BIS Suspends Export Privileges for Illegal Shipments to Hong Kong, Mexico, DR

The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of one person for illegally exporting technology to Hong Kong, eight people for illegally exporting guns and ammunition to Mexico and two people for illegally sending firearms to the Dominican Republic.

Alex Yun Cheong Yue of California was convicted March 3, 2021, of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when he illegally exported cesium atomic clocks from the U.S. to Hong Kong without a license (see 2103080007). Yue was sentenced to time served, three years of supervised release and a $400 court assessment. The court also “ordered the civil forfeiture of Yue’s interest in $5,690.67 to” the U.S. BIS suspended Yue’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Luis Manuel Bray-Vazquez, an inmate at a California federal prison, was convicted Aug. 24, 2021, of illegally smuggling five 7.62x39mm caliber rifles, four 7.62x39mm caliber pistols, three 5.56 caliber rifles, one Barrett .50 caliber rifle, one .45 ACP caliber pistol and one 9x19mm caliber pistol from the U.S. to Mexico. Bray-Vazquez was sentenced to 36 months of “confinement” with credit for time served, three years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. BIS suspended Bray-Vazquez’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Johnathon Martin Soria of Texas was convicted July 12, 2021, of illegally smuggling firearms controlled under Category I of the U.S. Munitions List from the U.S. to Mexico. Soria was sentenced to 50 months of “confinement” with credit for time served, three years of supervised release, a $100 assessment and a $1,000 criminal fine. BIS suspended Soria’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

David Alberto Duarte-Marquez of Mexico was convicted Jan. 26, 2021, of illegally smuggling M203 40mm grenade launcher barrels from the U.S. to Mexico. Duarte-Marquez was sentenced to 33 months of “confinement” with credit for time served, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Duarte-Marquez’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Mario Ismael Quijada of Arizona was convicted Jan. 13, 2020, of “conspiring to straw purchase and smuggle firearms to Mexico,” BIS said. Quijada was sentenced to one year and one day of “confinement” with credit for time served and three years of supervised release. BIS suspended Quijada’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Leonel Apolinar Lopez of Arizona was convicted March 9, 2020, of also “conspiring to straw purchase and smuggle firearms to Mexico,” BIS said. Lopez was sentenced to one year and one day of “confinement” with credit for time served and three years of supervised release. BIS suspended Lopez’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Jacobo Javier Garza-Solis of Texas was convicted Oct. 16, 2020, of exporting “one Glock, .40 caliber, semi-automatic handgun charged with a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition and approximately 1,540 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition” to Mexico, BIS said. Garza-Solis was sentenced to 82 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. BIS suspended Garza-Solis’ export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Reynoldo Lopez-Cota of Arizona was convicted May 7, 2021, of smuggling 1,000 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, 100 rounds of .223 drum magazine and one speed loader from the U.S. Mexico, BIS said. Lopez-Cota was sentenced to two years of “confinement” with credit for time served, three years of supervised release and a $200 assessment. BIS suspended Lopez-Cota’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Oscar Ignacio Lopez Soto of Arizona was convicted Aug. 10, 2021, of “conspiring to straw purchase and smuggle firearms to Mexico,” BIS said. Soto was sentenced to one year and one day of “confinement” with credit for time served, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Soto’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Victor Ceballos Polanco of Georgia was convicted Nov 6, 2020, of conspiring to export firearms from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic using an alias, BIS said. Polanco was sentenced to three years probation and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Polanco’s export privileges for five years from the conviction date.

Luis Sanchez of New Jersey was convicted Oct. 15, 2020, of conspiring to export firearms from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic using an alias, BIS said, and hid the firearms in “household items.” Sanchez was sentenced to one year and one day of “confinement,” three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Sanchez’s export privileges for six years from the conviction date.