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United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

December 15, 2004

BROOKLYN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VIOLATING U.S. ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEIB KOHN, age 66, of 5814 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act by sending military components out of the United States without the required authorization from the U.S. Government. KOHN’s companies, L & M MANUFACTURING and NESCO NY INC., also pleaded guilty to the same charge.

According to documents filed with the Court and to statements made in court, KOHN was arrested on March 19, 2004 by Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a Criminal Complaint issued by the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut. At that time, a search warrant was executed at KOHN’s Brooklyn residence. Two days earlier, the Israeli authorities, working in conjunction with U.S. authorities, conducted a search at the business premises of Q.P.S in Binyamina, Israel and there located certain of the items that KOHN had purchased from U.S. manufacturers and shipped to Israel.

On April 15, 2004, a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport returned a two-count Indictment against KOHN, L & M MANUFACTURING and NESCO NY INC. The Indictment alleges that since May 2003, KOHN has continuously procured various munitions items from U.S. manufacturers, including one based in Connecticut, and shipped them to Israel without seeking permission of the U.S. Government for the export. These items are controlled by the U.S. State Department and require licenses and approvals from the U.S. State Department prior to export. According to the Indictment, some of the items KOHN procured and exported are: Parts designed for use in military radar, parts for the F-4 Phantom jet fighter aircraft, and parts for the Hawk guidance missile systems. In particular, the Indictment alleges that KOHN procured wiring harnesses for guidance radar of the Hawk Missile System from a Connecticut company, a fire control radar system for the F-4 Phantom fighter jet aircraft, an audio frequency amplifier for the F-5 jet fighter aircraft from RDB Aeromax in Chatsworth, California, and engine parts for the F-4 Phantom jet fighter aircraft from Unique Aeronautics of Sun Valley, California. In each instance, KOHN was advised through documentation that export of these items was prohibited absent a valid export license from the U.S. Department of State.

“The federal government will vigorously prosecute illegal exports of arms and munitions components and technology from the United States,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated. “We live in a state that is the home to many defense contractors, large and small. Private industry is the first line of defense when it comes to stopping illegal exports, and this case may not have been made were it not for the assistance of one of those contractors. We sincerely appreciate their assistance.”

U.S. Attorney O’Connor noted that the investigation is ongoing.

“This case is especially alarming because of the sensitivity of the U.S. military items being exported to the middle east,” added Robin Avers, Special Agent in Charge, ICE-New England. “We owe a special debt of gratitude to the Israeli authorities who played a critical role in this investigation. This case should serve as a model for future joint investigations between U.S. and Israeli authorities.”

When he is sentenced by Judge Droney on March 4, 2005, KOHN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and possible debarment of export privileges. Each of KOHN’s companies face a fine of up to $1,000,000.
As a condition of his guilty plea, KOHN has agreed to pay a fine in the amount of $25,000.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Special Agents of U.S. Department Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in cooperation with the Israeli National Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Appleton.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson

(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

U.S. Missile Components to the Middle East - On December 15, 2004, Leib Kohn, 66, and his Brooklyn, NY, companies L&M Manufacturing Corporation and Nesco NY Incorporated, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act in U.S. District Court, Connecticut. ICE agents arrested Kohn in New York on March 19, 2004. According to the indictment, Kohn and his companies purchased from U.S. vendors sensitive U.S. military items, including components for HAWK missiles, military radars, and F-4 Phantom fighter jet aircraft. Kohn then exported these items to QPS, a company in Israel, while knowingly failing to obtain the required export license. ICE worked closely with the Israeli National Police, who searched the QPS facility in March 2004 and found the missile components illegally exported by Kohn. Israeli National Police arrested Eli Cohen after searching the QPS facility in Israel. Israeli authorities had investigated Cohen in the past for allegedly transferring arms to Iran. ICE and Israeli authorities do not believe the final destination of Kohn’s shipments was Israel. Kohn is awaiting sentencing.

was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 30 days of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.

Barely a slap on the wrist, I've seen drunk drivers get harsher sentences.

Two days earlier, the Israeli authorities, working in conjunction with U.S. authorities, conducted a search at the business premises of Q.P.S in Binyamina, Israel and there located certain of the items that Kohn had purchased from U.S. manufacturers and shipped to Israel.

I wonder if Chinese law enforcement is so helpful when US and Chinese citizens illegally export US military technology.

Another arms to Iran story:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1831246/posts
Orange County man sentenced for illegally exporting U.S. military aircraft parts to Iran