Bushnell pleads guilty to illegal exports

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that Worldwide Sports & Recreation, Inc., which does business as Bushnell Corp., pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of conspiracy and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Bushnell admitted to exporting more than 500 Night Ranger night vision devices to Japan and 14 other countries, between September 1995 and December 1997, without the required Department of Commerce export licenses. Night Rangers are among the optical sensors subject to additional export regulations because of their potential use against U.S. interests.

Under the plea agreement, the Overland Park, Kan.-based, Bushnell company has agreed to pay a criminal fine of $650,000 and receive five years of corporate probation. In addition, the Department of Commerce, which administers and enforces export controls through its Bureau of Industry and Security, has the authority to impose civil penalties for such violations of the Export Administration Regulations.

Bushnell is scheduled for sentencing on June 10.

To read the full Justice Department release, click here: http://www.bxa.doc.gov/News/2003/Bushnell4_03.htm