[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88569-88570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28275]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


In the Matter of: Donald Robert Witherow, 6651 Buffalo Road, 
Cresson, PA 16421; Order Denying Export Privileges

    On October 13, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Western 
District of Pennsylvania, Donald Robert Witherow (``Witherow'') was 
convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). Specifically, Witherow was 
convicted of smuggling firearms ammunition and firearms magazines from 
the United States to the Netherlands.
    As a result of his conviction, the Court sentenced Witherow to 12 
months and one day of imprisonment, one year of supervised release and 
a $200 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 Witherow'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 Witherow to make a written submission to BIS. 15 CFR 
766.25.\2\ BIS has not received a written submission from Witherow.
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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 Witherow's export privileges 
under the Regulations for a period of three years from the date of 
Witherow's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided 
to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Witherow 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 October 13, 2025, Donald 
Robert Witherow, with a last known address of 6651 Buffalo Road, 
Cresson, PA 16421, 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

[[Page 88570]]

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 Witherow 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, Witherow 
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 Witherow and 
shall be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until October 13, 2025.

John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2023-28275 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P