Where Industry and Security Intersect
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WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department has imposed a five-year denial of export privileges on William F. McNeil, of Pittsfield, MA, based on his conviction of illegally exporting 150 riot shields to Romania without the required export license. At the time of the shipment, the riot shields were controlled for export worldwide for foreign policy reasons.
McNeil pleaded guilty in August, 1996 to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The shields, used for law enforcement and riot control, were valued at $32,000.
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply. Criminal penalties as well as administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the regulations.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.