David Kelley, Unlawful Export of Arms and Munitions, Maryland 2012

A Texas man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in exporting night vision devices without a license. David Kelley, 46, of Richmond, Texas, was found guilty of violating the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and was sentenced on today in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

According to court documents, Kelley operated a business called 'Optical Solutions and More' that sold night vision and other military-style items over eBay. Between May 2011 and February 2012, Kelley made approximately 60 shipments containing ITAR-restricted weapons parts and night vision devices destined for customers in 24 countries.

To disguise the ITAR violations, Kelley labeled these shipments as 'toys,' 'toy blocks,' 'spotting scope,' and 'monocular parts.' In exchange for these shipments, Kelley collected over $140,000 in 150 separate PayPal transactions.

In September 2011, an undercover HSI agent located in Baltimore posed as a buyer from New Zealand and contacted Kelley to ask if he would export an ATN Generation 4 Monocular Night Vision Device. Kelley acknowledged in an email that such an export violated ITAR and demanded additional payment for risking prosecution.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised ICE Baltimore for its work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted the case. Kelley will serve 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the U.S. State Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake.

Kelley's business, 'Optical Solutions and More,' sold night vision and other military-style items over eBay. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland stated that Kelley's actions put national security at risk.

The case highlights the importance of adhering to export regulations and the consequences of violating them. Kelley's sentence serves as a reminder that the U.S. government will take action against individuals who engage in illicit activities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/texas-man-sentenced-illegal-export-night-vision-devices