Informed Compliance Means You Can’t Pull a Homer
You can’t mess with export controls, especially if you deal with sensitive technologies. Here’s an example of the consequences of export control violations: Atmospheric Glow Technologies and former University of Tennessee professor J. Reece Roth.
July 2006: Feds start inspecting.
June 2008: Company files for bankruptcy
August 2008: Company pleads guilty
May 2009: Prosecuters recommend 5 – 6 1/2 years in prison for Mr. Roth. Meanwhile sentencing will take place at another hearing at an undetermined date in the future.
Props again to International Trade Law blog:
Dr. Roth faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy and fraud convictions. The 15 convictions for violating the AECA each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Atmospheric Glow Technologies faces a maximum criminal fine of $1,000,000 and a maximum term of five years of probation for each of the 10 counts.
KnoxNews.com has good coverage of the whole saga
Date: June 10, 2009
Categories: Licensing, export compliance