Arms broker violated US law

published: Sunday | September 7, 2008

Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter

A PRESS release found on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) website said that Lance Brooks, who operates Taylor and Associates, an arms- brokering business in Lauder-hill, Florida, was charged with being an unlicensed broker of defence articles, in violation of the Arms Export Act.

The release explained that Brooks was charged with knowingly and wilfully brokering the sale of 150,000 rounds of .38 Jacketed Soft Point ammunition; 20,000 rounds of .380 Jacketed Soft Point ammunition, and 100,000 rounds of .223 55 grain Jacketed Soft Point ammunition to Jamaica, without first having registered with and obtaining a licence from the United States Department of State, Directorate of Defence Trade Controls.

The FBI was careful to point out that this was the second time Brooks had been charged with an arms-export violation.

"Brooks, the owner-operator of Taylor and Associates, an arms-brokering business in Lauderhill, Florida, was indicted on November 6, 2007, for violations of the Arms Export Act and other offences," read a section of the release.

arrested last year

On December 20, 2007, Brooks pleaded guilty to exporting defence services from the United States to the United Arab Emirates without a licence, and was on bond pending sentencing in that case. A report on sun-sentinel.com said Brooks was arrested last year as he attempted to board a flight to Abu Dhabi and pleaded guilty in December to export-related and other charges.

On March 30, 2008, while Brooks was awaiting sentencing, a search warrant was issued for the search of a DHL package addressed to Lance Brooks, Taylor and Associates.

The package was coming from the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Firearms Coastal Security Branch and it had Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Robinson's name on it.

"A search of the package revealed an end-user certificate from the Ministry of National Security, Kingston, Jamaica, dated February 26, 2008, regarding the purchase of 150,000 rounds of .38 Jacketed Soft Point ammunition, 20,000 rounds of .380 Jacketed Soft Point ammunition, and 100,000 rounds of Jacketed Soft Point ammunition from Taylor and Associates," the release stated further.

no details given on deal

When contacted, ACP Robinson refused to divulge any details about the deal. "I will have to direct you to Mr Scott." When pressed, ACP Robinson insisted that our news team speak to the permanent secretary.

The FBI added that further investigation confirmed that from as early as October 2007 to March 5, 2008, Brooks was brokering the sale of defence articles to the JCF.

This indicated that the JCF had been dealing with Brooks prior to his initial indictment and continued to do so after he was arrested, charged, pleaded guilty to the charges and was out on bond awaiting sentencing.

The FBI also revealed that on March 3, 2008, the JCF wire- transferred US$81,100.00 (J$5.8-million) to Taylor and Associates to pay for the purchase of the more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Michael Walleisa.

DCP Bent tried to give the assurance that such a blunder would never be allowed to reoccur. "Steps are being taken to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. I view it very seriously and we have to make sure that we cover all the bases, and even if we are in situations where we need items, we are going to make sure that the due diligence is completed before we place orders," she said.

David S. Weinstein, acting public information officer in the US Department of Justice, said that Brooks is to be sentenced on September 25 for the first offence, to which he pleaded guilty. He was arraigned on June 4, for the case involving the arms deal with Jamaica. However, no further court dates have been set by the district court.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com