October 28, 2008

Counter-Proliferation Investigations

Overview

U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), formerly under legacy component U.S. Customs, has led law enforcement efforts in export enforcement for approximately 30 years utilizing the broadest export authorities within the U.S. government.

One of ICE’s highest priorities is to prevent terrorist groups and hostile nations from illegally obtaining U.S. military products and sensitive technology, including weapons of mass destruction (WMD) components.  ICE’s Counter-Proliferation Investigations (CPI) Unit is responsible for overseeing a broad range of investigative activities related to such violations, including the enforcement of U.S. laws involving the export of military items and controlled dual-use goods as well as exports to sanctioned or embargoed countries.  CPI priority programs address trafficking in WMD components and materials, sensitive dual-use commodities, and technologies sought by proliferant countries and terrorist groups.  Other programs address illegal exports of military equipment and spare parts to embargoed countries, significant financial and business transactions with proscribed countries and groups, and export enforcement training for private industry as well as state, local, and foreign agencies.

In fiscal years 2007 and 2008, ICE special agents initiated a total of 2,352 criminal investigations into possible export violations. During that same period, ICE agents made 333 arrests and obtained 366 indictments that resulted in 256 convictions for export-related criminal violations, more than any other U.S. federal law enforcement agency. In addition, ICE agents conducted thousands of seizures of arms, military weaponry, and other sensitive commodities related to illegal export schemes, valued at over $61.7 million.  These efforts significantly contributed to preventing sensitive U.S. technologies as well as weapons from reaching the hands of terrorists, hostile countries and violent criminal organizations.

Through an industry outreach program called “Project Shield America,” ICE special agents conduct presentations for U.S. manufacturers and exporters of arms and sensitive technology to educate them about export laws and to solicit their assistance in preventing illegal foreign acquisition of their products.  Since the program’s inception in late 2001, ICE agents have conducted approximately 16,000 industry outreach presentations, resulting in tips that have led to successful ICE criminal investigations nationwide and worldwide.

Notable ICE Counter-Proliferation Investigations cases include:

Telecommunications Equipment to Iraq – On October 2, 2008, Dawn Hanna was convicted by a jury in the Eastern District of Michigan on eight counts of an indictment charging her with illegally exporting telecommunications and other equipment with potential military applications to Iraq during the administration of Saddam Hussein and during the embargo on that country. On July 19, 2007, Hanna was indicted on charges of conspiracy, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, money laundering conspiracy, and false statements.  From 2002 to 2003, Hanna allegedly received $9.5 million in proceeds to supply telecommunications and other equipment to Iraq in violation of the U.S. embargo that existed prior to the invasion by coalition forces in 2003.

Military Accelerometers to China – On September 26, 2008, Qing Li was sentenced in the Southern District of California to 12 months and one day in custody, followed by three years of supervised released, and ordered to pay a fine for conspiracy to smuggle military-grade accelerometers from the United States to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  Li pleaded guilty on June 9, 2008, to violating Title 18 USC Section 554. She was indicted for the offense on October 18, 2007.  Li conspired with an individual in China to locate and procure as many as 30 Endevco 7270A-200K accelerometers for what her co-conspirator described as a “special” scientific agency in China.  This accelerometer has military applications in “smart” bombs and missile development and in calibrating the g-forces of nuclear and chemical explosions.

Rifle Scopes to Russia – On September 11, 2008, a Grand Jury in the Middle District of Pennsylvania indicted Boris Gavrilov, D&B Compas Ltd, and Kiflet Arm on charges of illegally exporting military-grade and dual-use rifle scopes to Russia without the required U.S. government licenses. Gavrilov is believed to be a resident of Israel.  D&B Compas is located in Israel, while Kiflet Arm is located in Humboldt, Texas.  Extradition proceedings for Gavrilov have commenced.

Fighter Jet Components to Iran – On September 5, 2008, George Frank Myles, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export military aviation parts without obtaining the permission of the U.S. Department of State, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.  Myles was indicted for this offense on September 6, 2007, in the Southern District of New York, and the case was transferred to the Southern District of Florida pursuant to Rule 21.  Sentencing is set for October 30, 2008.  During the conspiracy, which spanned from April 2005 to March 2007, Myles supplied a number of military aviation parts, including F-14 parts, to an Iranian national, who allegedly picked up the parts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Bangkok, Thailand.

