February 22, 2007 Statement by Adam J. Szubin, OFAC Director The criminal complaint unsealed today marks an important step in stopping fraud involved in facilitating violations of restrictions on travel to OFAC issues hundreds of licenses each year to individuals and groups seeking to engage in legitimate religious activities and programs in The Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force, headed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, is moving aggressively to stop such violations, pursuing criminal investigations against those involved in unlicensed dealings with OFAC investigators played a key role in uncovering the activity that is being exposed today. OFAC has detected abuse among religious license applicants and the travel providers who service them, including fabricated religious organizations, ministers, and programs of religious activity. As today's action demonstrates, OFAC takes the integrity of U.S. sanctions programs very seriously and will continue to work to safeguard these sanctions programs against abuse. Those who seek to evade sanctions laws face serious penalties, both civil and criminal. For more information on today's action, please visit the website of the For more information on the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, please visit the following link: http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.shtml.
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