[ RadSafe ] Re: Prison Term For Illegal Shipment

[Hansen, Richard]

Here is some additional information on the illegal shipment of Ir-192,
from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector
General, HazMat Transportation Reading Room
http://www.oig.dot.gov/Room?subject=13 (checked 8-15-06)

[A] top strategic goal of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is to
"Promote the public health and safety by working toward the elimination
of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage."
Another strategic goal is to "Protect and enhance communities and the
natural environment affected by transportation." Because of significant
danger posed to the traveling public from the illegal shipment of
hazardous materials (HazMat), the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the
Department's criminal investigative element, has made its Hazardous
Material Transportation Safety Program one of its highest investigative
priorities.

Title: Owner Of Florida Import/Export Company Sentenced To Forfeit Two
Private Aircraft For Illegally Transporting Radioactive Hazardous
Materials (HazMat)	
Date:	 August 04, 2006	
Type:	 Investigation	
Summary:	 On August 4, Harold J. DeGregory, Jr., president and
registered agent of H&G Import/Export of Fort Lauderdale (H&G) was
ordered by a US District Court Judge in Miami, FL to forfeit two Piper
aircrafts valued at a combined 150,000 and sentenced to two years in
prison for illegally transporting radioactive HazMat and for making
false representations to the Government. 

Our investigation disclosed that DeGregory contracted with Bahamas Oil
Refining Company (BORCO) to transport radioactive Iridium-192 to and
from the Bahamas. H&G was not licensed or certified to handle or
transport radioactive HazMat. DeGregory never submitted HazMat manifests
required by law, nor did he disclose the HazMat (which, was shipped in
November 2004 from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale, and hidden in a wing
compartment of the aircraft) to Customs officials. DeGregory was
convicted by a Miami jury in January 2006. This was a joint
investigation with DHS-ICE, DHS-CBP, and the FAA.	
 
Best Regards,
Rick Hansen
Senior Scientist
National Security Technologies
Counter Terrorism Operations Support Program
 
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