20-year sentence for eBay sale of night vision goggles

[Cebu_4_2]

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Man pleads guilty for eBay sale of night vision goggles to undercover agent Florida man faces 20-year sentence in Maryland to unlawful export of arms and munitions


By Kevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun 10:47 a.m. EST, February 28, 2013

A 34-year-old Florida man pleaded guilty late Wednesday to illegally selling night vision goggles and other military style gear online to an undercover federal agent in Baltimore pretending to be an overseas buyer — a charge that could land him in prison for 20 years.
Anthony J. Torresi, of Coral Gables (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/us/florida/miami-dade-county/coral-gables-PLGEO100100408040000.topic), did not have the required U.S. Department of State license to sell the items when he posted them on eBay (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/economy-business-finance/ebay-inc.-ORCRP004915.topic) and then arranged to sell them to a buyer who he believed was in New Zealand (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/intl/new-zealand-PLGEO00000170.topic), according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office of Rod J. Rosenstein (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/crime-law-justice/justice-system/rod-j.-rosenstein-PEPLT00084679.topic).
The buyer Torresi believed was in New Zealand was actually an agent in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/social-issues/demographics/immigration/u.s.-immigration-customs-enforcement-ORGOV0000136156.topic)'s Homeland Security Investigations unit in Baltimore. Rosenstein's office prosecuted the case because of its origins in Maryland.


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In February 2011, Torresi mailed night vision goggles valued at more than $7,000 to the agent, with a shipping label describing the package's contents as a "Rangefinder" valued at $70, according to his plea agreement. He had never applied for a license to do so.
In March 2011, he sold on eBay what he claimed was a night vision monocular worth more than $6,000 that also required a license to sell, according to the agreement. In April 2011, in response to that transaction, he mailed a $266 monocular that didn't require a license.
Because he did not have a license, Torresi's intended overseas sale of the expensive items — "designed to enable military ground troop personnel to conduct night operations" — violated the Arms Export Control Act, Rosenstein's office said.
Deterring such violations is a high priority of the HSI office in Baltimore.
"One of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations top enforcement priorities is preventing U.S. military (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-military-ORGOV000021106.topic) products and sensitive technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm America or its interests," said William Winter, the special agent in charge of the HSI Baltimore office, in a statement.
Torresi now faces up to 20 years in prison with five years of additional supervised release and a $1 million fine, all for the unlawful exporting of arms or munitions, officials said.
He is scheduled to be sentenced June 21.

[iOWNme]

There are actually people out there who believe that if you sell night vision goggles (to a willing customer) it is a crime and you are a criminal Law breaker. But if you have a piece of paper with some scribbles on it in your back pocket, that horrendous crime instantly turns into a virtue, and you are now considered to be a noble and Law abiding citizen.

Incredible.

[Hitch]

There are actually people out there who believe that if you sell night vision goggles (to a willing customer) it is a crime and you are a criminal Law breaker. But if you have a piece of paper with some scribbles on it in your back pocket, that horrendous crime instantly turns into a virtue, and you are now considered to be a noble and Law abiding citizen.

Incredible.

When DHS recent bought 7000 guns. They call them "personal defense weapons". If you buy that same gun, it's called an "assault rifle".

You can't make this stuff up, it just gets crazier and crazier.

A 20 year sentence for night vision. I'd like the goons to come up with one case, just one...where night vision goggles killed someone. Also, how can they classify night vision as arms or munitions? It's to help folks see at night. I guess my flashlights are now registered with the ATF.

[Santa]

Rosenstein's office prosecuted the case because of its origins in Maryland.

Damn. You know, call me crazy, but sometimes I get the distinct feeling dual citizens are running this government. :(

[sirgonzo420]

Damn. You know, call me crazy, but sometimes I get the distinct feeling dual citizens are running this government. :(

Oh Santa, what on earth could have left you with that impression?

[Santa]

Oh Santa, what on earth could have left you with that impression?

Because I'm a crazy paranoid moonbat conspiracy nut? :)

[Dogman]

Because I'm a crazy paranoid moonbat conspiracy nut? :) That is almost better than "great value carrots" in many ways.. On a forum level and not you santa! Not dissing you!

[willie pete]

and I just read were that fat bulldyke hag that runs that dept let more than 3000 illegal detainees go, it's disgusting

[Cebu_4_2]

Because I'm a crazy paranoid moonbat conspiracy nut? :)

That makes you joobait (campassman)

[Neuro]

When DHS recent bought 7000 guns. They call them "personal defense weapons". If you buy that same gun, it's called an "assault rifle".

You can't make this stuff up, it just gets crazier and crazier.

A 20 year sentence for night vision. I'd like the goons to come up with one case, just one...where night vision goggles killed someone. Also, how can they classify night vision as arms or munitions? It's to help folks see at night. I guess my flashlights are now registered with the ATF.
Further how exactly does this improve homeland security preventing the sale of these "weapons" to New Zealand. Really it is like they sit up late at night, thinking out plans on how to be able to frame as many as possible otherwise totally harmless people with ridiculous crimes.

Well I am glad that this dangerous arms dealer, was stopped from supplying New Zealand terrorist, a very long and expensive prison stay, is well worth it from a homeland security perspective. Everyone can sleep well now, knowing that DHS is vigilant and on the case!

[gunDriller]

found these

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-night-vision-goggles-20130228,0,7986303.story

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/02/28/man-pleads-guilty-to-night-vision-export-to-undercover-baltimore-agents/


amazon has loads of night vision stuff
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=night+vision+goggles&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4234850799&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=366575166296200016&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_64irn6wwd8_e

[Neuro]

Damn. You know, call me crazy, but sometimes I get the distinct feeling dual citizens are running this government. :(
Don't feel that way, I am sure Rosenstein is a Lutheran... ;D

[Son-of-Liberty]

Even in Canada you can buy night vision at the local sporting goods/hunting store and this guy is facing 20 years. We all know why the lawmakers are doing this stuff but I still have trouble processing how the law enforcement agents involved in this case can live with themselves.

[Norweger]

The biggest problem the US government seems to have with this is that you might sell equipment to freedom fighting nationalists that happen to have american troops on a friendly decade long visit in their homecountries.

[mick silver]

was he saling military grade goggles that the army owns if so how did he get them ? is it a crime to have military goggles because if someone payed 7000 bucks for them they had to be better then what i can get from fleabay for 400 bucks

[midnight rambler]

I still have trouble processing how the law enforcement agents involved in this case can live with themselves.

Never underestimate how careers and pensions contribute to a good night's sleep.

[mick silver]

This item is restricted for sale to the state of California and outside the US