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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NEWS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

BUREAU OF EXPORT ADMINISTRATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 28, 1995

BXA-95-51 Contact:

Mark E. Hanshaw Eugene Cottilli (202) 482-2721

CALIFORNIA MAN PENALIZED FOR ALLEGED EXPORT CONTROL

VIOLATIONS INVOLVING SHOTGUNS TO NAMIBIA AND S. AFRICA

WASHINGTON D.C, -- The Commerce Department today imposed a 15 year denial of export privileges and a $60,000 civil penalty on James L. Stephens, president and co-owner of Weisser's Sporting Goods, National City, Cal., for the alleged illegal export of certain U.S. origin shotguns to Namibia and South Africa, John Despres, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, announced.

The Department alleged that between 1990 and 1992, James L, Stephens conspired with overseas parties to export and, on two separate occasions, actually exported U.S.-origin shotguns with 'barrel lengths 18 inches and over to Namibia and South Africa without applying for and obtaining from the Department the validated export licenses he knew or had reason to know were required under the Export Administration Act and Regulations. In addition, the Department alleged that, in furtherance of the conspiracy, and in connection with each of these exports, Stephens made false or misleading representations of material fact to a U.S. agency in connection with the preparation, submission, or use of export control documents.

"This is a clear warning to would-be violators that the consequences of export violations could; be severe," said Despres.

In a separate matter, Weisser's .Sporting Goods pled guilty on November 20, 1995, in the Southern District of California, to one criminal count of violating U.S. export control laws in connection with the export of shotguns to South Africa. Sentencing for the criminal violation will take place on January 16, 1996. The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California (San Diego), in a written plea agreement with Weisser's Sporting Goods, has agreed to recommend a $30,000 criminal fine and three years probation.

This case was investigated by the Department of Commerce's Office of Export Enforcement in Los Angeles, California. The Department of Commerce controls and licenses the export and re-export of dual-use commodities and technical data. Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration maintains and enforces these controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation aid short supply.

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