Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges; Flider Electronics, LLC, Pavel Semenovich Flider, Gennadiy Semenovich Flider, et al., 15979-15981 [2015-06894]
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Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 58
Thursday, March 26, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Order Temporarily Denying Export
Privileges; Flider Electronics, LLC,
Pavel Semenovich Flider, Gennadiy
Semenovich Flider, et al.
Flider Electronics, LLC, a/k/a Flider
Electronics, d/b/a Trident International
Corporation, d/b/a Trident International,
d/b/a Trident International Corporation,
LLC, 837 Turk Street, San Francisco,
California 94102
and
Pavel Semenovich Flider, a/k/a Pavel Flider,
21 Eye Street, San Rafael, California 94901
and
Gennadiy Semenovich Flider, a/k/a
Gennadiy Flider, 699 36th Avenue #203,
San Francisco, California 94121
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the
Export Administration Regulations (the
‘‘Regulations’’ or ‘‘EAR’’),1 the Bureau of
Industry and Security (‘‘BIS’’), U.S.
Department of Commerce, through its
Office of Export Enforcement (‘‘OEE’’),
has requested that I issue an Order
temporarily denying, for a period of 180
days, the export privileges of Flider
Electronics, LLC, also known as Flider
Electronics, and doing business as
Trident International Corporation,
Trident International, and Trident
International Corporation, LLC. Flider
Electronics, LLC is a California limited
liability company based in San
Francisco, California. It is operated, at
least in substantial part, for the purpose
of procuring and exporting U.S.-origin
1 The Regulations are currently codified at 15 CFR
parts 730–774 (2014). The EAR issued under the
Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50
U.S.C. app. §§ 2401–2420 (2000)) (‘‘EAA’’). Since
August 21, 2001, the Act has been in lapse and the
President, through Executive Order 13222 of August
17, 2001 (3 CFR, 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which
has been extended by successive Presidential
Notices, the most recent being that of August 7,
2014 (79 FR 46959 (Aug. 11, 2014)), has continued
the Regulations in effect under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701,
et seq.) (2006 & Supp. IV 2010).
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18:55 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
electronic components. California State
Corporation Number C1908339 has been
used in connection with the doing
business names of Trident International
Corporation, Trident International, and
Trident International Corporation, LLC,
but that number is associated with
Flider Electronics, LLC and the address
used in connection with those doing
business as names is the same address
as Flider Electronics, LLC. Pavel
Semenovich Flider, also known as Pavel
Flider, is the president and owner of
Flider Electronics/Trident International
(‘‘Trident’’). His brother Gennadiy
Semenovich Flider, also known as
Gennadiy Flider, has identified himself
as Trident’s office manager, since 2003,
and his duties include the purchase of
items from U.S. distributors, the
shipment of those items abroad, and
related filings with U.S. Government
agencies.
Pursuant to Section 766.24, BIS may
issue an order temporarily denying a
respondent’s export privileges upon a
showing that the order is necessary in
the public interest to prevent an
‘‘imminent violation’’ of the
Regulations. 15 CFR 766.24(b)(1) and
776.24(d). ‘‘A violation may be
‘imminent’ either in time or degree of
likelihood.’’ 15 CFR 766.24(b)(3). BIS
may show ‘‘either that a violation is
about to occur, or that the general
circumstances of the matter under
investigation or case under criminal or
administrative charges demonstrate a
likelihood of future violations.’’ Id. As
to the likelihood of future violations,
BIS may show that the violation under
investigation or charge ‘‘is significant,
deliberate, covert and/or likely to occur
again, rather than technical or negligent
[.]’’ Id. A ‘‘lack of information
establishing the precise time a violation
may occur does not preclude a finding
that a violation is imminent, so long as
there is sufficient reason to believe the
likelihood of a violation.’’ Id.
