Chicago City Wire

A suburban Chicago man has pleaded guilty to federal export-control charges for illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel.

Amin Betuni admitted in a plea agreement that he shipped the firearm parts to individuals in Israel on at least three occasions in 2022. The parts included rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles, and bolt carrier groups. Betuni put false information on the shipping labels and concealed the firearm parts in packages containing auto parts or George Foreman grills. The firearm parts were on the United States Commerce Control List and subject to federal export regulations. As such, their export from the U.S. to Israel required a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce, neither of which was obtained by Betuni prior to his shipments.

During a court-authorized search of Betuni’s residence in Palos Hills, Ill., in December 2022, law enforcement discovered more than 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, rifle, handgun, additional bolt carrier groups, and three firearm conversion devices known as “Glock switches,” which equip firearms to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.

Betuni, 37, pleaded guilty on Aug. 1, 2024, to a federal charge of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for Nov. 6, 2024.

The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations; and Aaron Tambrini, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Palos Hills Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn D. McCarthy.

“Export-control violations are critically important because they undermine federal laws and regulations that seek to protect international security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export-control laws for financial gain.”

“Those who illegally export firearm parts will face consequences,” said SAC Fitzgerald. “Betuni’s actions not only violated international law but also undermined global security. HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold justice and prevent such dangerous activities."

“The guilty plea is a testament to the excellent cooperation between our law enforcement partners effectively targeting the illegal export of firearm parts,” said SAC Tambrini.

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