PALOS HILLS, Ill. - A Cook County man is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty last week to illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel in 2022.
Amin Betuni, 37, of Palos Hills, was charged with knowingly and fraudulently exploiting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations.
Prosecutors said Betuni admitted to shipping firearm parts to people in Israel at least three different times in 2022. The parts included rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles and bolt carrier groups.
Betuni also put false information on the shipping labels and hid the firearm parts inside packages that contained auto parts or George Foreman grills.
Prosecutors said the firearm parts were on the U.S. Commerce Control List and needed to follow federal export regulations. This meant that shipping them from the U.S. to Israel required a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce, which Betuni didn't get before sending the packages.
In December 2022, law enforcement officials searched Betuni's residence and located more than 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, a rifle and a handgun, along with additional bold carrier groups and three firearm conversion devices, also known as "Glock switches."
"Export-control violations are critically important because they undermine federal laws and regulations that seek to protect international security," said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual. "Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export-control laws for financial gain."
Betuni could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing date is scheduled for Nov. 6.