[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18518-18519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06418]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


In the Matter of: Obed Rafael Cuevas-Serratos; 1502 Calle Del 
Norte, Apt. 11, Laredo, TX 78041-6000; Order Denying Export Privileges

    On August 3, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of Texas, Obed Rafael Cuevas-Serratos (``Cuevas-Serratos'') 
was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). Specifically, Cuevas-
Serratos was convicted of smuggling and attempting to smuggle from the 
United States to Mexico, approximately 13000 rounds of 7.62 millimeter 
ammunition. As a result of his conviction, the Court sentenced Cuevas-
Serratos to 30 months of confinement, three years of supervised 
release, 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). 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 Cuevas-Serratos's conviction for violating 
18 U.S.C. 554. As provided in section 766.25 of the Export 
Administration Regulations (``EAR'' or the ``Regulations''), BIS 
provided notice and opportunity for Cuevas-Serratos to make a written 
submission to BIS. 15 CFR 766.25.\2\ BIS has not received a written 
submission from Cuevas-Serratos.
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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 Cuevas-Serratos's export 
privileges under the Regulations for a period of nine years from the 
date of Cuevas-Serratos's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services 
has also decided to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Cuevas-
Serratos 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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[[Page 18519]]

    Accordingly, it is hereby ordered:
    First, from the date of this Order until August 3, 2030, Obed 
Rafael Cuevas-Serratos, with last known addresses of 1502 Calle Del 
Norte, Apt. 11, Laredo, TX 78041-6000, 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 Cuevas-Serratos 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, Cuevas-
Serratos 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 Cuevas-Serratos 
and shall be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until August 3, 2030.

John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2023-06418 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P