[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16584-16585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry And Security


Order Denying Export Privileges

    In the Matter of: Luis Felipe Varela, 4748 N. Mesa Street, Apt. 
245, El Paso, TX 79912

    On January 28, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the Western 
District of Texas, Luis Felipe Varela (``Varela'') was convicted of 
violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). Specifically, Varela was convicted of 
fraudulently and knowingly attempting to export from the United States 
to Mexico two FN M249S, 5.56 caliber rifles, which are designated as 
defense articles on the United States Munitions List, in violation of 
18 U.S.C. 554. Varela was sentenced to six (6) months in prison, three 
years of supervised release, 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 Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) licenses or other 
authorizations issued under ECRA, in which the person had an

[[Page 16585]]

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. Varela's conviction post-dates 
ECRA's enactment on August 13, 2018.
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    BIS received notice of Varela's conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. 
554(a), and has provided notice and opportunity for Varela 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 has not received a written submission from Varela.
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    \2\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2020). 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 
13, 222 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 
above.
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    Based upon my review of the record and consultations with BIS's 
Office of Exporter Services, including its Director, and the facts 
available to BIS, I have decided to deny Varela's export privileges 
under the Regulations for a period of five years from the date of 
Varela's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided 
to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Varela had an interest at 
the time of his conviction.\3\
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    \3\ The Director, Office of Export Enforcement, is now the 
authorizing official for issuance of denial orders, pursuant to 
recent amendments to the Regulations (85 FR 73411, November 18, 
2020).
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    Accordingly, it is hereby ordered:
    First, from the date of this Order until January 28, 2024, Luis 
Felipe Varela, with a last known address of 4748 N. Mesa Street, Apt. 
245, El Paso, TX 79912, 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 the Export Control Reform Act 
(50 U.S.C. 4819(e)) and Sections 766.23 and 766.25 of the Regulations, 
any other person, firm, corporation, or business organization related 
to Varela 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, Varela 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 Varela and shall 
be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until January 28, 2024.

John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2021-06532 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P