[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 875-876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00046]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


In the Matter of: Ruben Beltran-Ramos, a/k/a Ruben Ramos-Beltran, 
Inmate Number: 50076-479, Big Spring Correctional Institution, 2001 
Rickabaugh Drive, Big Spring, TX 79720; Order Denying Export Privileges

    On November 20, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of Texas, Ruben Beltran-Ramos a/k/a Ruben Ramos-Beltran 
(``Beltran-Ramos'') was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). 
Specifically, Beltran-Ramos was convicted of knowingly exporting and 
attempting to export five thousand cartridges of 7.62 x 39 mm caliber 
ammunition from the United States to Mexico, contrary to Section 38 of 
the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. 2778 (2012). Beltran-Ramos was 
sentenced to 26 months in prison and a $100 special assessment.
    Pursuant to Section 1760(e) of the Export Control Reform Act 
(``ECRA''),\1\ the export privileges of any person who has been 
convicted of certain offenses, including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 
554(a), may be denied for a period of up to ten (10) years from the 
date of his/her conviction. 50 U.S.C. 4819(e) (Prior Convictions). In 
addition, any BIS licenses or other authorizations issued under ECRA in 
which the person had an interest at the time of the conviction may be 
revoked. Id.
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    \1\ ECRA was enacted as part of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and as amended is 
codified at 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852. Beltran-Ramos's conviction post-
dates ECRA's enactment on August 13, 2018.
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    BIS has received notice of Beltran-Ramos's conviction for violating 
18 U.S.C. 554(a), and has provided notice and an opportunity for 
Beltran-Ramos to make a written submission to BIS, as provided in 
Section 766.25 of the Export Administration Regulations (``EAR'' or the 
``Regulations''). 15 CFR 766.25.\2\ BIS

[[Page 876]]

has not received a submission from Beltran-Ramos.
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    \2\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2019). The Regulations 
originally issued under the Export Administration Act of 1979, as 
amended, 50 U.S.C. 4601-4623 (Supp. III 2015) (``EAA''), which 
lapsed on August 21, 2001. The President, through Executive Order 
13222 of August 17, 2001 (3 CFR, 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which was 
extended by successive Presidential Notices, continued the 
Regulations in full force and effect under the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq. (2012) 
(``IEEPA''). Section 1768 of ECRA, 50 U.S.C. 4826, provides in 
pertinent part that all rules and regulations that were made or 
issued under the EAA, including as continued in effect pursuant to 
IEEPA, and were in effect as of ECRA's date of enactment (August 13, 
2018), shall continue in effect according to their terms until 
modified, superseded, set aside, or revoked through action 
undertaken pursuant to the authority provided under ECRA. See note 
1, supra.
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    Based upon my review of the record and consultations with BIS's 
Office of Export Enforcement, including its Director, and the facts 
available to BIS, I have decided to deny Beltran-Ramos's export 
privileges pursuant to ECRA for a period of 10 years from the date of 
Beltran-Ramos's conviction. I have also decided to revoke any BIS 
license issued under ECRA in which Beltran-Ramos had an interest at the 
time of his conviction.
    Accordingly, it is hereby ordered:
    First, from the date of this Order until November 20, 2028, Ruben 
Beltran-Ramos, a/k/a Ruben Ramos-Beltran, with a last known address of 
Inmate Number: 50076-470, Big Spring Correctional Institution, 2001 
Rickabaugh Drive, Big Spring, TX 79720, and when acting for or on his 
behalf, his successors, assigns, employees, agents or representatives 
(``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 engaging 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 from any other activity subject to the Regulations.
    Second, 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.
    Third, pursuant to Section 1760(e) of ECRA and Sections 766.23 and 
766.25 of the Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, or 
business organization related to Beltran-Ramos by ownership, control, 
position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the 
conduct of trade or business may also be made subject to the provisions 
of this Order in order to prevent evasion of this Order.
    Fourth, in accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Beltran-
Ramos 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.
    Fifth, a copy of this Order shall be delivered to Beltran-Ramos and 
shall be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until November 20, 2028.

    Issued this 31st day of December 2019.
Karen H. Nies-Vogel,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-00046 Filed 1-7-20; 8:45 am]
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