It’s Not OK to Sell Dive Gear to Libya

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In the summer of 2016, a federal agent contacted the owner of a Delray Beach dive equipment company and warned him not to proceed with his plans to export more than $100,000 worth of advanced dive gear to Libya because the sale would violate a U.S. embargo on doing certain types of business with the war-torn nation.

But prosecutors say the message was ignored, and the rebreather equipment was shipped from the company's warehouse in August of that year. European customs officials stopped the load before it could reach its destination.

After 12 hours of deliberation, a jury on October 23 convicted the company's owner, Peter Sotis, 57, and his shipping manager, Emilie Voissem, 45, on charges of smuggling and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. They each face a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines. The ruling will most likely be appealed....

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