West Virginia Resident Pleads Guilty to Undervaluing Tech Exports to Pakistan

Rana Tanveer, a Beckley, West Virginia, resident, pleaded guilty April 20 to committing an export fraud violation by submitting false export valuations for certain items shipped to Pakistan, DOJ announced. Tanveer faces a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

In 2017, Tanveer bought two "high technology items" worth more than $4,000 combined but created a fake invoice that "intentionally understated" the goods' value at less than $200. Tanveer then shipped the products to Pakistan through a freight forwarding service. From 2014 to 2018, Tanveer used other false invoices that "deliberately undervalued the purchase cost of other U.S. origin technology items" exported to Pakistan, DOJ said.

Attorney General Matthew Olsen said DOJ "is steadfast in its commitment to prosecute those who would undermine our nation's security and economic interest by flouting U.S. export control laws."