Bassem Afif Herz, Gun Smuggling, Iowa 2023

Bassem Afif Herz, 31, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment for his role in a scheme to smuggle hundreds of firearms to Lebanon.

A federal judge in the Northern District of Iowa handed down the sentence to Herz, who had pleaded guilty to various charges related to the gun smuggling operation.

As part of his plea agreement, Herz admitted to conspiring to deal in firearms without a license and to illegally ship firearms in interstate and foreign commerce, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Arms Export Control Act.

The investigation into Herz’s activities began in early 2014, when a report from a firearms dealer raised suspicions about suspicious firearms transactions conducted by Herz and his associates.

Over the course of the investigation, authorities seized several shipments of firearms and ammunition, including 53 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition found concealed inside Bobcat skid loaders packed inside a shipping container at the Norfolk, Virginia seaport in March 2015.

Herz’s brother, Ali Afif Al Herz, was previously sentenced to 342 months’ imprisonment, while Herz’s son, Adam Al Herz, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment.

Herz was also ordered to forfeit $48,575 in proceeds of criminal activity, and will be subject to a 3-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.

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