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And the cards keep tumbling down.  It’s not like we didn’t all see this one coming.  After all, three other companies have already admitted they were less than legal when it came to fixing prices for LCD panels sold to U.S. companies Today marks Hitachi Displays Ltd. joining the ranks of those companies charged with conspiring to fix prices, making it four companies and seven individuals charged by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Anti-Trust Division.

A plea agreement just waiting for court approval maintains that Hitachi Displays did agree to cooperate with the Justice Department’s continuing antitrust investigation.  Good move guys.  According to Scott Hammond, Acting Assistant Attorney in charge of the Anti-Trust Division,

“Hitachi joins three other multinational companies who have admitted to their involvement in fixing prices for LCD panels sold to U.S. companies and that have already paid criminal fines totaling more than $585 million.  This case should send a strong message to multinational companies operating in the United States that when it comes to enforcing the U.S. antitrust laws we mean business.”

Hitachi’s share of that $585 million is $31 million, not so big considering it is one of only four hit with the rap.  They were nabbed for their role in the conspiracy to fix prices in sales of Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display panels (TFT-LCD) that were sold to Dell.

They are charged with the following: Carrying out this conspiracy through several means including taking part in bilateral meetings and communications with Japan, Korea and the U.S. to talk about the prices of the TFT-LCDs being sold to Dell; making an agreement of price during those meetings; issuing price quotes based on the agreements met at the meetings; and exchanging information on sales of the product sold to Dell, with the purpose of keeping track of and enforcing the set price they agreed upon.  Naughty-naughty boys.

The other companies already on the naughty list?  LG pleaded guilty December 15, 2008.  They were rocked the hardest of the four fine-wise—a whopping $400 million criminal fine for a worldwide conspiracy charge.  This is the second-largest in Anti-Trust Division history.  Way to make mom proud guys!  Also on the list is Sharp Corp, pleading guilty the day after LG.  At least they were only slimy enough to fix prices sold to Dell, Apple, and Motorola…not the whole world.  Third up was Chunghwa Picture Tubes, also guilty of the same worldwide conspiracy as LG.

According to the US Dept of Justice website, “Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the San Francisco Field Office of the Antitrust Division at 415-436-6660.”

Read: US Dept of Justice