Bassem Afif Herz, 31, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison for his role in a sprawling scheme to illegally export hundreds of firearms to Lebanon. Herz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to deal in firearms without a license and to illegally ship firearms in interstate and foreign commerce, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of violating the Arms Export Control Act.
The sentencing, handed down by Chief Judge Linda R. Reade in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, marks the final chapter in a years-long federal prosecution. Herz will serve 97 months behind bars followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $48,575 in criminal proceeds, jointly and severally liable with the other defendants in the case.
Court records reveal that Herz’s conduct included false testimony during hearings—claiming he was beaten by police and that officers threw his infant son to the floor on the day of his arrest. The judge cited this perjury as a key aggravating factor, alongside the sheer volume of weapons involved, the use of military-style assault rifles, and the ultimate destination: southern Lebanon, an area controlled by Hezbollah.
The operation began unraveling in early 2014 after a firearms dealer flagged suspicious purchases. Federal investigators uncovered a pattern of bulk gun buys funneled through shell companies and hidden in machinery. In March 2015, authorities seized 53 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition concealed inside Bobcat skid loaders bound for Lebanon at the Norfolk, Virginia port. A second container, intercepted in May 2015 in Cedar Rapids, contained 99 more guns and additional ammunition—both shipments traced back to Midamar Corporation in Cedar Rapids.
Two earlier shipments had already reached Lebanon in March and August 2014 under the same method. The investigation exposed a tightly knit network built on familial ties. Herz’s brother, Ali Afif Al Herz, was sentenced to 342 months in prison. Ali’s son, Adam Al Herz, received a 240-month sentence, also followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and investigated by a sweeping coalition of federal and local agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals, and numerous Iowa law enforcement bodies. Court documents are available under case number 15-CR-00054-LRR via the Northern District of Iowa’s electronic filing system. Follow updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
RELATED: Ali Afif Al Herz Gets 342 Months for Gun Smuggling to Hezbollah
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