Florida Resident Arrested After Trying to Illegally Export to Libya
A Florida resident was arrested for trying to illegally export dual-use goods to Libya, the Justice Department said in an Oct. 30 press release. Peter Sotis was charged with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Regulations.
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Sotis, owner of Add Helium, a diving company, allegedly conspired to transfer four rebreathers to a shipping company for export to Libya without the required Commerce Department licenses. Sotis tried to transfer the items, which are controlled under the EAR for national security reasons, after being told by a Commerce agent that the items could not be exported while a license was pending, the Justice Department said. A rebreather recycles a diver's breath, and a side effect is that it produces no bubbles, concealing a diver’s activities from being seen on the surface of water, thereby posing a security threat.