A dual Pakistani-Canadian citizen has been arrested for a years-long operation designed to flout U.S. export regulations, particularly those pertinent to sensitive technology. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz, known aliases Jawaid Aziz Siddiqui and Jay Siddiqui, has been charged with conspiracy and violation of U.S. export laws, as per the Office of Public Affairs.
Siddiqui, 67, was apprehended while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada on March 21 and remains in detention awaiting transfer to the District of Minnesota. The documents, as released by the Office of Public Affairs, allege that he led a procurement network through his Canada-based company, Diversified Technology Services, starting as early as 2003 until around March 2019. It was designed to obtain technologically advanced goods for prohibited entities within Pakistan's nuclear, missile, and UAV programs.
The conduct of Siddiqui and his accomplices reportedly included the procurement of sensitive items that are heavily regulated under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Commerce Control List. "Siddiqui and his co-conspirators worked to conceal the true end-users of the goods from U.S. companies" often using front companies and transshipping the goods through third countries to dodge detection, according to the indictment.
Siddiqui faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Control Reform Act. Also, he is possibly facing up to 20 years for violating the Export Control Reform Act. Sentences will ultimately be decided by a federal district court judge, with consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other statutory factors. Eminences of the investigative and judicial community, like Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Chicago Field Office, were credited with the announcement of Siddiqui's arrest and indictment, as detailed by the Office of Public Affairs.
The case against Siddiqui is being advanced by Homeland Security Investigations Minneapolis, the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, and the BIS Chicago Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Endicott for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are leading the prosecution with support from auxiliary figures like Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jensen of the Western District of Washington's office.
