SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Ross Roggio, age 49, of Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC, a firm with which Ross Roggio was associated, for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to illegally export firearm parts, firearm manufacturing tools, and “defense services,” including items used to manufacture M4 rifles, from the United States to Iraq, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment charges Ross Roggio and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC with criminal conspiracy, illegal export of goods, wire fraud, and money laundering. Pursuant to regulations of the U.S. Department of Commerce, a license is required to export certain goods and services from the United States to Iraq for reasons of regional stability and national security. Similarly, defense services and defense articles may not be exported to Iraq without a license from the U.S. Department of State.
The indictment alleges that, beginning in January of 2013 until the date of the indictment, Ross Roggio conspired to export both items and services from the United States to Iraq, without the required U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. State Department licenses. The conspirators allegedly purchased firearms parts and manufacturing tools from the United States, illegally exported the items to Iraq where the items were utilized and incorporated in the manufacture and assembly of complete firearms in a firearms manufacturing plant constructed and operated in part by Ross Roggio. It is alleged that the items illegally exported included: M4 Bolt Gas Rings MIL; Firing Pin Retainers; Rifling Combo Buttons, and “defense services.” The defense services allegedly provided by Ross Roggio and his firm include the furnishing of assistance to foreign persons in the manufacture of firearms.
In addition to the charges relating to export controls violations, the indictment also alleges that Ross Roggio and his firm committed wire fraud on at least three occasions by purchasing items from a United States company and providing said company with false information about the end-user of the items. Finally, the indictment charges Ross Roggio and his firm with 27 counts of money laundering in the form of bank transfers from Iraq to two accounts within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in furtherance of their unlawful export conspiracy.
“The conduct alleged in this indictment directly violates laws enacted to keep our nation secure,” said United States Attorney Freed. “We commend the FBI, HSI and Department of Commerce for their outstanding efforts in this complicated international case. We will not allow anyone to put profits above our security, at home or abroad.”
The defendant and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC, face up to 5 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and up to 20 years in prison for each count of money laundering. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of property and assets derived from the alleged illegal activities.
Defendant: Ross Roggio and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC, (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)
Criminal Charges: Criminal conspiracy, illegal export of goods, wire fraud, and money laundering
City and State: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: Not specified in source but likely early 2023 as the indictment was announced in the text
Sentence or Outcome: Not specified in source
Dollar Amounts: Not applicable
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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