Louisiana Chemical Company Will Forfeit Nearly $2 Million for Illegal Exports

A Louisiana chemical manufacturer agreed to forfeit nearly $2 million for illegally exporting controlled chemicals, the Department of Justice said in a June 10 news release. Natural Advantage, controlled by Carol Callahan Byrne and Brian Byrne, distributed and exported more than 1,500 kilograms of controlled chemicals within the U.S. and worldwide without the required Drug Enforcement Administration registrations and despite DEA warnings, DOJ said. Company executives knew about the unlicensed sales and arranged to use other U.S. companies to sell the controlled List 1 chemicals -- including piperonal, heliotropine and phenylacetic acid -- to foreign customers.

The company illegally exported nearly $2 million worth of chemicals without ensuring that they did not “end up on the black market,” U.S. Attorney David Freed said in a statement. Natural Advantage entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement that includes annual audits of its compliance with U.S chemical regulations, in addition to forfeiture of $1,938,650.10, the amount equal to gross revenue of its List 1 chemical sales. The company also faces up to five years of probation and the Byrnes face up to one year in prison with a supervised release and a fine.