OC Major U.S. Export Enforcement Prosecutions on the Rise

Over the past two years the Department of Justice (DOJ) has investigated and tried several major export and embargo-related criminal prosecutions. These prosecutions are a result of investigations by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Pentagon’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and other law enforcement agencies.

The prosecutions ranged in violation of trade embargos (mainly with China and Iran), to procuring protected military equipment against federal law. Often the defendants were not stereo-typical “spies” that you would expect working for the CIA. Many of the convicted were of Chinese or Iranian origin and were working here in the U.S. legally. The job descriptions of the defendants ranged from being a consultant for a technology company, to employment as a Vice President of an aircraft and aerospace company.

One such prosecution was a result of seemingly benign actions such as failing to obtain required licenses for certain exported aircraft equipment. In another prosecution, several defendants were indicted for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the U.S. Iran Embargo, and the Arms Export Control Act for their participation in a conspiracy to export U.S.-made military aircraft parts to Iran. Another defendant was indicted for violating the Economic Espionage Act by misappropriating a trade secret that was used to simulate motion for military training in military equipment simulators.

Federal fraud and export enforcement prosecutions may result from unintentional illegal conduct. If you are being investigated by the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security or any other law enforcement agency for allegations of federal fraud or illegal export actions, you need the help of a competent federal criminal defense attorney immediately. Delaying representation will only assist the federal government in building their case against you. The consequences of a conviction for federal fraud, misappropriating military secrets, violating U.S. trade embargos or the Arms Export Control Act, or engaging in economic or other espionage are severe. You need to protect your interests immediately. Call the federal criminal defense attorneys at Houston & Blanco today.