Cruise Ship Dispute Leads to Assault Charge for Executive

A night of dancing aboard a Virgin Voyages cruise ship took an unexpected turn when a senior executive became involved in an altercation that resulted in a misdemeanor assault charge.

The incident occurred on March 31 on the Resilient Lady. According to an FBI report, the situation escalated after a woman asked a man on the dance floor to put on shoes. The man, who was barefoot, allegedly replied with an offensive comment and an inappropriate hand gesture—both captured by the ship’s security cameras.

Shortly afterward, the woman’s husband is said to have confronted the man, grabbing him by the throat and choking him. The alleged victim also claimed he was threatened with death, a statement the FBI says is supported by surveillance footage.

Following the confrontation, the ship's captain took action by confining the suspect to his cabin for the rest of the journey. When the ship docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the next day, the man declined to provide a statement and instead requested legal representation.

Federal prosecutors later filed a misdemeanor assault charge, which carries a potential penalty of up to one year in jail. The man has since been released.

The individual charged is a longtime Los Angeles resident who has served in high-level roles at a leading financial firm for more than 20 years.