Ammunition to Mexico – On September 5, 2008, Noe Guadalupe Calvillo, Juan Luis Hernandez-Ramos, Guadalupe Ramiro Munoz-Mendez and Rogelio Garcia were sentenced to 46 months in prison, 37 months in prison, 30 months in prison, and 39 months in prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to illegally exporting thousands of rounds of ammunition to Mexico.  Calvillo pleaded guilty to illegally exporting 51,400 rounds of ammunition, while Garcia, Hernandez-Ramos and Munoz-Mendez pleaded guilty to exporting 30,900 rounds of ammunition.  The defendants were arrested and charged in October 2007.

Military Aircraft Components to China and Iran – On August 28, 2008, Desmond Dinesh Frank, a citizen and resident of Malaysia, was sentenced to 23 months in prison after pleading guilty on May 16, 2008, to several felonies in the District of Massachusetts in connection with a plot to illegally export military items to China and Iran.  A six-count indictment returned on November 15, 2007, charged Frank, the operator of Asian Sky Support, Sdn., Bhd., in Malaysia, with conspiring to illegally export items to Iran, conspiring to illegally export C-130 military aircraft training equipment to China, illegally exporting defense articles, smuggling, and two counts of money laundering.  Frank was arrested in Hawaii on October 8, 2007, by ICE agents.  Frank conspired with others to illegally export and cause the re-export of goods, technology and services to Iran without first obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. Department of Treasury.  He also conspired with others to illegally export ten indicators, servo driven tachometers -- which are military training components used in C-130 military flight simulators -- from the United States to Malaysia and ultimately, to Hong Kong, China, without the required license from the U.S. Department of State.

Military Laser Aiming Devices & Fighter Pilot Cueing Systems to Taiwan – On August 18, 2008, Yen Ching Peng was arraigned in Southern District of New York on Arms Export Control Act violations, as well as money laundering and smuggling violations after being extradited from Hong Kong.  Among other things, Peng allegedly attempted to illegally export to Taiwan infrared laser aiming devices, thermal weapons sights, and a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System.  On occasion, Peng requested that military items be delivered to his associate, Peter Liu, in New York for delivery in Taiwan.  On December 11, 2007, Peng was arrested in Hong Kong, while Liu was arrested in New York. Liu later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison on August 7, 2008.

Military Aircraft Components to United Arab Emirates, Thailand – On July 17, 2008, in the Central District of California, Air Shunt Instruments, Inc., was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $250,000 and a special assessment of $400 for making false statements on Shipper's Export Declaration in claiming that a military gyroscope being sent overseas in 2003 did not require an export license, when in fact the item required such a license.  Air Shunt, a Chatsworth, California company that buys and sells aircraft and aerospace components, was charged via criminal information and pleaded guilty on July 15, 2008.  John Nakkashian, a Vice President for International Sales at Air Shunt, was responsible for obtaining the required licenses for such exports.  During the investigation, Nakkashian fled the country and remains a fugitive today.  On May 20, 2008, Nakkashian was indicted on four counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act.  The indictment alleges he illegally exported components for the J85 engine, used on the F-5 fighter jet, and other military items to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, without first obtaining the required export license from the U.S. Department of State.  The indictment also alleges that he illegally exported a military gyroscope to Thailand.

Surface-to-Air Missiles, Night Vision Devices, Firearms to Foreign Terrorists – On July 10, 2008, Erik Wotulo, a retired Indonesian Marine Corps general, was sentenced in the District of Maryland to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a designated terrorist organization, and money laundering.  Beginning in April 2006, Wotulo conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Bin Osman and Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa to export state-of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to the Tamil Tigers operating in Sri Lanka, to be used to fight against Sri Lankan government forces.  The conspirators contacted an undercover business located in Maryland about the sale of military weapons. In September 2006, the defendants arrived in Guam, where they met with undercover officers to inspect and take possession of the weapons, and were eventually arrested.  On January 3, 2008, Varatharasa was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Subandi was sentenced to 37 months in prison on December 14, 2007, while Osman is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2008.  Two additional defendants, Rinehard Rusli and Helmi Soedirdja, pleaded guilty to export and money laundering violations on January 30, 2007, as part of a related plot to provide military night vision devices to the Indonesian military.

