Two U.S. citizens and their company, Online Micro LLC, were sentenced May 16 in U.S. District Court, D.C., in connection with a scheme to illegally export millions of dollars worth of computer-related goods from the U.S. to Iran through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Justice Department said. U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle sentenced Massoud Habibion, 49, to 13 months in prison for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and to defraud the U.S. She sentenced Mohsen Motamedian, 44, to three years supervised release for obstruction of justice. Habibion and Motamedian pleaded guilty to these charges on Feb. 16, 2012 (see ITT Online Archives [Ref.11042527]).

The "Basic Guide to Exporting" by the National Custom Brokers and Forwarders Association of America is now available as an e-book, it said. The reference book, with more than 40,000 copies now in circulation, can be downloaded to any e-book reader for about $7, it said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a notice correcting spelling errors in final rules amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by (i) adding three persons to the entity list (published on April 18, 2012), and (ii) adding sixteen persons under eighteen entries to the Entity List (published on April 27, 2012). Corrections are as follows:

Proposed rules on the definition of “specially designed” in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and Implementation of Export Control Reform (ECR) were submitted for Office of Management and Budget approval by the Bureau of Industry and Security on May 3 and 4, respectively. The State Department also submitted its “specially designed” proposed rule to OMB on May 4. Additionally, BIS submitted its final rule implementing the changes to the EAR from the Wassenaar Arrangement 2011 Plenary Agreements. OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has 90 days to review the proposed rules, which may be extended on a one-time basis by 30 days.

The Bureau of Industry and Security issued an order denying Davoud Baniameri (aka Davoud Baniamery, David Baniameri, and David Baniamery), currently incarcerated in California, export privileges under the Export Administration Regulations for 10 years from the date of his conviction for IEEPA and AECA violations, i.e. until August 12, 2021. Baniameri was convicted of conspiring to export goods and technology to Iran, in violation of International Emergence Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and knowingly and willfully attempting to export from the U.S. defense articles designated on the U.S. Munitions List (ten connector adapters) without first having obtained the required license or other approval for such export, in violation of the Arms Export Controls Act (AECA). In addition, BIS decided to revoke all licenses issued pursuant to the Act or Regulations in which Lim had an interest at the time of his conviction.

The Bureau of Industry and Security completed the first day of its Complying with U.S. Export Controls conference in Washington, DC on May 7. At the two-day conference, which is offered by BIS in several cities throughout the year, BIS and Census outreach and counseling staff provide an in-depth examination of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). During the first day, BIS provided training on the classification of items on the Commerce Control List (CCL), license exceptions, and how to submit license applications and commodity classification requests to BIS through the Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R). Highlights follow:

BIS reported that it added the following names to the denied persons list: Davoud Baniameri (aka Davoud Baniamery, David Baniameri, David Baniamery, Davoud Baniameri, Davoud Baniamery, David Baniameri, and David Baniamery).

The Census Bureau issued AES Broadcast #2012033 as a reminder that the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) will host an Automated Export System (AES) Compliance Seminar and AESPcLink Workshops in East Lansing, Mich., May 9-10. Also, Census said, The Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association will host an AES Compliance Seminar and AESPcLink Workshops in Newport Beach, California May 15-16.

The Census Bureau posted the May 2012 AES Newsletter to its website. The newsletter contains articles that provide guidance on, among other things: (1) the new AES Compliance Rate for filers; (2) its report on importing and exporting companies for 2009-10; (3) how to report the NVOCC "booking number"; (4) the DSP-5 Foreign End User as Ultimate Consignee for AES; (5) new features available in USA Trade Online; and (6) AES Broadcast messages.

The Bureau of Industry and Security scheduled a partially open meeting of its Materials Technical Advisory Committee for May 17, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to materials and related technology. During the open session, the committee will hear remarks from BIS senior management, a report on the Composite Working Group and other working groups, a report on regime-based activities, and a discussion on the Role of the Department of Commerce in export of Avian Influenza Virus and related technology. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by May 10, 2012.