HOUSTON - A Houston company has agreed to pay $2 million in fines and forfeitures for illegally exporting products to Sudan.
Agar Corporation Inc. (ACI) pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
President Bill Clinton issued an executive order in 1997, prohibiting exports to Sudan except things like food and medicine to alleviate human suffering.
ACI used Venezuelan affiliate to get their products shipped to Sudan for use in the Melut Basin oil field, according to a statement from the Texas Attorney General's Office.
These products were shipped across several dates in April, May, and June of 2005.
ACI must serve a four-year probation period where the company must institute a compliance program to ensure no further violations occur.
Also, the company is required, per its plea agreement, to hire a third-party consultant to conduct external audits on ACI to ensure its compliance with U.S. sanctions and policies.
