SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Walnut man pleaded responsible Tuesday to a cost of conspiring to export U.S.-origin tactical gear to Syria, in violation of the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act and Syria Sanctions.
Rasheed Al Jijakli, 57, a Syrian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded responsible Monday earlier than U.S. District Decide James V. Selna.
This case is the results of an investigation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customized’s Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the U.S. Division of Commerce’s Workplace of Export Enforcement, and IRS Legal Investigation.
In a plea settlement filed on this case, Jijakli admitted that, from April 2012 by March 2013, he conspired with different people to export tactical gear, together with U.S.-origin laser boresighters, day- and night-vision rifle scopes, and different gadgets from the US to Syria.
Jijakli and one of many co-conspirators bought the tactical gear, and on July 17, 2012, he traveled with the tactical gear from Los Angeles to Istanbul, Turkey with the intent that it could be supplied to Syrian rebels coaching in Turkey and combating in Syria. Jijakli supplied a number of the gear, particularly the laser boresighters, to a second co-conspirator, who Jijakli discovered was a member of Ahrar Al-Sham. He additionally supplied the products to different armed Syrian rebel teams in Syria and Turkey.
In complete, Jijakli and his co-conspirators supplied no less than 43 laser boresighters, 85 day rifle scopes, 30 night-vision rifle scopes, tactical flashlights, a digital monocular, 5 radios, and a bulletproof vest to Ahrar Al-Sham and different Syrian rebels in Syria, or with information that the tactical gear was going to Syria.
Additional, in August and September 2012, Jijakli directed co-conspirators to withdraw 1000’s of {dollars} from Palmyra Company, a check-cashing providers firm the place he was the chief government officer, to pay for tactical gear for Syrian rebels.
Decide Selna is scheduled to condemn Jijakli on December 4, at which period he’ll face a most statutory sentence of 20 years in federal jail.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Legal professional Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Part and DOJ Trial Legal professional Christian Ford of the Nationwide Safety Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Management Part.
