Press Release
FEDERAL TASK FORCE CREATED TO ENFORCE US SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA
October 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Adam Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - Department of the Treasury; Jesus Torres, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Brian J. Wimpling, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Michael L. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Export Enforcement, Department of Commerce, Miami Field Office; Rear Admiral David W. Kunkel, Commander of the 7th Coast Guard District; Thomas S. Winkowski, Director, Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office; and John Beutlich, Director, Air Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, announce the formation of a new task force dedicated to enforcing existing economic and trade sanctions against Cuba.
The primary goal of this task force, appropriately named the “Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force,” is the vigorous investigation of violations and enforcement through federal criminal prosecutions of the existing U.S. economic and trade sanctions against Cuba. The Task Force, chaired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is comprised of members from OFAC, ICE, FBI, IRS, Department of Commerce - Office of Export Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Field and Air divisions of Customs and Border Protection. Each member agency brings a wealth of experience and particular expertise in areas necessary to successfully investigate and prosecute embargo violations.
The Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR Part 515, were first issued by the U.S. Government on July 8, 1963, under the Trading with the Enemy Act. They were subsequently codified into law and remain in force today. The sanctions program applies to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, to all persons and organizations physically in the United States, and to all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. Administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the basic goal of the sanctions is to isolate the Cuban government economically and deprive it of U.S. dollars. Criminal penalties for violating the sanctions range up to 10 years in prison, $1,000,000 in corporate fines, and $250,000 in individual fines. Civil penalties of up to $55,000 per violation may also be imposed.
The Task Force will aggressively pursue criminal investigations and prosecutions, where appropriate, of Cuban Assets Control Regulations and other violations, including of those involved in organizing and facilitating unlicensed travel transactions with Cuba. Areas for review will include potential violations of the regulations enacted pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act (Title 50, United States Code Appendix, Sections 1-6, 7-39, and 41-44); violations of the currency reporting requirements when exporting and importing monetary instruments (Title 31, United States Code, Section 5316); and possible money laundering (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956-57).
United States Attorney Alex Acosta stated, “The Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force will strengthen enforcement of sanctions against the Castro regime, with the aim of hastening a transition to democracy in Cuba. We will do our part to effectuate President Bush’s mandate to speed this transition process.”
"Those who flout our Cuba sanctions do so at their own risk," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of OFAC. "As today's announcement makes clear, violators face not only civil penalties but potential criminal repercussions as well."
"ICE is committed to using all of its law enforcement tools to bring to justice those who violate U.S. embargo laws against Cuba," said Jesus Torres, Special Agent in Charge of ICE investigations in Miami. "We will work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to ensure that the laws of our nation are upheld."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan I. Solomon stated, “The formation of this Task Force is a message to those individuals who are violating the Cuban embargo that the federal government will use all its resources to ensure that the law is enforced. The FBI will assist the U.S. Attorney’s Office, OFAC, and all its partners in this endeavor.”
Brian J. Wimpling, Special Agent in Charge for the IRS said, “We are pleased to be part of the United States Attorney’s Office Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force. As in other efforts, we bring the financial expertise to the collective skills of this multi-agency task force.”
“The Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force represents our continued emphasis on supporting U.S. policy with regard to Cuba and our commitment to border security,” said Rear Admiral David W. Kunkel, Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District. “Our partnership with the Department of Justice and the other members of the Task Force represents our steadfast commitment to the enforcement of U.S. laws and treaties.”
"Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations has a long-standing history of enforcing OFAC's Cuban embargo regulations. This Task Force reinforces our commitment to enforcing Cuba embargo regulations," said Thomas S. Winkowski, Director, Field Operations, Miami Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"CBP Air and Marine stands ready to assist the Cuba Sanctions Enforcement Task Force, as its eyes and ears in the air and on the sea, with our fleet of aircraft and boats," said John S. Beutlich, Director, Air Operations, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in South Florida.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of all Task Force members, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Menchel and Karen Gilbert in overseeing the creation and development of the Task Force.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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