Military Night Vision Systems to Lebanon – On July 9, 2008, Riad Skaff, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Lebanon and former ground services coordinator at O’Hare International Airport, was sentenced in the Northern District of Illinois to two years in prison for using his position at the airport to help smuggle $396,000 in cash and illegally export weapons scopes, military night vision goggles, and a cellular phone “jammer” to Lebanon.  The case resulted from an undercover operation in which agents posed as individuals interested in smuggling money and military items to Lebanon utilizing contacts at O’Hare airport to bypass security.  On August 17, 2007, Skaff pleaded guilty to all nine counts of an indictment charging him with bulk cash smuggling; entering an aircraft and airport area in violation of applicable security requirements with the intent to commit a felony; exporting and attempted export of defense articles without first obtaining a required export license; and attempted international export of merchandise, articles, and objects contrary to U.S. law.  Skaff was first arrested on January 28, 2007.

Firearms to Canada – On June 19, 2008, Ugur Yildiz was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint in the Northern District of Illinois with illegally exporting some 220 firearms from Chicago, Illinois to Canada in 2006.

U.S. Military Source Code and Trade Secrets to China – On June 18, 2008, Xiaodong Sheldon Meng was sentenced in the Northern District of California to 24 months in prison, three-years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine for committing economic espionage and violating the Arms Export Control Act.  Meng pleaded guilty in August 2007 to violating the Arms Export Control Act for illegally exporting military source code involving a program used for training military fighter pilots.  Meng also pleaded guilty to violating the Economic Espionage Act by misappropriating a trade secret used to simulate motion for military training and other purposes, with the intent to benefit China’s Navy Research Center in Beijing.  Meng was the first defendant in the country to be convicted of exporting military source code under the Arms Export Control Act.  He was also the first defendant to be sentenced under the Economic Espionage Act.  This was also the first case involving a conviction under the Economic Espionage Act (18 USC 1831) for ICE.  Meng was charged in a superseding indictment on December 13, 2006.

Military Night Vision Systems to Iran – On April 10, 2008, a British court ruled that Nosratollah Tajik should be extradited to the United States in connection with charges that he conspired to illegally export night vision weapons sights and military night vision goggles from the United States to Iran.  On October 26, 2006, Tajik was arrested at his residence in County Durham in England by British law enforcement authorities, pursuant to U.S. charges filed in the Northern District of Illinois on August 30, 2006.  From December 1999 to October 2003, Tajik served as the Iranian Ambassador to Jordan. Tajik also held an honorary fellowship at England’s University of Durham’s Institute for Middle East and Islamic Studies.  Tajik and a co-conspirator, Esmaiil Gharekhani, conspired to export a variety of prohibited items from the United States to Iran via the United Kingdom, including night vision weapon sights and night vision goggles.  The co-conspirator sent purchase orders to undercover ICE agents for several controlled articles and asked that the goods be shipped from the United States to the United Arab Emirates for transshipment to Iran.  During meetings in the United Kingdom, Tajik also allegedly asked agents about procuring a Swiss-manufactured 35mm naval gun capable of intercepting guided missiles.

Russian Attack Helicopters to Zimbabwe – On April 8, 2008, Peter Spitz, a resident of Hallandale, Florida, and the owner of Russian Aircraft Services LLC, was arrested in Miami, Florida pursuant to a criminal complaint alleging that he conspired to sell seven MI-24 Russian attack helicopters and three MI-8T Russian military transport helicopters to undercover law enforcement officials who represented that the helicopters would be going to a Cabinet member of the government of Zimbabwe.  Spitz was charged in the Southern District of Florida with illegal arms brokering activities.

