NJ Duo Busted in UAE Tech Smuggling Plot

NEWARK, N.J. – A shadowy scheme to illegally ship sensitive aviation technology to the United Arab Emirates has landed two individuals in federal custody. Fadi Nammas, 43, of Fairfax, Virginia, and Tara Jamhour, 24, of Rockaway, New Jersey, were arrested Tuesday morning and face serious federal charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

The pair are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to export and smuggle goods from the United States, one count of unlawfully exporting goods from the United States without having first obtained the required license or authorization, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States. Nammas made his initial appearance on July 2, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, and is scheduled for further hearings on July 3, 2024. Jamhour appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.

According to court documents, Nammas and Jamhour operated under the guise of Star Aero, an aircraft service and part provider allegedly located in Garfield, New Jersey. From November 2023 through March 2024, they procured an Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) – a critical component providing flight data to pilots – from a Vermont-based aviation company. They falsely claimed the ADIRU was for Star Aero’s stock and that the company would comply with U.S. export laws, concealing their true intention to ship it to a separate entity in the UAE.

The scheme didn’t stop there. Once received, the ADIRU was repackaged with falsified documentation, deliberately undervaluing the item and misrepresenting its nature. This deceptive packaging was then used in an attempt to ship the device to the UAE. Crucially, Nammas and Jamhour never obtained the necessary license or authorization to export the ADIRU, a component controlled for both missile technology and anti-terrorism concerns.

If convicted, the penalties are substantial. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Unlawfully exporting controlled goods could result in a 20-year prison sentence and a $1 million fine. Smuggling is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine. The investigation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky and Trial Attorney Monica Svetoslavov are prosecuting the case. It’s a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent export controls will be met with federal scrutiny. It is important to remember that the charges are accusations, and Nammas and Jamhour are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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