A CEO from California is now facing federal charges, as captured by surveillance footage that shows him allegedly choking another cruise passenger following a verbal confrontation, the FBI reports.

Kenneth DeGiorgio, who is the CEO of a mortgage lending firm named First American Financial, is accused of attacking a man during his vacation onboard the Resilient Lady, a vessel of Virgin Voyages, while it was navigating international waters near Martinique on Monday.

First American Financial and Virgin Voyages did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

According to federal prosecutors, court documents accessed by Fox News Digital reveal that DeGiorgio allegedly choked an individual identified by the initials M.A. in the ship’s cocktail lounge, threatening, “I’ll f—ing kill you.”

Ship authorities contacted the FBI upon arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and DeGiorgio was ordered to be confined to his stateroom by the ship’s captain. (iStock)

Ship authorities contacted the FBI upon arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and DeGiorgio was ordered to be confined to his stateroom by the ship’s captain. In an interview with law enforcement, Nichol DeGiorgio said that M.A. “never touched her,” and took responsibility for the incident, claiming she should not have asked the man to put his shoes on. 

DeGiorgio is charged with assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. 

DeGiorgio was charged after the alleged spat on the Resilient Lady. (Virgin Voyages)

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

In a statement to the New York Post, DeGiorgio’s legal team said the CEO had “responded to the actions of an individual who harassed his wife, making her feel threatened and intimidated,” adding, “although charged with a simple misdemeanor, Mr. DeGiorgio looks forward to being absolved of any wrongdoing.”