42 months in US jail for microwave amplifier exports without a licence

The US Commerce Department said a Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to 42 months imprisonment for exporting microwave amplifiers without a licence to China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia and Mexico.

The amplifiers, used for radar jamming and weapons guidance systems among other uses, are subject to the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Timothy Gormley, 52, employed by Amplifier Research, pleaded guilty last October, admitting he altered invoices and shipping documents, listed false licence numbers and lied to colleagues about the status and the shipments.

Many of the firm's products require a licence for export to most destinations outside Europe. Amplifier Research became aware that Gormley had committed numerous violations of government regulations between 2006 and 2011 and made a voluntary disclosure.

Said US Commerce Department undersecretary Eric Hirschhorn: "As the substantial sentence in this case demonstrates, we will not allow our national security to be compromised by individuals who flout our nation's export control laws. The egregious violations in this case weren't committed by accident, but were perpetrated by an informed individual who intentionally violated the law."