[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66677-66678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18397]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


Order Denying Export Privileges; In the Matter of: Rami Najm 
Ghanem, Inmate Number: 73420-112, MCFP Springfield, Federal Medical 
Center, P.O. Box 4000, Springfield, MO 65801

    On October 31, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Central 
District of California, Rami Najm Ghanem (``Ghanem'') was convicted of 
violating 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 554 and section 38 of the Arms 
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C 2778) (``AECA''). Specifically, Ghanem was 
convicted of having knowingly and willfully engaged in the business of 
weapons brokering activities without the required licenses, and of 
having engaged in negotiating and arranging contracts, purchases, 
sales, and transfers of defense articles, foreign defense articles, 
defense services, and foreign defense services, including for machine 
guns.
    Pursuant to section 1760(e) of the Export Control Reform Act 
(``ECRA''), the export privileges of any person who has been convicted 
of certain offenses, including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 
U.S.C. 554 and section 38 of the AECA, may be denied for a period of up 
to ten (10) years from the date of his/her conviction. See 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.
    BIS received notice of Ghanem's convictions for violating 18 U.S.C. 
371, 18 U.S.C. 554 and section 38 of the AECA. BIS provided notice and 
opportunity for Ghanem 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 Ghanem.
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    \2\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2024).
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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 Ghanem's export privileges 
under the Regulations for a period of 10 years from the date of 
Ghanem's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided 
to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Ghanem 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 31, 2032, Rami 
Najm Ghanem, with a last known address of Inmate Number: 73420-112, 
MCFP Springfield, Federal Medical Center, P.O. Box 4000, Springfield, 
MO 65801, 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;

[[Page 66678]]

    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 (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 Ghanem 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, Ghanem 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 Ghanem and shall 
be published in the Federal Register.
    Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in 
effect until October 31, 2032.

John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2024-18397 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P