Rifle Scopes, Weapons to Iran – On March 18, 2008, Fereidoon Kariman was sentenced for attempting to export rifle scopes, laser range finding binoculars, stun guns and other prohibited items which were found in luggage for his trip to Iran.  He was arrested on November 22, 2006, and subsequently pleaded guilty on November 15, 2007.

Specialty Alloy Pipes to Iran – On March 14, 2008, Proclad International Pipelines, Ltd, a British corporation headquartered in Scotland, was sentenced in the District of Columbia to a criminal fine of $100,000 and corporate probation of five years for attempting to export from the United States to Iran via the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates specialty alloy pipes without an export license from the United States government.  Proclad pleaded guilty to one count of attempted export without an export license on November 30, 2007, after being charged via information on October 16, 2007.

Military & Commercial Aircraft Components to Iran – On February 1, 2008, Laura Wang-Woodford, the director of a Singapore-based aviation company, was arraigned in the Eastern District of New York in connection with charges that she illegally exported controlled U.S. commercial and military aircraft components to Iran.  Wang-Woodford is a U.S. citizen who served as the director of Monarch Aviation Pte, Ltd., a company in Singapore that has imported and exported aircraft components for more than 16 years.  She and her husband, Brian D. Woodford, were charged in a 20-count indictment with Arms Export Control Act and International Emergency Economic Powers Act violations in the Eastern District of New York.  Wang-Woodford allegedly exported controlled U.S. aircraft parts from the United States to her company in Singapore and then re-exported these commodities to a company in Tehran, Iran without obtaining the required United States government licenses.  At the time of her December 23, 2007, arrest in San Francisco, Wang-Woodford was carrying catalogues from the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Company (CPMIEC), which contained advertisements for surface-to-air missiles and rocket launchers.  CPMIEC has been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a specially designated Weapons of Mass Destruction proliferator.

Firearms to Canada – On January 11, 2008, in the Southern District of Florida, defendants Gary Roach and Laron Frazer were convicted on international firearms trafficking charges.  The defendants were charged on July 26, 2007, for their role in a scheme in which they used straw purchasers to obtain handguns in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.  They then smuggled the guns to Canada in the door panels of rental cars.

Military Amplifiers to China – On December 19, 2007, Ding Zhengxing, Su Yang and Peter Zhu were indicted in the Western District of Texas for Arms Export Control Act violations in connection with an alleged plot to purchase and illegally export to China amplifiers that are controlled for military purposes.  The amplifiers are used in digital radios and wireless area networks.  Zhengxing and Yang were arrested in January 2008 after they traveled to Saipan to take possession of the amplifiers.  Peter Zhu, of Shanghai Meuro Electronics Company Ltd., in China, remains at large.

Military Night Vision Technology to China – On December 3, 2007, Philip Cheng was sentenced in the Northern District of California to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine for his role in brokering the illegal export of a night vision camera and its accompanying technology to China in violation of federal laws and regulations.  Mr. Cheng pleaded guilty on October 31, 2006, to brokering the illegal export of Panther-series infrared camera, a device which makes use of “night vision” technology.  He was indicted on June 3, 2004.  The technology used in the device was controlled for national security reasons by the U. S. Department of State.

F-14 Fighter Jet Components and Other Military Items to Iran – On November 20, 2007, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York returned an indictment charging Yousef Boushvash with violating the Arms Export Control Act, smuggling, conspiracy to commit money laundering and other violations in connection with his alleged acquisition of F-14 military fighter jet components and other military parts from the United States for export to Iran.  According to the charges, Boushvash operated a company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, called Glasgow International LLC which served as a hub for his illegal arms deals. Boushvash and his co-conspirators allegedly contacted numerous suppliers in the United States via e-mail and had them illegally export military components to the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and other locations, for ultimate transshipment to Iran. Boushvash had been arrested by Hong Kong authorities on October 29, 2007, in Hong Kong pursuant to a provisional warrant issued by the Southern District of New York.  The U.S. Department of Justice commenced extradition proceedings to bring Boushvash to New York.  On April 11, 2008, days before the extradition hearing was scheduled to begin in Hong Kong, authorities in Hong Kong terminated the proceeding and released Boushvash from custody.  Boushvash currently is a fugitive from justice and has been placed on Interpol’s list of wanted suspects. Three of Boushvash’s U.S. suppliers have been convicted in related cases.

