law enforcement that she told the victim, "Look, we are all grown-ups here, can you put your shoes on?" The victim responded by cursing at her and sticking his middle finger up, the complaint alleges.
Security video showed DeGiorgio standing up, walking over to the victim and choking him, according to the complaint.
It says the victim stumbled "while under the physical control of DeGiorgio."
The victim said that DeGiorgio "used a lot of force" and that it felt like his "throat was going to be ripped out," the document says. The man alleged that during the incident, DeGiorgio said, "I am going to f---ing kill you."
DeGiorgio was ordered confined to his room until the ship arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Authorities met the ship Tuesday. DeGiorgio's wife told authorities that she should not have told the man to put shoes on and that he never touched her.
The legal team representing DeGiorgio, who has been the company's CEO since February 2022, said he looks forward to being absolved of any wrongdoing.