June 2007 OFAC Penalty Notices for US Embargo violations

[El Presidente]

June 2007 OFAC Penalty Notices for US Embargo violations

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION FOR June 1, 2007

ENTITIES - 31 CFR 501.805 (d)(1)(i)

ACME Furniture Industry, Inc. settles Cuban Embargo Allegations:

ACME Furniture Industry, Inc., City of Industry, CA 91748 ("ACME"), has remitted $31,336 to settle allegations of violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations occurring between February 20, 2004 and February 20, 2005. OFAC alleged that ACME shipped merchandise from China to Cuba. ACME did not voluntarily disclose this matter to OFAC.

EPMedsystems, Inc. settles OFAC Civil Penalties Division Case:

EPMedsystems, Inc., West Berlin, NJ ("EPMedsystems") has remitted $33,000 to settle allegations of violations of the Iranian Transactions Regulations occurring between October 1999 and March 2004. EPMedsystems voluntarily disclosed this matter to OFAC.

INDIVIDUALS—31 C FR 501.801 (d)(I)(ii)

One individual has agreed to a settlement totaling $2,304.00 for allegedly dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest: In January, March, April, June, November, December 2005 and March 2006, the individual purchased Cuban-origin cigars offered for sale on the Internet. The individual did not voluntarily disclose this matter to OFAC.

One individual has agreed to a settlement totaling $1,311.00 for allegedly dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest: In December 2004, the individual purchased Cuban-origin cigars offered for sale on the Internet. The individual did not voluntarily disclose this matter to OFAC.

One individual was assessed a penalty totaling $856.00 for allegedly dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest. On or about October 4, 2002, July 10, and November 3, 2003, the individual purchased Cuban-origin cigars offered for sale on the Internet. The individual did not voluntarily disclose this matter to OFAC.

Legal Note:

Information concerning the civil penalty process is discussed in OFAC regulations governing the various sanctions programs or, in the case of sanctions regulations issued pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act, in 31 CFR part 501. Civil penalty procedures are also discussed in OFAC’s proposed Enforcement Guidelines, 68 FR 4422 - 4429 (January 29, 2003).

[SmokinLightning]

Looking through the last year or so of those documents, it's amazing the amount of time and money they are wasting to go after cigar smokers.

To see an individual fined $800 dollars for buying Cuban cigars over the internet on the same document as a corporation fined $170,000.00 for selling chemicals to Iran...

[Mel]

That's our good ole Gov. for ya. Old outdated laws still on the books and people of this country getting screwd. I would love to see a nation wide referendum on the Cuban Embargo and see if it would hold up.