Hawk Missile Batteries to Iran – On November 9, 2007 in the Western District of Texas, Robert Caldwell was sentenced to 20 months in prison and two years supervised release for attempting to illegally export to Iran specialized batteries for the Hawk Air Defense Missile system.  Caldwell, along with co-defendants, Robert Gibson and Christopher Harold Tappin, were charged for their roles in the export plot on February 2, 2007.  Gibson later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve a two-year prison term. Tappin remains a fugitive.

Military Night Vision Technology to China – On October 31, 2007, Bing Xu, of Nanjing, China, was charged by criminal complaint in the District of New Jersey with attempting to illegally export military-grade night vision technology from the United States to China. According to court documents, Xu arrived in New York on October 26 from China a day after his Chinese employer wire transferred $14,080 to federal agents as payment for the purchase of the restricted equipment.  The investigation was conducted by ICE and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Illegal Exports of F-4 and F-14 Fighter Jet Components – On October 5, 2007, Abraham Trujillo and David Wayne of Ogden, Utah, were charged in the District of Utah with attempting to illegally export components for F-4 and F-14 fighter jets using the Internet.  According to the charges, the defendants attempted to illegally export military cable assemblies, wiring harnesses and other restricted components to Canada in 2006 and 2007.  Such exports are of particular concern because F-14 components are widely sought by Iran, which is currently the only nation in the world that still flies the F-14 fighter jet.

Radios, Ammunition Magazines, Scopes to Designated Terrorist in Philippines – On August 1, 2007, Rahmat Abdhir was indicted in the Northern District of California on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists, and contributing goods and services to a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.  According to the indictment, Rahmat Abdhir communicated frequently with Zulkifli Abdhir, his fugitive brother and a U.S.-specially designated terrorist who operates in the Philippines and is a member of the central command of Jemaah Islamiyah.  From his home in California, Rahmat allegedly sent his brother money, two-way radios, Colt .45 magazines, binoculars, rifle scopes, batteries and other materials, even as his brother evaded capture and battled Philippine troops.  Zulkifli Abdhir was charged in the same indictment with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists.

Aircraft Components to Iran – On July 30, 2007, Ali Khan, the owner of TurboAnalysis in Phoenix, AZ, was sentenced in the Eastern District of New York to five years probation, a $1.4 million forfeiture, and $100,000 criminal fine in connection with his role in a conspiracy to illegally export aircraft components to Iran.  Khan previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in September 2005.  He was indicted on May 5, 2004.

F-14 Fighter Jet Components to Iran – On May 8, 2007, Reza Tabib was sentenced in the Central District of California to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with his efforts to illegally export military aircraft parts to Iran via associates in Germany and the United Arab Emirates.  In 2006, federal agents intercepted maintenance kits for the F-14 fighter jet that Tabib and his wife, Terri Tabib, had sent to Iran.  A search of their California home led to the seizure of more than 13,000 aircraft parts as well as various aircraft part “shopping lists” that provided to the couple by an Iranian military officer.  Reza Tabib pleaded guilty on June 5, 2006 after being charged in February 2006.  His wife Terri pleaded guilty on December 14, 2006.

Military Night Vision Components to India – On April 19, 2007, a jury in the Western District of Pennsylvania convicted Electro-Glass Products, a Pennsylvania company, of violating the Arms Export Control Act.  Evidence at trial established that Electro-Glass illegally exported 23,000 solder glass performs, which are components of military night vision equipment, to a company in India without the required U.S. Department of State license.  The company was indicted on April 5, 2006.

