[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7685-7686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02397]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
In the Matter of: Obaidullah Syed, 12 Cottonwood Road,
Northbrook, IL 60659; Order Denying Export Privileges
On May 17, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois, Obaidullah Syed (``Syed'') was convicted of
violating 18 U.S.C. 371. Specifically, Syed was convicted of conspiring
to export computers, computer systems, and associated equipment from
the United States to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission without a
license from U.S. Department of Commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
371. As a result of his conviction, the Court sentenced Syed to one
year and one day in prison, one year and one day of supervised release,
an assessment of $100 and forfeiture in the amount of $247,000.
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.
371, 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). In addition, any Bureau of
Industry and Security (``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 on August 13, 2018, 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.
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BIS received notice of Syed's conviction for violating 18 U.S.C.
371. As provided in section 766.25 of the Export Administration
Regulations (``EAR'' or the ``Regulations''), BIS provided notice and
opportunity for Syed to make a written submission to BIS. 15 CFR
766.25.\2\ BIS has not received a written submission from Syed.
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\2\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2022).
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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 Syed's export privileges under
the Regulations for a period of 10 years from the date of Syed's
conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided to revoke
any BIS-issued licenses in which Syed had an interest at the time of
his conviction.\3\
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\3\ The Director, Office of Export Enforcement, is the
authorizing official for issuance of denial orders pursuant to
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 May 17, 2032, Obaidullah
Syed, with a last known address of 12 Cottonwood Road, Northbrook, IL
60669, 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 ECRA and sections 766.23 and
766.25 of the Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, or
business organization related to Syed 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, Syed 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
[[Page 7686]]
comply with the provisions of part 756 of the Regulations.
Fifth, a copy of this Order shall be delivered to Syed and shall be
published in the Federal Register.
Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in
effect until May 17, 2032.
John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2023-02397 Filed 2-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P