In its request, OEE has presented
evidence that it has reason to believe
that Trident engaged in conduct
prohibited by the Regulations by
exporting items subject to the EAR to
Russia via transshipment through third
countries. In Automated Export System
(‘‘AES’’) filings it made, Trident
identified as ‘‘ultimate consignees’’
companies in Estonia and Finland that
BIS has reason to believe were operating
as freight forwarders and not end users
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Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of the U.S.-origin items. OEE’s
presentation also indicates that at least
two of these transactions are known to
have involved items that are listed on
the Commerce Control List and that a
search of BIS’s licensing database
reveals no licensing history of
controlled U.S.-origin electronics to
Russia for the company and individuals
captioned in this case. Based on, inter
alia, the transshipment of the items, the
misrepresentations made on the AES
filings, and information obtained
pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty (‘‘MLAT’’) request, OEE indicates
that it has reason to believe that these
exports required a license.
A. Detained Shipments on April 6, 2013
On or about April 6, 2013, the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (‘‘CBP’’)
detained two outbound shipments at
San Francisco International Airport.
CBP ultimately allowed one of these
exports to proceed, but the other
attempted export was not and the items
were ultimately seized. The manifest
and the AES filing for the seized
shipment described the items as ‘‘power
supplies,’’ but the shipment actually
contained, among other items, 15 Xilinx
field programmable gate array (FPGA)
circuits that were controlled under
Export Control Classification Number
(ECCN) 3A001.a.2.c for national security
reasons and generally required a license
for Russia. The shipping documentation
also listed Logilane Oy Ltd. in Finland
(‘‘Logilane’’) as the ultimate consignee.
Open source information confirmed that
Logilane was a freight forwarder and
thus unlikely to be the end user for the
items contained in the shipment. When
questioned about the shipment, Pavel
Flider requested that the ultimate
consignee be changed to Adimir OU
(‘‘Adimir’’) in Estonia, which itself also
proved to be a freight forwarder as
discussed further below.
B. Interviews of Pavel Flider and
Gennadiy Flider
On or about April 19, 2013, OEE
interviewed Trident office manager
Gennadiy Flider, who identified his
responsibilities as handling the
procurement and shipment of items,
including for export. He stated Trident
had been doing business with Adimir
for many years and that it was the only
customer that his company had. He also
indicated that Trident at times shipped
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Notices
items intended for its Estonian customer
to Finland, claiming this was because it
was cheaper.
Similarly, in an August 5, 2013
interview, Trident’s president and
owner Pavel Flider stated that Adimir
was Trident’s one and only customer
and that at times Adimir requested that
items be shipped to a freight forwarder
in Finland. Both Gennadiy Flider and
Pavel Flider denied shipping to Russia.
C. July 2013 Detention and Subsequent
Seizure
On or about July 20, 2013, the U.S.
Government detained a Trident
shipment bound for Adimir in Estonia.
In addition to Adimir being identified as
the ultimate consignee on the AES
filing, the items were identified as
‘‘Electronic Equipment.’’ A review of
the invoice showed six Xilinx FPGAs,
items which were controlled under
ECCN 3A001.a.2.c for national security
reasons and generally required a license
for Russia. Moreover, an inspection of
the shipment uncovered 51 controlled
Xilinx chips, rather than just the six that
had been declared. CBP ultimately
seized the shipment on or about October
18, 2013.
D. Information Concerning Purported
Estonian End User Obtained via an
MLAT Request
Based on information obtained in
2014 via a late 2013 MLAT request sent
to Estonia relating to Adimir, BIS has
reason to believe that Adimir was not an
end user. During an interview, an
Adimir corporate officer admitted to
transshipping Trident shipments to
Russia at the request of Pavel Flider.
Adimir subsequently ceased operating.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
E. Changes in the Scheme
Following the detention and seizures,
the MLAT request, and the Adimir
interview, Trident began exporting
directly to Russia, claiming that the
controlled circuits were for use in
railroads. This assertion sought to track
a note to ECCN 3A001.a.2, which
indicates that the ECCN does not apply
to integrated circuits for civil
automotive or railway train
applications. Pavel Flider reported to
the U.S. distributor that Trident had
been ‘‘referred’’ Russian customers by
Adimir, which was going out of
business. After being made aware that
the items actually were intended for
export to Russia, the U.S. distributor
requested that Trident sign a Form BIS–
711 ‘‘Statement by Ultimate Consignee
and Purchaser,’’ which includes an end
use statement and must be signed by the
purchaser and the ultimate consignee.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:55 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
From on or about January 23, 2014, to
on or about April 16, 2014, Trident
began listing in its AES filings OOO
Elkomtex (‘‘Elkomtex’’) in St.
