Owner of shipping company convicted of smuggling, illegally attempting to export arms to Lebanon

GREENBELT, Md. – A federal jury convicted a Springfield, Virginia, man Friday for attempting to illegally export defense articles, specifically firearms parts and accessories, to Lebanon, and for smuggling goods from the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and the FBI. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided assistance.

Sam Rafic Ghanem, age 45, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon. He owned and operated Washington Movers International, also known as Washington Movers Inc., a freight forwarding business located in District Heights.

According to evidence presented at his five day trial, beginning Oct. 3, 2013, Ghanem sought to export guns and accessories to Lebanon through his shipping company that were provided to him by an FBI source. Ghanem knew that the weapons and accessories were designated as defense articles and required an export license, which Ghanem never sought or obtained. In addition, those items are prohibited from export to Lebanon.The specific items Ghanem attempted to export included: seven 9mm semi-automatic pistols; three .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols; 10 AR-15 .223 caliber semi-automatic rifles; and 18 advanced combat optic gun sights.

On Nov. 21, 2013, Ghanem told the source to pay him $3,000 for the cost of purchasing salvaged vehicles which would be used to export the firearms and accessories.Ghanem texted the source his bank account number. At the direction of law enforcement, the source deposited $3,000 into Ghanem’s account.Ghanem purchased the salvaged vehicles and arranged for them to be cut up. Ghanem concealed the weapons and other items within the doors and cut-up parts of the salvaged vehicles, which were then loaded into a shipping container.Ghanem advised the source that the shipping container would be loaded with the remaining car parts and transported to the Port of Baltimore for shipment to Lebanon Dec. 23, 2013.Law enforcement subsequently arrested Ghanem.

Ghanem faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for attempting to illegally export defense articles and 10 years in prison for smuggling. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12 at 10 a.m.