[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 111 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27773-27774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13689]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


Action Affecting Export Privileges; Ghassan Tabbaa

In the Matter of: Ghassan Tabbaa, 27861 Hacienda Blvd., East 
219A, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

Order Denying Export Privileges

    On January 3, 2008, in the U.S. District Court for Southern 
District of Florida, Ghassan Tabbaa (``Tabbaa'') pled guilty to and was 
convicted of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
(50 U.S.C. 1701-1706 (2000)) (``IEEPA''). Tabbaa pled guilty to 
knowingly and willfully violating the embargo against Syria by 
attempting to export and re-export two Mercedes Benz automobiles from 
the United States to Syria via the Lebanese Republic, without the 
required license issued by the Department of Commerce. In addition, 
Tabbaa was also convicted of one false statement count. Tabbaa was 
sentenced to 4 days in prison (credit time served); two years of 
supervised release, including six months of home confinement; a $200 
special assessment; and forfeiture of one Mercedes Benz.
    Section 766.25 of the Export Administration Regulations (``EAR'' or 
``Regulations'') \1\ provides, in pertinent part, that ``[t]he Director 
of the Office of Exporter Services, in consultation with the Director 
of the Office of Export Enforcement, may deny the export privileges of 
any person who has been convicted of a violation of the [Export 
Administration Act (``EAA'')], the EAR, or any order, license or 
authorization issued thereunder; any regulation, license, or order 
issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701-1706); 18 U.S.C. 793, 794 or 798; section 4(b) of the Internal 
Security Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 783(b)), or section 38 of the Arms 
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778).'' 15 CFR 766.25(a); see also 
Section 11(h) of the EAA, 50 U.S.C. app. Sec.  2410(h). The denial of 
export privileges under this provision may be for a period of up to 10 
years from the date of the conviction. 15 CFR 766.25(d); see also 50 
U.S.C. app. Sec.  2410(h). In addition, Section 750.8 of the 
Regulations states that the Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of 
Exporter Services may revoke any Bureau of Industry and Security 
(``BIS'') licenses previously issued in which the person had an 
interest at the time of his conviction.
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    \1\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2009). The Regulations 
issued pursuant to the EAA, which is currently codified at 50 U.S.C. 
app. Sec. Sec.  2401-2420 (2000). Since August 21, 2001, the EAA has 
been in lapse and the President, through Executive Order 13222 of 
August 17, 2001 (3 CFR, 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which has been 
extended by successive Presidential Notices, the most recent being 
that of July 23, 2008 (73 FR 43603, July 25, 2008), has continued 
the Regulations in effect under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706 (2000)).
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    I have received notice of Tabbaa's conviction for violating the 
IEEPA, and have provided notice and an opportunity for Tabbaa to make a 
written submission to BIS, as provided in Section 766.25 of the 
Regulations. I have not received a submission from Tabbaa. Based upon 
my review and consultations with BIS's Office of Export Enforcement, 
including its Director, and the facts available to BIS, I have decided 
to deny Tabbaa's export privileges under the Regulations for a period 
of five years from the date of Tabbaa's conviction. I have also decided 
to revoke all licenses issued pursuant to the Act or Regulations in 
which Tabbaa had an interest at the time of his conviction.
    Accordingly, it is hereby ordered:
    I. Until January 3, 2013, Ghassan Tabbaa, currently at: 27861 
Hacienda Blvd., East 219A, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, and when 
acting for or on behalf of Tabbaa, his representatives, assigns, 
agents, or employees, (collectively referred to hereinafter as the 
``Denied Person'') may not, directly or indirectly, participate in any 
way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology 
(hereinafter collectively referred to as ``item'') exported or to be 
exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, or 
in any other activity subject to the Regulations, including, but not 
limited to:
    A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, License 
Exception, or export control document;
    B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, 
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, 
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, 
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the 
United States that is subject to the Regulations, or in any other 
activity subject to the Regulations; or

[[Page 27774]]

    C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item 
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to 
the Regulations, or in any other activity subject to the Regulations.
    II. No person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:
    A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of the Denied Person any item 
subject to the Regulations;
    B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted 
acquisition by the Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or 
control of any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be 
exported from the United States, including financing or other support 
activities related to a transaction whereby the Denied Person acquires 
or attempts to acquire such ownership, possession or control;
    C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition 
or attempted acquisition from the Denied Person of any item subject to 
the Regulations that has been exported from the United States;
    D. Obtain from the Denied Person in the United States any item 
subject to the Regulations with knowledge or reason to know that the 
item will be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or
    E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the 
Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States 
and which is owned, possessed or controlled by the Denied Person, or 
service any item, of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or 
controlled by the Denied Person if such service involves the use of any 
item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from 
the United States. For purposes of this paragraph, servicing means 
installation, maintenance, repair, modification or testing.
    III. After notice and opportunity for comment as provided in 
Section 766.23 of the Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, 
or business organization related to Ghassan Tabbaa by affiliation, 
ownership, control, or position of responsibility in the conduct of 
trade or related services may also be made subject to the provisions of 
this Order if necessary to prevent evasion of the Order.
    IV. This Order does not prohibit any export, reexport, or other 
transaction subject to the Regulations where the only items involved 
that are subject to the Regulations are the foreign-produced direct 
product of U.S.-origin technology.
    V. This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect 
until January 3, 2013.
    VI. In accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Tabbaa may file 
an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 45 days from the 
date of this Order and must comply with the provisions of Part 756 of 
the Regulations.
    VII. A copy of this Order shall be delivered to Tabbaa. This Order 
shall be published in the Federal Register.

    Entered this 4th day of June 2009.
Bernard Kritzer,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. E9-13689 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P