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November 7, 2010 - A local aviation company and its
chief executive officer have been charged with violating
the Arms Export Control Act, following a joint
investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), the FBI and the Defense Criminal
Investigation Service.
Floyd Stilwell, 84, and his company, Marsh Aviation, of
The T-76 engines are a designated item on the U.S.
Munitions List, which under the Arms Export Control Act,
makes it illegal for these engines to be exported
without a license or written authorization from the
Department of State.
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The
T-76 aircraft engine was designed for the OV-10 Bronco
Aircraft, a light armed reconnaissance aircraft specifically
suited for counter-insurgency missions. Federal agents
executed a search warrant on February 5, 2008 at Marsh
Aviation offices where they discovered two complete T-76
engines and enough component parts to construct 12
additional engines.
The
indictment also alleges that without having obtained the
necessary license or written authorization from the Department
of State, Stilwell and Marsh Aviation Company furnished
assistance to members of the Venezuelan Air Force, including
testing, repair, maintenance, modification, operation, and using
the T-76 military aircraft engine, and training in the assembly.
"Our
investigation showed that the defendants in this case falsely
claimed these engines were parts for civilian aircraft in an
attempt to circumvent the law," said Matt Allen, special agent
in charge of ICE HSI in
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