Bassem Afif Herz Pleads Guilty to Violating Arms Export Control Act

31-Year-Old Man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Faces Up to 45 Years in Prison

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Bassem Afif Herz, age 31, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids, to charges relating to a scheme to illegally ship firearms and ammunition to Lebanon.

According to court documents, Herz was originally charged along with his wife, Sarah Majid Zeaiter; his brother, Ali Afif Ali Herz; and his nephew, Adam Al Herz, in a criminal complaint filed in May 2015. The affidavit supporting the complaint alleged that between about August 2014 and May 11, 2015, three shipping containers originating from Cedar Rapids were loaded with Bobcat skid loaders, clothing, and various other items with an intended destination of Beirut, Lebanon.

The first container was not interdicted. On about March 26, 2015, the second container was interdicted at the outbound port in Norfolk, Virginia, where it was found to contain 53 firearms and more than 6800 rounds of ammunition secreted in three Bobcat skid loaders inside the container. On May 8, 2015, a third container, loaded and shipped from a Cedar Rapids business, was searched and found to contain an additional 99 firearms and over 9500 rounds of ammunition. The firearms and ammunition were again secreted within two Bobcat skid loaders in the container.

Herz pleaded guilty today to: (a) one count of conspiring to: deal in firearms without a license; ship and transport firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce; make false statements to licensed firearms dealers; fail to give notice to common carriers; and violate the Arms Export Control Act; (b) one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and (c) one count of violating the Arms Export Control Act. In total, Herz could be sentenced to serve 45 years imprisonment; pay a $1,750,000 fine and $300 in special assessments; and serve 13 years of supervised release.

Herz’s wife, brother, and nephew each pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids to similar charges on March 10 and 11, 2016.

Sentencing proceedings in each case will be set at a later date.

Bassem Afif Herz is currently in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Anyone with information concerning this matter is requested to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 319-286-4680.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Terrence Thompson, Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2023

Apr 9, 2026

Weapons

Richard Carrino, Firearms Conspiracy, Illinois 2023

Jul 23, 2015

Weapons

Roy Ellis Hunter, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Alabama 2024

Mar 21, 2017

Weapons

Timothy Taconi, Unlicensed Firearms Dealing, Colorado 2023

Apr 9, 2026