Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Commerce

###### Bureau of Industry and Security

On February 26, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Eli Ramirez-Rios (“Ramirez-Rios”) was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. 554(a). Specifically, Ramirez-Rios was convicted of knowingly exporting and sending or attempting to export and send from the United States to Mexico, a firearm, namely, a Palmetto State Armory Build the Wall 10, AR-10 rifle with an obliterated serial number, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 554(a). As a result of his conviction, Ramirez-Rios was sentenced to 28 months in prison and a $100 assessment.

                    Pursuant to Section 1760(e) of the Export Control Reform Act (“ECRA”),[1]                                          the export privileges of any person who has been convicted of certain offenses, including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 554, may be denied for a period of up to ten (10) years from the date of his/her conviction. 50 U.S.C. 4819(e) (Prior Convictions). In addition, any Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) licenses or other authorizations issued under ECRA, in which the person had an                           ( print page 51116)                        interest at the time of the conviction, may be revoked.                     *Id.*

                    BIS received notice of Ramirez-Rios's conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. 554, and has provided notice and opportunity for Ramirez-Rios to make a written submission to BIS, as provided in Section 766.25 of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR” or the “Regulations”). 15 CFR 766.25.[2]                                          BIS has not received a written submission from Ramirez-Rios.                

                    Based upon my review of the record and consultations with BIS's Office of Exporter Services, including its Director, and the facts available to BIS, I have decided to deny Ramirez-Rios's export privileges under the Regulations for a period of seven years from the date of Ramirez-Rios's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided to revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which Ramirez-Rios had an interest at the time of his conviction.[3] 

                    Accordingly, it is hereby                     *ordered:*

*First,*                     from the date of this Order until February 26, 2027, Eli Ramirez-Rios, with a last known address of Honduras #88 COL, Modelo, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MX, and when acting for or on his behalf, his successors, assigns, employees, agents or representatives (“the Denied Person”), may not directly or indirectly participate in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology (hereinafter collectively referred to as “item”) exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, including, but not limited to:                

A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, license exception, or export control document;

B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, or engaging in any other activity subject to the Regulations; or

C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, or from any other activity subject to the Regulations.

*Second,*                     no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:                

A. Export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) to or on behalf of the Denied Person any item subject to the Regulations;

B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted acquisition by the Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or control of any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States, including financing or other support activities related to a transaction whereby the Denied Person acquires or attempts to acquire such ownership, possession or control;

C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition or attempted acquisition from the Denied Person of any item subject to the Regulations that has been exported from the United States;

D. Obtain from the Denied Person in the United States any item subject to the Regulations with knowledge or reason to know that the item will be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or

E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is owned, possessed or controlled by the Denied Person, or service any item, of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by the Denied Person if such service involves the use of any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States. For purposes of this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, repair, modification or testing.

*Third,*                     pursuant to Section 1760(e) of the Export Control Reform Act (50 U.S.C. 4819(e)) and Sections 766.23 and 766.25 of the Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, or business organization related to Ramirez-Rios by ownership, control, position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the conduct of trade or business may also be made subject to the provisions of this Order in order to prevent evasion of this Order.                

*Fourth,*                     in accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Ramirez-Rios may file an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of this Order and must comply with the provisions of Part 756 of the Regulations.                

*Fifth,*                     a copy of this Order shall be delivered to Ramirez-Rios and shall be published in the                     **Federal Register**                    .                

*Sixth,*                     this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until February 26, 2027.                

John Sonderman,

Director, Office of Export Enforcement. 

# Footnotes

1.                             ECRA was enacted as part of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and as amended is codified at 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852. Ramirez-Rios's conviction post-dates ECRA's enactment on August 13, 2018.                    
        Back to Citation      

2.                             The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 15 CFR Parts 730-774 (2021).                    
        Back to Citation      

3.                             The Director, Office of Export Enforcement, is now the authorizing official for issuance of denial orders, pursuant to recent amendments to the Regulations (85 FR 73411, November 18, 2020).                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. 2021-19716 Filed 9-13-21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P