Where Industry and Security Intersect
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Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Michael J. Garcia announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) has issued an order temporarily denying all U.S. export privileges of InfoCom Corporation, Inc., of Richardson, Texas. Between 1997 and 2000, BXA alleges that InfoCom repeatedly exported computer technology to Libya and Syria in violation of U.S. export control laws. The United States has designated Libya and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism. The U.S.-origin technology that was exported to Libya was first shipped to Malta and then redirected to Libya. The computer technology exported without a license to Syria is controlled for anti-terrorism reasons. InfoCom allegedly attempted to conceal shipments to those countries by undervaluing goods and filing false and deceptive shipping documents.
The U. S. government maintains a comprehensive economic sanctions program against Libya, which prohibits virtually all commercial transactions involving U.S. origin-goods or U.S. persons, unless specifically authorized. In addition, the U.S. government maintains stringent export controls for antiterrorism purposes on a wide range of goods and technologies to Syria.
The temporary denial order, which may be issued when necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation of U.S. export control regulations, will remain in effect for 180 days and may be renewed by BXA. InfoCom corporate officers that were made subject to the temporary denial order include its Chief Executive Officer, Bayan Medhat Elashi; its Vice-President, Ghassan Elashi; and four additional corporate officers, Basam Medhat Elashi, Ishan Medhat Elashi, Hazim Elashi, and Fadwa Elafrangi. Ishan Medhat Elashi is also identified as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tetrabal Corporation, of Richardson, Texas, which also was made subject to the order.
The Department of Commerce became aware of the shipments to Libya and Syria as a result of an investigation conducted by the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, whose representatives include agents from BXA's Office of Export Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Customs Service, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Dallas, Texas.
BXA administers and enforces controls on exports for reasons of national security, foreign policy, antiterrorism, and non-proliferation.
Go to the Denied Persons List
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.