Where Industry and Security Intersect
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Department of Commerce Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Lisa A. Prager, today announced that a $80,000 civil penalty has been imposed on Opto Power Corporation of Tuscon, Ariz. Opto Power paid the penalties as part of a settlement of charges that it illegally exported diode lasers to Israel for a period of over two years. Diode lasers have a variety of medical, research, and industrial uses, as well as potential military applications, and are controlled for national security and nuclear nonproliferation reasons.
Between 1995 through 1997, Opto Power exported diode lasers to Israel on sixteen separate occasions without the required export licenses. Opto Power voluntarily disclosed the violations to the Department of Commerce and cooperated fully in the investigation. As part of today's settlement, $40,000 of the penalty was suspended for one year. It will then be waived as long as the company commits no further violations.
Ms. Prager commended the efforts of former Agent Troy Thompson and Special Agent James Lowry, assigned to the Los Angeles Field Office of Export Enforcement.
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.