Opinion ID: 775511
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Conviction on Count 4--Violation of the AECA

Text: 38 Count 4 charged that on or about June 16, 1997, Reyes did knowingly and willfully export and attempt to export from the United States defense articles, that is, aircraft component parts which were designated as defense articles on the United States Munitions List, without having first obtained from the Department of State a license for such export . . . all in violation of Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778(b)(2) and (c)[.] Conviction on this count required that the government prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Reyes willfully exported or attempted to export an item on the United States Munitions List without having first obtained a license. United States v. Beck, 615 F.2d 441, 449-50 (7th Cir. 1980). 39 At trial, the prosecution submitted a mountain of evidence to establish that Reyes was aware of his legal duty not to export Munitions List articles to Iran or any foreign country without a license. This evidence included expert testimony establishing that the aircraft parts Reyes attempted to export were designed exclusively for use on a TF-30 military aircraft engine (which is used on F-111 and F-14 military aircraft), as well as many documents (several with Reyes' handwritten notes on them) seized from Reyes' private office, that helped to establish Reyes' knowledge of the Munitions List and the law restricting exports of items on that list. 7 The evidence also included the tape-recorded phone conversation between Reyes and Bembenek in which Reyes explicitly acknowledges both the illegality of shipping to Iran without a license and his awareness of the fact that Texam was shipping the parts it ordered to Iran. This combination of direct and circumstantial evidence was overwhelming and obviously more than sufficient to convict Reyes of Count 4 of the indictment. Circumstantial evidence is of equal probative value to direct evidence, United States v. Vega, 860 F.2d 779, 793 (7th Cir. 1988), and in some cases it is even more reliable. United States v. Ranum, 96 F.3d 1020, 1026 (7th Cir. 1996). Not only is the use of circumstantial evidence permissible, but circumstantial evidence 'may be the sole support for a conviction.' Vega, 860 F.2d at 793-94. 40 All of the material seized from Reyes' office, combined with the recorded conversation with Bembenek, and Agent Heyer's testimony that during his interview Reyes (1) admitted knowing that the shipment of aircraft parts destined for Iran was prohibited by federal law; and (2) acknowledged that he was aware that Siraj had registered with the State Department for eligibility to obtain Munitions List export licenses, provided more than a sufficient basis for the jury to conclude that the defendant was aware that he had to ascertain whether an aircraft component part was on the Munitions List. The evidence also overwhelmingly demonstrated his awareness of the requirement to obtain a license prior to exporting any aircraft part on the Munitions List. Reyes' obvious disregard for his known legal duties in attempting to export items on the Munitions List without a license, provided more than sufficient grounds for the jury's finding of a willful violation of the AECA. We thus hold that the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant of Count 4 of the indictment. 41