Order Denying Export Privileges
On May 16, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Mehmet Hakan Atilla (“Atilla”) was convicted of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), 50 U.S.C § 1701, et seq., by knowingly and willfully conspiring with others known and unknown to provide financial services to Iran and to the Governement of Iran, without obtaining the required approval from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Atilla was sentenced to 32 months in prison and a special assessment of $500.
The Export Administration Regulations (“EAR” or “Regulations”) are administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”). Section 766.25 of the Regulations provides, in pertinent part, that the “Director of [BIS's] Office of Export Enforcement, in consultation with the Director of [BIS's] Office of Exporter Services, may deny the export privileges of any person who has been convicted of a violation of any of the statues set forth at 50 U.S.C. 4819 (e)(1)(B),” including IEEPA. 15 CFR 766.25(a). The denial of export privileges under this provision may be for a period of up to 10 years from the date of the conviction. 15 CFR 766.25(d). In addition, pursuant to Section 750.8 of the Regulations, BIS's Office of Exporter Services may revoke any BIS-issued licenses in which the person has an interest at the time of his/her conviction.
The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2020). The Regulations originally issued under the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, 50 U.S.C. 4601-4623 (Supp. III 2015) (“EAA”), which lapsed on August 21, 2001. The President, through Executive Order 13,222 of August 17, 2001 (3 CFR, 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which was extended by successive Presidential Notices, continued the Regulations in full force and effect under IEEPA. On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852 (“ECRA”). While Section 1766 of ECRA repeals the provisions of the EAA (except for three sections which are inapplicable here), Section 1768 of ECRA provides, in pertinent part, that all rules and regulations that were made or issued under the EAA, including as continued in effect pursuant to IEEPA, and were in effect as of ECRA's date of enactment (August 13, 2018), shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, superseded, set aside, or revoked through action undertaken pursuant to the authority provided under ECRA.
The Director, Office of Export Enforcement, is now authorizing official for issuance denial orders, pursuant to recent amendments to the Regulations (85 FR 73411, November 18, 2020).
As codified at the time of the underlying conviction at issue, Section 11(h)(1) of the EAA, as amended, provided that: ” No person convicted of a violation of this chapter (or any regulation, license, or older issued under this chapter), any regulation, license, or order issed under the International Emergnecy Economic Powers Act [50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.], section 793, 794 or 798 of title 18, section 783(b) of this title, or section 2778 of title 22 shall be eligible, at the discretion of the Secretary, to apply for or use any export license under this chapter for a period of up to 10 years from the date of conviction. The Secretary may revoke any export license under this chapter in which such person has an interest at the time of conviction.” 50 U.S.C. 4610(h)(1).
See notes 1 and 3, supra.
BIS received notice of Atilla's conviction for violating IEEPA, and pursuant to Section 766.25 of the Regulations, has provided notice and an opportunity for Atilla to make a written submission to BIS. BIS has received and considered a written submission from Atilla.
Based upon my review of the record, including Atilla's written response, and consultations with BIS's Office of Exporter Services, including its Director, and the facts available to BIS, I have decided to deny Atilla's export privileges under the Regulations for a period of 10 years from the date of Atilla's conviction. The Office of Exporter Services has also decided to revoke any BIS-issued license in which Atilla had an interest at the time of his conviction.
Accordingly, it is hereby ordered:
First, from the date of this Order until May 16, 2028, Mehmet Hakan Atilla, with last known addresses of Millet Cad. No: 26 D:15, Fatih Istanbul, Turkey and Molla Seref Mah Hikayeci Sok AZ, Fatih Istanbul, Turkey, and when acting for or on his behalf, his successors, assigns, employees, agents or representatives (“the Denied Person”), may not, directly or indirectly, participate in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology (hereinafter collectively referred to as “item”) exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, including, but not limited to:
A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, license exception, or export control document;
B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, or engaging in any other activity subject to the Regulations; or
C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Regulations, or from any other activity subject to the Regulations.
Second, no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:
A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of the Denied Person any item subject to the Regulations;
B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted acquisition by the Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or control of any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States, including financing or other support activities related to a transaction whereby the Denied Person acquires or attempts to acquire such ownership, possession or control;
C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition or attempted acquisition from the Denied Person of any item subject to the Regulations that has been exported from the United States;
D. Obtain from the Denied Person in the United States any item subject to the Regulations with knowledge or reason to know that the item will be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or
E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is owned, possessed or controlled by the Denied Person, or service any item, of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by the Denied Person if such service involves the use of any item subject to the Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States. For purposes of this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, repair, modification or testing.
Third, after notice and opportunity for comment as provided in Section 766.23 of the Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, or business organization related to Atilla by ownership, control, position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the conduct of trade or business may also be made subject to the provisions of this Order in order to prevent evasion of this Order.
Fourth, in accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Atilla may file an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of this Order and must comply with the provisions of Part 756 of the Regulations.
Fifth, a copy of this Order shall be delivered to Atilla and shall be published in the Federal Register.
Sixth, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until May 16, 2028.
John Sonderman,
Director, Office of Export Enforement.
[FR Doc. 2021-09500 Filed 5-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P