[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51115-51116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19716]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


In the Matter of: Eli Ramirez-Rios, Honduras #88 COL, Modelo, 
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MX; Order Denying Export Privileges

    On February 26, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of Texas, Eli Ramirez-Rios (``Ramirez-Rios'') was convicted of 
violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). Specifically, Ramirez-Rios was convicted of 
knowingly exporting and sending or attempting to export and send from 
the United States to Mexico, a firearm, namely, a Palmetto State Armory 
Build the Wall 10, AR-10 rifle with an obliterated serial number, in 
violation of 18 U.S.C. 554(a). As a result of his conviction, Ramirez-
Rios was sentenced to 28 months in prison and a $100 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, 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 51116]]

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. Ramirez-Rios's conviction post-
dates ECRA's enactment on August 13, 2018.
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    BIS received notice of Ramirez-Rios's conviction for violating 18 
U.S.C. 554, and has provided notice and opportunity for Ramirez-Rios 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 Ramirez-
Rios.
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    \2\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR Parts 730-774 (2021).
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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 Ramirez-Rios's export 
privileges under the Regulations for a period of seven years from the 
date of Ramirez-Rios's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has 
also decided to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Ramirez-Rios 
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 February 26, 2027, Eli 
Ramirez-Rios, with a last known address of Honduras #88 COL, Modelo, 
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MX, 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, reexport, or transfer (in-country) 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 Ramirez-Rios 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, Ramirez-
Rios 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 Ramirez-Rios and 
shall be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until February 26, 2027.

John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2021-19716 Filed 9-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P