DOJ this week completed the forfeiture of a U.S.-origin Boeing 747 after a monthslong effort to seize the plane from Mahan Air, a sanctioned Iranian airline.
A Missouri-based defense contractor illegally sent export-controlled military technology data overseas to produce items for his contracts with the Defense Department, DOJ announced last week.
A U.K. citizen was sentenced to 18 months in prison Jan. 31 for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran by exporting and attempting to export dual-use goods to Iran without the required license.
The leader of a Haitian criminal gang pleaded guilty last week to his role in smuggling firearms from the U.S. to Haiti in violation of export controls, DOJ said. Joly Germine was involved in purchases of at least 24 guns -- including K-47s, AR-15s, an M4 Carbine rifle, an M1A rifle, and a .50 caliber rifle -- for the Haitian gang 400 Mawozo.
The U.S. unsealed an indictment this month charging seven people with helping Iran violate U.S. sanctions through a billion-dollar smuggling network that sold oil to buyers in China, Russia and Syria. DOJ also seized $108 million that the network tried to launder through correspondent accounts at U.S. banks.
The U.S. charged four Chinese nationals this week for their parts in a yearslong conspiracy to violate export controls by smuggling electronic parts through China and to Iran.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network adjusted its civil monetary penalties for inflation, the agency said in a notice this week. The new amounts include higher maximum penalties for various record-keeping and banking violations associated with funds transfers, which can sometimes violate U.S. sanctions. It also for the first time outlines adjusted penalty amounts for violations of the agency's new beneficial ownership information reporting requirements (see 2401050023). The changes take effect Jan. 25.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week again renewed its temporary denial order for a Venezuela-based cargo airline after saying it continues to try to violate U.S. export restrictions in "continued disregard" for the terms of the TDO. BIS said Empresa de Transporte Aereocargo del Sur, also known as Aerocargo del Sur Transportation or Emtrasur, will continue to be subject to the denial order for 180 days from Jan. 21.