BIS Suspends Export Privileges of 10 People, Including for Shipments to Russia, China

March 19, 2024 |Penalties and Courts

The Bureau of Industry and Security recently suspended the export privileges of 10 people for illegally exporting either weapons, ammunition or sensitive documents to Russia, China, Haiti or Mexico.

California resident Igor Panchernikov was convicted June 26, 2023, for illegally exporting defense articles, including thermal imaging rifle scopes and night vision goggles, to Russia without a State Department license, BIS said. Panchernikov was sentenced to 27 months in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Panchernikov’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Ron Rockwell Hansen, an inmate at a Arizona federal prison, was convicted Sept. 24, 2019, of attempting espionage after trying to send to China sensitive U.S. military documents. BIS said the documents were marked as “SECRET//NOFORN” and included information on “military readiness in a particular region.” Hansen had “intent and reason to believe that such documents and information would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of any foreign nation.” Hansen was sentenced to 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. BIS suspended Hansen’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Hendel Laurent, an inmate at a Florida federal prison, was convicted Jan. 19, 2023, after trying to export non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms and detachable magazines to Haiti without a license. Laurent was sentenced to 46 months in prison, two years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. BIS suspended Laurent’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Arizona resident Thomas Allen Glomski was convicted May 12, 2022, after conspiring to smuggle and smuggling ammunition from the U.S. to Mexico. Glomski was sentenced to time served, 36 months of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. BIS suspended Glomski’s export privileges for seven years from the conviction date.

Victor Avalos-Tavera, an inmate at a California federal prison, was convicted June 21, 2023, of smuggling firearms from the U.S. to Mexico and sentenced to 57 months in prison and a $200 assessment. BIS suspended Avalos-Tavera’s export privileges for eight years from the conviction date.

Texas federal prison inmate Noe De Hoyos was convicted April 13, 2023, of smuggling firearms, firearms accessories and ammunition from the U.S. to Mexico, and was sentenced to 51 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. BIS suspended Hoyos’ export privileges for eight years from the conviction date.

Martin Najera, an inmate at a Texas federal prison, was convicted Dec. 19, 2022, of conspiring to smuggle firearms from the U.S. to Mexico. Najera was sentenced to 37 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $7,513.70 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, and BIS suspended Najera’s export privileges for seven years from the conviction date.

Oziel Zuniga, an inmate at a Texas federal prison, was convicted Jan. 17, 2023, of smuggling a “Romarm/Cugir, Model Draco, 7.62x39 mm caliber pistol” to Mexico. Zuniga was sentenced to 51 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Zuniga’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Jonathan Guadalupe Almanza of Texas was convicted July 19, 2023, of smuggling a Glock 17 GEN5 pistol with three magazines, a Stoeger 9mm STR-9 pistol with one magazine, and one Springfield 9mm Hellcat pistol with two magazines. Almanza was sentenced to 38 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Almanza’s export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.

Alejandro Valles of Arizona was convicted Feb. 14, 2022, of smuggling a M203 40mm grenade launcher barrel from the U.S. to Mexico, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison with credit for time served, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended Valles’ export privileges for five years from the conviction date.