Ceo Allegedly Choked, Threatened To Kill Barefoot Passenger On Virgin Voyages Cruise

FBI issues tips for travelers going abroad for spring break

The FBI's Los Angeles field office issued tips to Americans traveling abroad for spring break, urging travelers to stay safe.

• Kenneth DeGiorgio, CEO of First American Financial Corporation, was charged with assaulting a fellow passenger on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship.
• The incident occurred at the ship's On the Rocks bar, where DeGiorgio allegedly put his hands around the neck of another passenger after the passenger allegedly made a derogatory comment to DeGiorgio's wife.

The CEO of a financial services company allegedly choked and threatened to kill a fellow guest during a Virgin Voyages cruise, federal law enforcement said.

Kenneth DeGiorgio is charged with assaulting another passenger aboard the Resilient Lady ship, according to a criminal complaint filed in the District of Puerto Rico. The vessel was about 70 nautical miles from Fort-de-France, Martinque at the time of the incident late Sunday night.

Surveillance video footage showed a man showing his middle finger to a woman while he was dancing at the ship’s On the Rocks bar, according to an affidavit signed by a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent. DeGiorgio, CEO of First American Financial Corporation, could be seen walking over to the man a few minutes later and putting his hands around the man’s neck.

The other man, identified as “M.A.”, “stumbles while under the physical control of DeGiorgio” in the footage, the affidavit said. He later told law enforcement that DeGiorgio – whom he did not know – said he was going to kill him.

DeGiorgio’s wife, Nichol, said the man was dancing barefoot and she asked him to put shoes on. “The male responded” by throwing expletives at the Nichol, the complaint said. DeGiorgio declined to answer law enforcement’s questions and requested an attorney, according to the document.

“Mr. DeGiorgio responded to the actions of an individual who harassed his wife, making her feel threatened and intimidated,” a spokesperson for his legal team told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “Although charged with a simple misdemeanor, Mr. DeGiorgio looks forward to being absolved of any wrongdoing.”

Virgin Voyages did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.