Where Industry and Security Intersect
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WASHINGTON -- A U.S. District Court jury for the Western District of Louisiana has found Dien Duc Huynh and his corporation, Dien's Auto Salvage, guilty of ten counts of violating U.S. export laws, Commerce Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, F. Amanda DeBusk announced.
Dien Duc Huynh and Dien's Auto Salvage were convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the Export Administration Act, seven counts of violating the Export Administration Act, two counts of violating the Trading with the Enemy Act and one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property. Following his conviction, Dien Duc Huynh agreed to plead guilty to two forfeiture counts and pay $250,000 in lieu of forfeiting his property to the government.
The conviction results from a joint investigation by the Commerce Dept. Dallas Office of Export Enforcement, the U.S. Customs Service and the Department of Defense. Investigators found evidence that the defendants were purchasing surplus military vehicles from Army bases in the U.S. and Europe and exporting them to Vietnam through Singapore in violation of U.S. export control laws.
The vehicles are controlled for national security, antiterrorism and regional stability reasons and an export license is required for export to Vietnam. Several of the violations occurred during the period when the United States maintained a comprehensive trade embargo against Vietnam.
The Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Export Administration, administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply. Criminal penalties, as well as administrative sanctions, can be imposed for violations of the Regulations.
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.