Tampa man sentenced in mail fraud conspiracy

TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa man was sentenced to five years of probation for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement.

Randy Dale Barber, 42, of Tampa, was also ordered to forfeit $413,106, and to pay restitution to Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) in the amount of $37,921.20. He previously pleaded guilty Feb. 28.

According to plea agreements filed in the case, from about August 2009 through at least August 2011, Barber and others conspired to defraud HDS by making materially false statements to HDS in order to purchase computer equipment for resale to a third re-party who would then resale the equipment. By late 2009, Barber and others knew that HDS refused to sell equipment it believed was being diverted to unauthorized end users. In order to deceive HDS and purchase the computer equipment, Barber and others made false statements regarding the purchaser, end user, and location of installation of the equipment that they were purchasing. They also used front companies to make equipment purchases on their behalf.

"This investigation demonstrates HSI's commitment to protecting our citizens by ensuring critical U.S. technologies don't fall into the hands of our foreign enemies," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa.

"The cooperative efforts between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security have proven once again that anyone who conspires to violate U.S. embargo sanctions and illegally export sensitive U.S. technology to state sponsors of terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Robert Luzzi, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement's, Miami Field Office. "Protecting the National Security of the United States remains our top priority and we will continue to dismantle and disrupt any networks attempting the same illegal activities"