Petersburg, Russia, as the ultimate
consignee. On or about July 17, 2014,
the Elkomtex employees admitted that
the company was not an end user but a
distributor of electronics, acting as a
broker between an exporter and an end
use company.
Beginning with an export on or about
May 6, 2014, Trident again changed its
export route and began exporting to a
purported ultimate consignee named
Logimix Ltd., in Vantaa, Finland
(‘‘Logimix’’). Between on or about May
6, 2014, to on or about March 12, 2015,
AES filings indicate that Trident has
made 33 exports with Logimix listed as
the ultimate consignee. Based on
Logimix’s Web site and other open
source Internet information, however,
OEE’s presentation indicates that it has
reason to believe that Logimix is a
freight forwarder and not an end user.
Moreover, given the violations,
deceptive actions, and other evidence
involving Trident, including those
admitted by the Fliders, OEE also
indicates that it has reason to believe
that Trident has been making
transshipments to Russia.
OEE has further indicated that in
February 2014, Trident ordered an
additional 195 integrated circuits
controlled under ECCN 3A001.a.2.c
from a U.S. distributor and that those
items would be available by in or
around April 2015. In addition, Trident
and Pavel and Gennadiy Flider have
been indicted for smuggling and money
laundering, including in connection
with some of the transactions discussed
above.
F. Findings
I find that the evidence presented by
BIS demonstrates that a violation of the
Regulations is imminent in both time
and degree of likelihood. Trident has
engaged in some known violations of
the Regulations and its actions,
including changes in how it structures
its export transactions and routes its
shipments, appear designed to
camouflage the actual destinations, end
uses, and/or end users of the U.S.-origin
items it has been and continues to
export, including items on the
Commerce Control List that are subject
to national security-based license
requirements. Moreover, when
interviewed in 2013, the Fliders could
not provide a reasonable explanation for
the purported exports to Estonia and
Finland. When for a time Trident began
direct exports to Russia, the entity listed
as the ultimate consignee admitted that
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
it was not an end user and instead
acting as a broker.
In sum, the fact and circumstances
taken as a whole provide strong
indicators that future violations are
likely absent the issuance of a TDO. As
such, a TDO is needed to give notice to
persons and companies in the United
States and abroad that they should cease
dealing with Trident in export
transactions involving items subject to
the EAR. Such a TDO is consistent with
the public interest to preclude future
violations of the EAR.
Additionally, Section 766.23 of the
Regulations provides that ‘‘[i]n order to
prevent evasion, certain types of orders
under this part may be made applicable
not only to the respondent, but also to
other persons then or thereafter related
to the respondent by ownership,
control, position of responsibility,
affiliation, or other connection in the
conduct of trade or business. Orders that
may be made applicable to related
persons include those that deny or affect
export privileges, including temporary
denial orders . . .’’ 15 CFR § 766.23(a).
As stated above, Pavel Flider is the
president and owner of Trident.
Gennadiy Flider also is a Trident office
manager, with responsibilities relating
directly to the procurement and export
activities at issue. As such, I find that
Pavel Semenovich Flider and Gennadiy
Semenovich Flider are related persons
to Trident based on their positions of
responsibility and that their additions to
the order is necessary to prevent
evasion.
Accordingly, I find that an order
denying the export privileges of Trident,
Pavel Flider, and Gennadiy Flider is
necessary, in the public interest, to
prevent an imminent violation of the
EAR.
This Order is being issued on an ex
parte basis without a hearing based
upon BIS’s showing of an imminent
violation in accordance with Section
766.24 of the Regulations.
