Arms Exports—George Charles Budenz II

George Charles Budenz II, a former Naval intelligence officer, has pleaded guilty to three counts of illegally exporting military aircraft parts.^[1] Mr. Budenz admitted that illegally exported engine parts for the US F-5 fighter jet, the T-38 military trainer jet (which is substantially the same aircraft), and Chinook military helicopters to Malaysia and Belgium without the required export license.^[2]

Mr. Budenz claims that he made the illegal exports at the direction of Arif Ali Durrani,^[3] whom we have previously discussed here. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement [hereinafter ICE] officials, Mr. Budenz met Mr. Durrani in 1999, agreeing to become Mr. Durrani’s agent in the US.^[4]

Arms Export Control Act
The Arms Export Control Act is codified at 22 U.S.C. § 2778. Under this section it is illegal for a person to export articles which are designated on the US Munitions List without first obtaining a license or written authorization from the Department of State.^[5] The punishment for violating this section is a fine of up to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.^[6]

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[1] Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Ex-U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer Pleads Guilty in Arms Export Scheme, Oct. 19, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] 22 U.S.C. § 2778(b)(1)(A)(ii)(III).
[6] Id. § 2778(c).