[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60377-60378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24324]



[[Page 60377]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


Order Denying Export Privileges

    In the Matter of: Jirair Avanessian, a/k/a Jirair Hijiabadi 
Avanessian, a/k/a Jirair H. Avanessian, a/k/a Jerry Avanessian, a/k/
a Jerry Avanes, 1156 Winchester Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201.

    On July 6, 2011, in the U.S. District Court, Central District of 
California, Jirair Avanessian, a/k/a Jirair Hijiabadi Avanessian, a/k/a 
Jirair H. Avanessian, a/k/a Jerry Avanessian, and a/k/a Jerry Avanes 
(``Avanessian'') was convicted of violating the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq. (2000)) (``IEEPA''). 
Specifically, Avanessian was convicted of one count of violating IEEPA 
by knowingly and willfully violating and causing to be violated the 
United States trade restriction with Iran by exporting and attempting 
to export vacuum pumps and related equipment parts to Iran, via the 
United Arab Emirates, without first having obtained the required 
license or authorization from the United States Department of Treasury, 
Office of Foreign Assets Control for such an export. Avanessian was 
also convicted of one count of conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371) to violate 
IEEPA and one count of money laundering (19 U.S.C. 1956 (h)). 
Avanessian was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by a three-
year supervised release. Avanessian was also ordered to pay a $10,000 
fine and a $300 special assessment. Avanessian was released from prison 
on December 9, 2011.
    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. 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. 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 in 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 (2012). The Regulations 
issued pursuant to the Export Administration Act (50 U.S.C. app. 
2401-2420 (2000)) (``EAA''). 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 
August 15, 2012 (77 FR 49699 (Aug. 16, 2012)), has continued the 
Regulations in effect under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq. (2000)).
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    I have received notice of Avanessian's conviction for violating 
IEEPA, and have provided notice and an opportunity for Avanessian to 
make a written submission to BIS, as provided in Section 766.25 of the 
Regulations. I have not received a submission from Avanessian. 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 Avanessian's export privileges under the 
Regulations for a period of 10 years from the date of Avanessian's 
conviction. I have also decided to revoke all licenses issued pursuant 
to the Act or Regulations in which Avanessian had an interest at the 
time of his conviction.
    Accordingly, it is hereby
    Ordered
    I. Until July 6, 2021, Jirair Avanessian, a/k/a Jirair Hijiabadi 
Avanessian, a/k/a Jirair H. Avanessian, a/k/a Jerry Avanessian, and a/
k/a Jerry Avanes, with a last known address at: 1156 Winchester Avenue, 
Glendale, CA 91201, and when acting for or on behalf of Avanessian, his 
representatives, assigns, agents or employees (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, 
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
    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 Avanessian by affiliation, 
ownership, control or position of responsibility in the conduct of 
trade or related services may also be 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.

[[Page 60378]]

    V. This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect 
until July 6, 2021.
    VI. In accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Avanessian 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 the Avanessian. 
This Order shall be published in the Federal Register.

     Issued this 27th day of September, 2012.
Bernard Kritzer,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-24324 Filed 10-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P