It is therefore ordered:
First, that Flider Electronics, LLC,
a/k/a Flider Electronics, d/b/a Trident
International Corporation, d/b/a Trident
International, d/b/a Trident
International Corporation, LLC, 837
Turk Street, San Francisco, California
94102; Pavel Semenovich Flider, a/k/a
Pavel Flider, 21 Eye Street, San Rafael,
California 94901; and Gennadiy
Semenovich Flider, a/k/a Gennadiy
Flider, 699 36th Avenue #203, San
Francisco, California 94121, and when
acting for or on their behalf, any
successors or assigns, agents, or
employees (each a ‘‘Denied Person’’ and
collectively the ‘‘Denied Persons’’) may
not, directly or indirectly, participate in
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Notices
any way in any transaction involving
any commodity, software or technology
(hereinafter collectively referred to as
‘‘item’’) exported or to be exported from
the United States that is subject to the
Export Administration Regulations
(‘‘EAR’’), or in any other activity subject
to the EAR including, but not limited to:
A. Applying for, obtaining, or using
any license, License Exception, or
export control document;
B. Carrying on negotiations
concerning, or ordering, buying,
receiving, using, selling, delivering,
storing, disposing of, forwarding,
transporting, financing, or otherwise
servicing in any way, any transaction
involving any item exported or to be
exported from the United States that is
subject to the EAR, or in any other
activity subject to the EAR; or
C. Benefitting in any way from any
transaction involving any item exported
or to be exported from the United States
that is subject to the EAR, or in any
other activity subject to the EAR.
Second, that no person may, directly
or indirectly, do any of the following:
A. Export or reexport to or on behalf
of a Denied Person any item subject to
the EAR;
B. Take any action that facilitates the
acquisition or attempted acquisition by
a Denied Person of the ownership,
possession, or control of any item
subject to the EAR that has been or will
be exported from the United States,
including financing or other support
activities related to a transaction
whereby a Denied Person acquires or
attempts to acquire such ownership,
possession or control;
C. Take any action to acquire from or
to facilitate the acquisition or attempted
acquisition from a Denied Person of any
item subject to the EAR that has been
exported from the United States;
D. Obtain from a Denied Person in the
United States any item subject to the
EAR with knowledge or reason to know
that the item will be, or is intended to
be, exported from the United States; or
E. Engage in any transaction to service
any item subject to the EAR that has
been or will be exported from the
United States and which is owned,
possessed or controlled by a Denied
Person, or service any item, of whatever
origin, that is owned, possessed or
controlled by a Denied Person if such
service involves the use of any item
subject to the EAR that has been or will
be exported from the United States. For
purposes of this paragraph, servicing
means installation, maintenance, repair,
modification or testing.
Third, that, after notice and
opportunity for comment as provided in
Section 766.23 of the EAR, any other
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18:55 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
person, firm, corporation, or business
organization related to a Denied Person
by ownership, control, position of
responsibility, affiliation, or other
connection in the conduct of trade or
business may also be made subject to
the provisions of this Order.
In accordance with the provisions of
Section 766.24(e) of the EAR, Flider
Electronics, LLC d/b/a Trident
International Corporation, may, at any
time, appeal this Order by filing a full
written statement in support of the
appeal with the Office of the
Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast
Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South
Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202–
4022. In accordance with the provisions
of Sections 766.23(c)(2) and 766.24(e)(3)
of the EAR, Pavel Semenovich Flider
and Gennadiy Semenovich Flider may,
at any time, appeal their inclusion as a
related person by filing a full written
statement in support of the appeal with
the Office of the Administrative Law
Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Docketing
Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202–4022.
In accordance with the provisions of
Section 766.24(d) of the EAR, BIS may
seek renewal of this Order by filing a
written request not later than 20 days
before the expiration date. Flider
Electronics, LLC d/b/a Trident
International Corporation may oppose a
request to renew this Order by filing a
written submission with the Assistant
Secretary for Export Enforcement,
which must be received not later than
seven days before the expiration date of
the Order.
A copy of this Order shall be sent to
Flider Electronics LLC d/b/a Trident
International Corporation and each
related person, and shall be published
in the Federal Register.
This Order is effective upon issuance
and shall remain in effect for 180 days.
Dated: March 19, 2015.