Illegal Transfer and Export of Classified and Export Controlled Night Vision Technology – On March 27, 2007, a joint ICE and DCIS investigation resulted in ITT Corporation pleading guilty to two counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act.  Under the terms of the plea, ITT was required to pay $100 million in penalties and forfeitures.  ITT is the 12th largest supplier of sophisticated defense systems to the U.S. military.  ITT’s plea acknowledges their involvement in a scheme to outsource the production of some the most sophisticated pieces of the Generation III night vision system to foreign countries including China in order to reduce costs and enhance financial profits. Further, ITT allowed foreign nationals to work side-by-side with ITT engineers in their Roanoke facility without requisite authorization from the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Origin Weapons to West Africa – On February 9, 2007, in the U. S. District Court, Southern District of California, a federal jury found Yssouf Diabate guilty of violating the Arms Export Control Act and Title 18, United States Code, Section 554: Smuggling Goods from the United States.  ICE agents arrested Diabate following an undercover meeting in which he tendered $13,320.00 as the remaining balance for the purchase and unlawful export of 38 handguns and various components to Cote D’Ivoire.  The guilty verdict is the first successful jury trial conviction using 18 USC 554.

Machine Guns, Arms to Indonesia – On January 18, 2007, Hadianto Djuliarso pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Michigan to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and money laundering in a scheme to purchase and illegally export more than $1 million worth of machine guns, sniper rifles and other weapons to Indonesia.  According to court documents, Djuliarso also made inquiries about purchasing Sidewinder missiles and strafing ammunition for illegal export to Indonesia.  Three other defendants, Ibrahim Bin Amran, Ignatius Soeharli, and David Beecroft, have pleaded guilty in this case.

U.S. Anti-Submarine Torpedo Technology to South Korea – On December 21, 2006, Stuart Choi pleaded guilty to an export violation for his role in a scheme to illegally export U.S. anti-submarine torpedo technology to South Korea.  The ICE investigation revealed that the technology was destined for the South Korean “Blue Shark” anti-submarine torpedo program made public during the summer of 2006.

U.S. Night Vision Technology to China – On December 11, 2006, William Wain Lin Lam, pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to one count of 18 USC 554: Smuggling Goods from the United States.  The conviction was the result of an ICE and Defense Criminal Investigative Service undercover investigation, which revealed that Lam was seeking to purchase and export U.S. Generation III night vision devices to China.  The conviction marks first successful guilty plea involving 18 USC 554, which was enacted in March 2006.

U.S. Sophisticated Technology to Iran – On December 5, 2006, Seyed Rohani pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Iranian Transaction Regulations.  As part of the plea, Rohani agreed to forfeit $72 thousand that he used to purchase a magnetostrictive sensor and related software that he intended to export to Iran via Canada.

Missile Technology / Military Accelerometers to Iran – On November 13, 2006, officials with the Royal Thai Police arrested Jamshid Ghassemi in Bangkok, Thailand, pursuant to a provisional U.S. arrest warrant.  Ghassemi and a co-conspirator, Aurel Fratila, had been indicted on October 17, 2006, in the Southern District of California on charges of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering.  According to the indictment, the defendants attempted to illegally export military gyroscopes and military accelerometers suitable for ballistic missile guidance, as well as spacecraft navigation and control systems, to Romania for ultimate transshipment to Iran. Ghassemi was released by Thai authorities in September 2008 after the U.S. extradition request was denied.  He remains a fugitive.

Military Weapons Scopes to China – On October 25, 2006, Wai Lim William Lam was charged in the District of Connecticut with attempting to smuggle weapons scopes, including submersible night-vision monocular devices, to Hong Kong.  He pleaded guilty on December 11, 2006.

U.S. Military Vehicles to the Middle East – On October 24, 2006, Ronald Wiseman, a former Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) official, was sentenced in the District of Columbia for illegally selling militarized vehicles to individuals in Middle East nations. A second former DRMS official, Gayden Woodson, pleaded guilty the same day in connection with the scheme. Both were charged on May 5, 2005.

Aircraft Parts to Iran – On October 13, 2006, Ernest Koh, doing business as Chong Tek, was sentenced in the Eastern District of New York to jail after his conviction at trial for obtaining components that can be used in C-130 military transport planes and P-3 Naval aircraft, and diverting those parts to Malaysia for ultimate transshipment to Iran. In total, the government found that Koh illegally exported roughly $2.6 million in aircraft parts to Iran. Koh was first charged on October 26, 2005.