Joseph Debose, 30, – a resident of North Carolina and former Staff Sergeant with a U.S. Special Forces National Guard Unit – faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the illegal export of firearms to China. The government has charged Debose with making multiple shipments of semiautomatic handguns, rifles and shotguns to customers in China….
Ever heard of the BIS Entity List? More importantly, are you screening your transactions against this and other U.S. government watch lists? If you’re like most companies that we talk to, the answer to both of these questions is: “No.” In fact, it’s safe to say that many – and perhaps even most – companies…
Yesterday it was announced that United Technologies (UTC) and two of its subsidiaries – Pratt & Whitney Canada and Hamilton Sundstrand – have entered into a consent agreement with the U.S. Department of State. The companies will pay $75 million in ITAR violation penalties, to settle a total of 576 separate charges alleging wrongdoing. According…
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently settled with Mattson Technology of Fremont, CA, in a case which alleges 47 EAR violations from 2006 to 2008. According to the order from BIS, Mattson “sold, transferred or otherwise serviced” pressure transducers “with knowledge that violations of the Regulations were about to occur or were…
Less than two months after they were added to the Excluded Party List System (EPLS), it now appears that the last of the freight forwarders have been removed from the EPLS – paving the way for a return to “business as usual” for exporters who were being restricted from certain trade activities involving these forwarders…
An Australian man and his company have been charged with several counts of violating the EAR and ITAR (as well as OFAC trade embargoes). The charges point to an alleged scheme to export restricted items from the U.S. to Australia, for transshipment to Iran, in violation of numerous export control regulations. According to the Department…
Sanctions Imposed On ITAR Freight Forwarders Earlier this month, the Department of the Air Force imposed a sanction against six freight forwarding companies who allegedly engaged in anti-trust price-fixing. (UPDATE: That list has now been reduced to five.) As a result, these forwarders are debarred from engaging in government contracts. (And as a result of…
Whoever said freight forwarders weren’t responsible for export compliance? A recent settlement from the BIS seems to point at a new trend in government enforcement of U.S. export regulations. Namely, holding all parties accountable for their actions. Earlier this month, FedEx agreed to pay a $370,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it violated the…
Ever heard of The Parts Guys? Neither had I. Now, it seems, the whole world knows about this business and its president, Michael Edward Todd. The Parts Guys, LLC, is a company in Port Orange, Florida, which also operates a warehouse in Macon, Georgia. (I’m going out on a limb and guessing these guys sell…
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently imposed a $575,000 civil penalty against TW Metals of Exton, Pennsylvania. The company allegedly exported titanium alloy and aluminum bar to China and Israel without first obtaining export licenses. Both aluminum and titanium alloys are controlled by Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 1C202. These alloys require…