David W. Mills,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2015–06894 Filed 3–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–122–854]
Supercalendered Paper From Canada:
Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigation
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DATES:
15981
Effective Date: March 26, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joshua Morris or Shane Subler, AD/CVD
Operations, Office I, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–1779 or (202) 482–
0189, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petition
On February 26, 2015, the Department
of Commerce (the Department) received
a countervailing duty (CVD) petition 1
concerning imports of supercalendered
paper (SC paper) from Canada, filed in
proper form on behalf of the Coalition
for Fair Paper Imports (the petitioner).2
The petitioner is an ad hoc association
of domestic producers of SC paper.
On March 3 and 13, 2015, we
requested information and clarification
for certain areas of the Petition.3 The
petitioner responded to these requests
on March 9 and 16, 2015.4
In accordance with section 702(b)(1)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), the petitioner alleges that the
Government of Canada (the GOC) and
certain Canadian provinces are
providing countervailable subsidies,
within the meaning of sections 701 and
771(5) of the Act, to imports of SC paper
from Canada, and that such imports are
materially injuring, or are threatening
material injury to, the domestic industry
in the United States pursuant to section
701 of the Act. Consistent with section
702(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition is
accompanied by information reasonably
available to petitioner supporting its
allegations.
The Department finds that the
petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of
the domestic industry because the
petitioner is an interested party as
defined in section 771(9)(F) of the Act,
and that the petitioner has demonstrated
1 See Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing
Duties on Supercalendered Paper from Canada
(February 26, 2015) (Petition).
2 The Coalition for Fair Paper Imports consists of
Madison Paper Industries and Verso Corporation.
3 See Letters from the Department, ‘‘Petition For
The Imposition Of Countervailing Duties on
Imports of Supercalendered Paper from Canada:
Supplemental Questions’’ (March 3, 2015) and
‘‘Petition For The Imposition Of Countervailing
Duties on Imports of Supercalendered Paper from
Canada: Additional Supplemental Question’’
(March 13, 2015).
4 See Letters from the petitioner,
‘‘Supercalendered Paper From Canada/Petitioner’s
Response To The Department’s Questions
Regarding The Petition’’ (March 9, 2015) (Petition
Supplement) and ‘‘Supercalendered Paper From
Canada/Response to the March 13, 2015 Additional
Supplemental Question for Volume II of the
Petition’’ (March 16, 2015).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15979-15981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06894]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 /
Notices
[[Page 15979]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges; Flider Electronics,
LLC, Pavel Semenovich Flider, Gennadiy Semenovich Flider, et al.
Flider Electronics, LLC, a/k/a Flider Electronics, d/b/a Trident
International Corporation, d/b/a Trident International, d/b/a
Trident International Corporation, LLC, 837 Turk Street, San
Francisco, California 94102
and
Pavel Semenovich Flider, a/k/a Pavel Flider, 21 Eye Street, San
Rafael, California 94901
and
Gennadiy Semenovich Flider, a/k/a Gennadiy Flider, 699 36th Avenue
#203, San Francisco, California 94121
Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the Export Administration Regulations
(the ``Regulations'' or ``EAR''),\1\ the Bureau of Industry and
Security (``BIS''), U.S. Department of Commerce, through its Office of
Export Enforcement (``OEE''), has requested that I issue an Order
temporarily denying, for a period of 180 days, the export privileges of
Flider Electronics, LLC, also known as Flider Electronics, and doing
business as Trident International Corporation, Trident International,
and Trident International Corporation, LLC. Flider Electronics, LLC is
a California limited liability company based in San Francisco,
California. It is operated, at least in substantial part, for the
purpose of procuring and exporting U.S.-origin electronic components.
California State Corporation Number C1908339 has been used in
connection with the doing business names of Trident International
Corporation, Trident International, and Trident International
Corporation, LLC, but that number is associated with Flider
Electronics, LLC and the address used in connection with those doing
business as names is the same address as Flider Electronics, LLC. Pavel
Semenovich Flider, also known as Pavel Flider, is the president and
owner of Flider Electronics/Trident International (``Trident''). His
brother Gennadiy Semenovich Flider, also known as Gennadiy Flider, has
identified himself as Trident's office manager, since 2003, and his
duties include the purchase of items from U.S. distributors, the
shipment of those items abroad, and related filings with U.S.
