Several Prosecuted for Export Violations
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has released information on recent major criminal prosecutions handled by the Justice Department, according to a DDTC press release. They are:
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- Vitali Tsishuk, sentenced in U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania’s Eastern District, for conspiring to export military-grade night vision devices to Belarus. Tsishuk was sentenced on Feb. 14 to 24 months in prison. Tsishuk, along with Yahor Osin, Aliaksandr Belski, Aliaksandr Stashynski, Volha Dubouskaya, and Ernest Chornoletskyy were indicted on conspiracy to export defense articles without a license and conspiracy to violate International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to illegally export various defense articles, including ThOR 2 Thermal Imaging Scopes, AN/PAS-23 Mini Thermal Monoculars, Thermal-Eye Renegade-320s and L-3 x 200xp Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras. Tsishuk pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2011, while Osin and Chornoletskyy pleaded guilty Feb. 29, 2012.
- Brian Keith Bishop was convicted in U.S. District Court, Virginia’s Eastern District, for violating the Arms Export Control Act, and delivering ammunition to a common carrier without notice. Bishop, an employee of the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, was discovered placing about 9,446 rounds of ammunition in a cargo container of personal effects that he was shipping to the U.S.
- Erik Alan Garza was indicted in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, on federal smuggling charges. According to the indictment, Garza and accomplice Rolando Tamayo illegally attempted to smuggle defense articles -- including night vision monocular goggles, a thermal goggle, about 5,000 high-capacity assault rifle magazines and about 6,000 rounds of ammunition -- into Mexico from the U.S. Garza was indicted after his extradition from Mexico. Tamayo, still a fugitive, is also charged in the indictment with aiding and abetting the smuggling of goods.