2 Florida Residents Sentenced for Trying to Illegally Export Rebreathing Equipment to Libya

Peter Sotis and Emilie Voissem, two Florida residents, were sentenced Jan. 12 for conspiring to and illegally attempting to ship export-controlled rebreather diving equipment to Libya, the Department of Justice said. Sotis will spend 57 months in prison while Voissem will serve a five-month sentence in prison and a five-month term in home confinement. The scheme to illegally export the rebreather equipment -- an item that is export controlled due to its enhanced underwater breathing capabilities and dual use as a military and civilian item -- was hatched in August 2016.

Due to their place on the Commerce Control List, the items required a license to be exported. Sotis owned 80% of diving equipment and training company Add Helium and Voissem was the office manager. Despite being warned that the equipment couldn't be exported without a license, Sotis and Voissem lied to shipping company Ramas about being told this information, DOJ said. Sotis also threatened a government witness not to cooperate with the federal investigation, testimony revealed.