Government agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Regulations are currently codified at 15 CFR parts 730-
774 (2014). The EAR issued under the Export Administration Act of
1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. app. Sec. Sec. 2401-2420 (2000))
(``EAA''). Since August 21, 2001, the Act has been in lapse and the
President, through Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001 (3 CFR,
2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which has been extended by successive
Presidential Notices, the most recent being that of August 7, 2014
(79 FR 46959 (Aug. 11, 2014)), has continued the Regulations in
effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701, et seq.) (2006 & Supp. IV 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to Section 766.24, BIS may issue an order temporarily
denying a respondent's export privileges upon a showing that the order
is necessary in the public interest to prevent an ``imminent
violation'' of the Regulations. 15 CFR 766.24(b)(1) and 776.24(d). ``A
violation may be `imminent' either in time or degree of likelihood.''
15 CFR 766.24(b)(3). BIS may show ``either that a violation is about to
occur, or that the general circumstances of the matter under
investigation or case under criminal or administrative charges
demonstrate a likelihood of future violations.'' Id. As to the
likelihood of future violations, BIS may show that the violation under
investigation or charge ``is significant, deliberate, covert and/or
likely to occur again, rather than technical or negligent [.]'' Id. A
``lack of information establishing the precise time a violation may
occur does not preclude a finding that a violation is imminent, so long
as there is sufficient reason to believe the likelihood of a
violation.'' Id.
In its request, OEE has presented evidence that it has reason to
believe that Trident engaged in conduct prohibited by the Regulations
by exporting items subject to the EAR to Russia via transshipment
through third countries. In Automated Export System (``AES'') filings
it made, Trident identified as ``ultimate consignees'' companies in
Estonia and Finland that BIS has reason to believe were operating as
freight forwarders and not end users of the U.S.-origin items. OEE's
presentation also indicates that at least two of these transactions are
known to have involved items that are listed on the Commerce Control
List and that a search of BIS's licensing database reveals no licensing
history of controlled U.S.-origin electronics to Russia for the company
and individuals captioned in this case. Based on, inter alia, the
transshipment of the items, the misrepresentations made on the AES
filings, and information obtained pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty (``MLAT'') request, OEE indicates that it has reason to believe
that these exports required a license.
A. Detained Shipments on April 6, 2013
On or about April 6, 2013, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(``CBP'') detained two outbound shipments at San Francisco
International Airport. CBP ultimately allowed one of these exports to
proceed, but the other attempted export was not and the items were
ultimately seized. The manifest and the AES filing for the seized
shipment described the items as ``power supplies,'' but the shipment
actually contained, among other items, 15 Xilinx field programmable
gate array (FPGA) circuits that were controlled under Export Control
Classification Number (ECCN) 3A001.a.2.c for national security reasons
and generally required a license for Russia. The shipping documentation
also listed Logilane Oy Ltd. in Finland (``Logilane'') as the ultimate
consignee. Open source information confirmed that Logilane was a
freight forwarder and thus unlikely to be the end user for the items
contained in the shipment. When questioned about the shipment, Pavel
Flider requested that the ultimate consignee be changed to Adimir OU
(``Adimir'') in Estonia, which itself also proved to be a freight
forwarder as discussed further below.
B. Interviews of Pavel Flider and Gennadiy Flider
On or about April 19, 2013, OEE interviewed Trident office manager
Gennadiy Flider, who identified his responsibilities as handling the
procurement and shipment of items, including for export. He stated
Trident had been doing business with Adimir for many years and that it
was the only customer that his company had. He also indicated that
Trident at times shipped
[[Page 15980]]
items intended for its Estonian customer to Finland, claiming this was
because it was cheaper.
Similarly, in an August 5, 2013 interview, Trident's president and
owner Pavel Flider stated that Adimir was Trident's one and only
customer and that at times Adimir requested that items be shipped to a
freight forwarder in Finland. Both Gennadiy Flider and Pavel Flider
denied shipping to Russia.
