Export Company President Sentenced for Making False Statements Regarding Exports, in Violation of The Arms Export Control Act
DES MOINES, IOWA - On May 12, 2009, Donald Wayne Hatch, 37, of Camas, Washington, was sentenced to two years probation, for the charge of causing false statements to be made in a matter in the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner also ordered Hatch to pay a $5,000 fine, and to pay an assessment of $100 to the Crime Victim Fund.
Donald Wayne Hatch pled guilty on July 31, 2008, to Count 13 of an Indictment which charged a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). The charges set forth within the Indictment filed June 24, 2008, related primarily to the importation and exportation of night vision rifle scopes and “Generation 2" night vision goggles.
Rigel Optics, Inc., the corporation involved, also entered a guilty plea on July 31, 2008, to a charge of exporting items on the U.S. Munitions List (“generation 2" night vision goggles) without a license from the U.S. Department of State, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Specifically, Rigel Optics, Inc. pled guilty to Count 12 of the Indictment filed June 24 2008, which charged a violation of Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778(b)(2). Rigel Optics, Inc. was fined $90,000 and ordered to pay an assessment of $400 to the Crime Victim Fund.
"The export of sensitive technology is controlled for good reason," said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Investigations in Chicago. "Keeping sensitive U.S. technology and software from falling into the wrong hands is a high priority for ICE. We aggressively pursue those who seek personal gain by violating these laws."
This investigation was conducted by the Chicago Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Chicago Field Office of Export Enforcement.