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Major Export Enforcement Cases - Directorate of Defense Trade ...

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through around March 2007, members <strong>of</strong> the conspiracy falsely stated that the coatings were to be<br />

used at a nuclear power plant in China, the export <strong>of</strong> goods to which would not require a<br />

Commerce license. Through these means, Huaxing and its co-conspirators unlawfully exported<br />

three shipments <strong>of</strong> coatings from the U.S. to Chashma II worth approximately $32,000. The<br />

investigation was conducted by BIS.<br />

Inertial Navigation Units to the UAE & Turkey – On Nov. 28, 2012, Junaid Peerani, a resident<br />

<strong>of</strong> Broward County, Fla., and the owner <strong>of</strong> AEROTEK 2000, INC., was arrested on a criminal<br />

complaint in the Southern District <strong>of</strong> Florida charging him with violations <strong>of</strong> the International<br />

Emergency Economic Powers Act and smuggling. According to the complaint, in March 2011,<br />

Peerani attempted to export to the United Arab Emirates an inertial navigation unit that is<br />

controlled for export by the Commerce Department for missile technology and anti-terrorism<br />

reasons. The item, which is a laser gyro replacement for the mechanical inertial navigation<br />

system used on many military transport and commercial aircraft, was seized by U.S. border<br />

authorities before departing the United States. Peerani also allegedly attempted to export two<br />

additional inertial navigation units to Turkey in Sept. 2012 without obtaining the requisite<br />

Commerce Department export license. This investigation was conducted by ICE.<br />

Firearms to Mexico – On Nov. 26, 2012, Sean Christopher Steward and Jacob Anthony<br />

Montelongo both <strong>of</strong> Phoenix, Az., were sentenced in the District <strong>of</strong> Arizona to serve 108 months<br />

and 41 months in prison, respectively, after entering guilty pleas to federal firearms trafficking<br />

charges. On July 18, 2012, Steward pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a<br />

license, to make false statements in connection with the acquisition <strong>of</strong> a firearm, and to smuggle<br />

goods from the United States, and the making <strong>of</strong> false statements in connection with the straw<br />

purchase <strong>of</strong> 40 AK-47 assault rifles. On Jan. 23, 2012, Montelongo pleaded guilty to conspiracy<br />

to deal in firearms without a license, to make false statements in connection with the acquisition<br />

<strong>of</strong> a firearm and smuggling goods from the United States, and willfully engaging in the business<br />

<strong>of</strong> dealing in firearms without a license. According to court records, Steward and Montelongo<br />

were two <strong>of</strong> the most prolific straw purchasers in the Phoenix-based firearms trafficking<br />

conspiracy. During a six-month period from December 2009 through June 2010, Steward, using<br />

funds provided by the leader <strong>of</strong> the firearms trafficking organization, paid over $176,000 in cash<br />

to purchase approximately 289 firearms, including 260 AK-47 style firearms, 20 nine millimeter<br />

pistols, a .50 caliber rifle and other “weapons <strong>of</strong> choice” <strong>of</strong> the Mexican drug cartels. According<br />

to court records, Montelongo personally purchased and assisted in the straw purchase <strong>of</strong> 109<br />

firearms, including multiple AK-47 style rifles and six .50 caliber rifles. This case was<br />

investigated by the ATF and IRS.<br />

Military Antennas to Iran – On Nov. 20, 2012, an indictment in the District <strong>of</strong> Columbia<br />

charging Amin Ravan and his Iranian company, IC Market Iran (IMI), with conspiracy to defraud<br />

the United States, smuggling and violating the Arms <strong>Export</strong> Control Act, was unsealed. Ravan<br />

was arrested by authorities in Malaysia on Oct. 10, 2012 and the United States is seeking his<br />

extradition. According to the indictment, which was returned under seal on Nov. 16, 2011, Ravan<br />

was based in Iran and, at various times, acted as an agent <strong>of</strong> IMI in Iran and an agent <strong>of</strong> Corezing<br />

International, Pte, Ltd, a company based Singapore that also maintained <strong>of</strong>fices in Hong Kong<br />

and China. In late 2006 and early 2007, Ravan allegedly attempted to procure for shipment to<br />

Iran export-controlled antennas made by a company in Massachusetts, through an intermediary in<br />

Iran. The antennas sought by Ravan were cavity-backed spiral antennas as well as biconical<br />

antennas. After this first attempt was unsuccessful, Ravan joined with two co-conspirators at<br />

Corezing in Singapore so that Corezing would contact the Massachusetts company and obtain the<br />

antennas on behalf <strong>of</strong> Ravan for shipment to Iran. When Corezing was unable to purchase the<br />

antennas from the Massachusetts firm, Corezing then contacted another individual in the United<br />

8

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