Huntsville, Alabama Defense Contractor Indicted on Export Control Charges
While the ITT case is the largest criminal export controls case to date, ITT is not the only defense contractor to have recently run afoul of U.S. laws governing the export of defense articles.
Last Thursday, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, indicted Huntsville, Alabama-based Axion Corporation on charges of illegally exporting sensitive military technology overseas, fraud involving aircraft parts and submitting false documents to the government.
According to the indictment, in September 2003 and continuing thereafter, Axion Corporation and its owner, Alexander Nooredin Latifi, "knowingly and willfully exported defense articles, specifically technical drawings of the bifilar weight assembly for the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, to overseas manufacturers without first obtaining a required license and authorization from the State Department."
In addition to criminal penalties, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of any assets and property derived from the offenses alleged in the indictment, including the company's headquarters and $659,280 in proceeds derived from alleged criminal activity.
Labels: Export Controls, ITAR