C. July 2013 Detention and Subsequent Seizure
On or about July 20, 2013, the U.S. Government detained a Trident
shipment bound for Adimir in Estonia. In addition to Adimir being
identified as the ultimate consignee on the AES filing, the items were
identified as ``Electronic Equipment.'' A review of the invoice showed
six Xilinx FPGAs, items which were controlled under ECCN 3A001.a.2.c
for national security reasons and generally required a license for
Russia. Moreover, an inspection of the shipment uncovered 51 controlled
Xilinx chips, rather than just the six that had been declared. CBP
ultimately seized the shipment on or about October 18, 2013.
D. Information Concerning Purported Estonian End User Obtained via an
MLAT Request
Based on information obtained in 2014 via a late 2013 MLAT request
sent to Estonia relating to Adimir, BIS has reason to believe that
Adimir was not an end user. During an interview, an Adimir corporate
officer admitted to transshipping Trident shipments to Russia at the
request of Pavel Flider. Adimir subsequently ceased operating.
E. Changes in the Scheme
Following the detention and seizures, the MLAT request, and the
Adimir interview, Trident began exporting directly to Russia, claiming
that the controlled circuits were for use in railroads. This assertion
sought to track a note to ECCN 3A001.a.2, which indicates that the ECCN
does not apply to integrated circuits for civil automotive or railway
train applications. Pavel Flider reported to the U.S. distributor that
Trident had been ``referred'' Russian customers by Adimir, which was
going out of business. After being made aware that the items actually
were intended for export to Russia, the U.S. distributor requested that
Trident sign a Form BIS-711 ``Statement by Ultimate Consignee and
Purchaser,'' which includes an end use statement and must be signed by
the purchaser and the ultimate consignee.
From on or about January 23, 2014, to on or about April 16, 2014,
Trident began listing in its AES filings OOO Elkomtex (``Elkomtex'') in
St. Petersburg, Russia, as the ultimate consignee. On or about July 17,
2014, the Elkomtex employees admitted that the company was not an end
user but a distributor of electronics, acting as a broker between an
exporter and an end use company.
Beginning with an export on or about May 6, 2014, Trident again
changed its export route and began exporting to a purported ultimate
consignee named Logimix Ltd., in Vantaa, Finland (``Logimix''). Between
on or about May 6, 2014, to on or about March 12, 2015, AES filings
indicate that Trident has made 33 exports with Logimix listed as the
ultimate consignee. Based on Logimix's Web site and other open source
Internet information, however, OEE's presentation indicates that it has
reason to believe that Logimix is a freight forwarder and not an end
user. Moreover, given the violations, deceptive actions, and other
evidence involving Trident, including those admitted by the Fliders,
OEE also indicates that it has reason to believe that Trident has been
making transshipments to Russia.
OEE has further indicated that in February 2014, Trident ordered an
additional 195 integrated circuits controlled under ECCN 3A001.a.2.c
from a U.S. distributor and that those items would be available by in
or around April 2015. In addition, Trident and Pavel and Gennadiy
Flider have been indicted for smuggling and money laundering, including
in connection with some of the transactions discussed above.
F. Findings
I find that the evidence presented by BIS demonstrates that a
violation of the Regulations is imminent in both time and degree of
likelihood. Trident has engaged in some known violations of the
Regulations and its actions, including changes in how it structures its
export transactions and routes its shipments, appear designed to
camouflage the actual destinations, end uses, and/or end users of the
U.S.-origin items it has been and continues to export, including items
on the Commerce Control List that are subject to national security-
based license requirements. Moreover, when interviewed in 2013, the
Fliders could not provide a reasonable explanation for the purported
exports to Estonia and Finland. When for a time Trident began direct
exports to Russia, the entity listed as the ultimate consignee admitted
that it was not an end user and instead acting as a broker.
In sum, the fact and circumstances taken as a whole provide strong
indicators that future violations are likely absent the issuance of a
TDO. As such, a TDO is needed to give notice to persons and companies
in the United States and abroad that they should cease dealing with
Trident in export transactions involving items subject to the EAR. Such
a TDO is consistent with the public interest to preclude future
violations of the EAR.
Additionally, Section 766.23 of the Regulations provides that
``[i]n order to prevent evasion, certain types of orders under this
part may be made applicable not only to the respondent, but also to
other persons then or thereafter related to the respondent by
ownership, control, position of responsibility, affiliation, or other
connection in the conduct of trade or business. Orders that may be made
applicable to related persons include those that deny or affect export
privileges, including temporary denial orders . . .'' 15 CFR Sec.
