SEATTLE – A brazen scheme to funnel firearm parts to Thailand has landed two brothers and four accomplices in federal prison, or facing time. NARES LEKHAKUL, 36, of Bellevue, Washington, and his brother, NARIS LEKHAKUL, 42, a Thai citizen, were sentenced today for conspiracy to illegally export weapons components, a scheme that spanned years and involved over 250 shipments valued at more than $750,000.
U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan didn’t mince words: “These defendants used patsies and ruses to hide and protect their scheme to smuggle firearms parts to Thailand.” The operation, investigators revealed, wasn’t a simple oversight. The brothers knowingly violated both U.S. and Thai laws designed to prevent weapons smuggling. NARIS LEKHAKUL received the stiffest sentence – three years in prison – and is likely to be deported after serving his time. Judge Richard A. Jones, during sentencing, reportedly rebuked Naris, noting his continued recruitment of others *after* being warned the activity was illegal.
The conspiracy began with NARIS LEKHAKUL, while residing in Thailand, identifying the desired gun parts and ordering them for shipment. Initially, these components landed at his brother NARES’ home in Bellevue, where attempts were made to disguise the packages before sending them overseas. After a 2011 seizure raised red flags, Naris expanded the operation, recruiting four others to act as intermediaries, receiving, repackaging, and shipping the illegal goods. None of the co-conspirators possessed the required export licenses.
The lengths to which the group went to evade detection were remarkable. False names and fabricated invoices were commonplace. Firearm parts weren’t shipped as they were; magazines for .45 caliber handguns were labeled “Vented steel case for electronic components” or “replacement springs and metal caps for bottling machine.” Other shipments were deceptively marked as “hobby parts” or “glow in the dark marker sets.” Brad Bench, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Seattle, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “These defendants purposely circumvented U.S. arms controls put in place to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of transnational criminal organizations and foreign enemies.”
Beyond the Lekhakul brothers, the Justice Department secured convictions against four accomplices. WITT SITTIKORNWANISH, 24, of the Los Angeles area, received a 10-month prison sentence. SANGSIT MANOWANNA, 35, also from the Los Angeles area, was also sentenced to 10 months. SUPANEE SAENGUTHAI, 35, a Thai citizen residing in Berkeley, California, received probation. WIMOL BRUMME, 41, a Thai citizen from Las Vegas, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2014. No assembled firearms were shipped, only components subject to strict export regulations under the United States Munitions List, requiring a Department of State license.
The investigation was a joint effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys are prosecuting the case, sending a clear message that attempts to skirt arms control laws will be met with swift and severe consequences. The case underscores the ongoing threat of illegal weapons trafficking and the dedication of law enforcement to disrupt these dangerous networks.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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