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July 17, 2013Philadelphia, PA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE deports man convicted of conspiracy to export defense articles without a license

ICE deports man convicted of conspiracy to export defense articles without a license

PHILADELPHIA – A Belarus national with federal convictions for conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments was deported Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Vitali Tsishuk, 30, who served a 24-month federal prison sentence, was removed from the United States and turned over to Belarus authorities at the Minsk International Airport.

Tsishuk has been in ICE custody since May 7 when a detainer was placed on him while he was in custody on the federal charges.

"As a convicted criminal alien, Tsishuk is a high ICE priority for removal," said Thomas Decker, field office director for ERO Philadelphia. "The exportation of defense articles without a license can have serious consequences for our troops and our national security."

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 645 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

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