766.23(a). As stated above, Pavel Flider is the president and owner of
Trident. Gennadiy Flider also is a Trident office manager, with
responsibilities relating directly to the procurement and export
activities at issue. As such, I find that Pavel Semenovich Flider and
Gennadiy Semenovich Flider are related persons to Trident based on
their positions of responsibility and that their additions to the order
is necessary to prevent evasion.
Accordingly, I find that an order denying the export privileges of
Trident, Pavel Flider, and Gennadiy Flider is necessary, in the public
interest, to prevent an imminent violation of the EAR.
This Order is being issued on an ex parte basis without a hearing
based upon BIS's showing of an imminent violation in accordance with
Section 766.24 of the Regulations.
It is therefore ordered:
First, that Flider Electronics, LLC, a/k/a Flider Electronics, d/b/
a Trident International Corporation, d/b/a Trident International, d/b/a
Trident International Corporation, LLC, 837 Turk Street, San Francisco,
California 94102; Pavel Semenovich Flider, a/k/a Pavel Flider, 21 Eye
Street, San Rafael, California 94901; and Gennadiy Semenovich Flider,
a/k/a Gennadiy Flider, 699 36th Avenue #203, San Francisco, California
94121, and when acting for or on their behalf, any successors or
assigns, agents, or employees (each a ``Denied Person'' and
collectively the ``Denied Persons'') may not, directly or indirectly,
participate in
[[Page 15981]]
any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or
technology (hereinafter collectively referred to as ``item'') exported
or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Export
Administration Regulations (``EAR''), or in any other activity subject
to the EAR including, but not limited to:
A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, License
Exception, or export control document;
B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying,
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of,
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way,
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the
United States that is subject to the EAR, or in any other activity
subject to the EAR; or
C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to
the EAR, or in any other activity subject to the EAR.
Second, that no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the
following:
A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of a Denied Person any item
subject to the EAR;
B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted
acquisition by a Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or control
of any item subject to the EAR that has been or will be exported from
the United States, including financing or other support activities
related to a transaction whereby a Denied Person acquires or attempts
to acquire such ownership, possession or control;
C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition
or attempted acquisition from a Denied Person of any item subject to
the EAR that has been exported from the United States;
D. Obtain from a Denied Person in the United States any item
subject to the EAR with knowledge or reason to know that the item will
be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or
E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the EAR
that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is
owned, possessed or controlled by a Denied Person, or service any item,
of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by a Denied
Person if such service involves the use of any item subject to the EAR
that has been or will be exported from the United States. For purposes
of this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, repair,
modification or testing.
Third, that, after notice and opportunity for comment as provided
in Section 766.23 of the EAR, any other person, firm, corporation, or
business organization related to a Denied Person by ownership, control,
position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the
conduct of trade or business may also be made subject to the provisions
of this Order.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 766.24(e) of the EAR,
Flider Electronics, LLC d/b/a Trident International Corporation, may,
at any time, appeal this Order by filing a full written statement in
support of the appeal with the Office of the Administrative Law Judge,
U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202-4022. In accordance with the provisions of Sections
766.23(c)(2) and 766.24(e)(3) of the EAR, Pavel Semenovich Flider and
Gennadiy Semenovich Flider may, at any time, appeal their inclusion as
a related person by filing a full written statement in support of the
appeal with the Office of the Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast
Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland
21202-4022.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 766.24(d) of the EAR,
BIS may seek renewal of this Order by filing a written request not
later than 20 days before the expiration date. Flider Electronics, LLC
d/b/a Trident International Corporation may oppose a request to renew
this Order by filing a written submission with the Assistant Secretary
for Export Enforcement, which must be received not later than seven
days before the expiration date of the Order.
A copy of this Order shall be sent to Flider Electronics LLC d/b/a
Trident International Corporation and each related person, and shall be
published in the Federal Register.
This Order is effective upon issuance and shall remain in effect
for 180 days.
Dated: March 19, 2015.
David W. Mills,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2015-06894 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P