CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man was sentenced Thursday to 46 months in federal prison for illegally exporting firearm parts to Israel in violation of U.S. export-control laws, according to federal authorities.
Amin Betuni, 37, shipped firearm components such as rifle barrels, gas blocks, and bolt carrier groups to individuals in Israel on three occasions in 2022. He disguised the shipments by labeling them as auto parts or kitchen appliances, including George Foreman grills, and provided false information on shipping labels, prosecutors said.
The firearm parts were listed on the United States Commerce Control List, which requires a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce for export. Betuni had not obtained the necessary authorization for the shipments.
A December 2022 search of Betuni’s residence in Palos Hills, Ill., revealed over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, multiple firearms, additional firearm components, and three illegal firearm conversion devices known as “Glock switches,” which enable guns to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
“This case underscores the critical importance of strong law enforcement partnerships,” said Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. “By working together, we can effectively investigate and prosecute those who stand in the way of public safety.”
Federal authorities emphasized that export-control violations pose a significant threat to international security.
Betuni pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts without authorization. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness imposed the sentence in a Chicago courtroom.
Law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, collaborated on the investigation.