Owner of Schaumburg company sentenced to federal prison

The owner of a Schaumburg company was sentenced on Thursday to two years in federal prison for violating U.S. export laws, federal authorities said.

Bilal Ahmed, 34, of Bolingbrook, attempted to ship a thermal imaging camera from his Schaumburg company, Trexim Corp., to Pakistan without obtaining a license from the U.S. Commerce Department, according to authorities.

Ahmed pleaded guilty to one count of willfully violating export control regulations between June 2009 and March 2014. He must report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on July 17.

As the owner/president of Trexim Corp., Ahmed purchased and exported items from United States manufacturers overseas to countries that included Pakistan. Authorities say Ahmed received orders from foreign entities like Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, also known as SUPARCO, then purchased and exported those items to those entities, including to SUPARCO.

They claim Ahmed knew the export of some goods designated as “dual use” items, was controlled by the departments of State and Commerce and exporting certain items required a license issued from either of those departments.

Purchase orders recovered from the defendant's computer at the time of his arrest reflected the export of about 203 items from the United States to Pakistan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Biesenthal said in the government's sentencing memorandum.

Items Ahmed unlawfully exported to Pakistan include: a FLIR HRC-U thermal imaging camera; carbon fiber to make “bullet proof-vests” and microwave laminate. Their export was controlled for “reasons of national security and regional stability,” according to the government's memorandum.