I previously reported the story of Captain Tomoaki Iishiba who was indicted for conspiring to export military equipment to Japan without obtaining U.S. government approval. He pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to smuggle firearms parts to Japan without a license.Capt. Tomoaki Iishiba admitted in his plea agreement Monday that he circumvented export permit requirements by using false information on customs declarations to illegally send firearms parts, such as holographic night vision sights, to contacts in Japan. He admitted to sending the parts on numerous occasions between 2006 and 2008.In the plea agreement, Iishiba admits that between 2006 and February 2008, Iishiba shipped EoTech 553 holographic night vision compatible firearm sights; EoTech 550 firearm sights; upper receivers modified for Airsoft; and various scopes to individuals and business contacts in Japan. Iishiba had met these contacts while serving in the military in Japan. In October and December 2006, Iishiba shipped sixty of the holographic sights to a contact in Japan. Iishiba purposely mislabeled the customs form for the shipment because he knew he needed a license to ship the firearms parts to Japan.The 34-year-old Iishiba could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Nov. 7. But federal prosecutors have acknowledged Iishiba did not “intend to threaten a security or foreign policy interest of the United States” with his actions and have agreed to jointly recommend a sentence of three years’ probation."Knowingly exporting sensitive military technology is a violation of federal law," said Leigh Winchell, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Investigations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Seattle. "ICE continues to work closely with its law enforcement partners to investigate this type of activity to ensure that our nation's security is not breached in this manner."In court today, attorneys said Iishiba's future with the military is unclear. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms.The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.In October 2007, the Justice Department announced the launch of a national export enforcement initiative to harness the counter-proliferation assets of U.S. law enforcement, licensing, and intelligence agencies in order to better combat the growing national security threat posed by illegal exports of restricted U.S. military and dual-use technology. For more information about the national export enforcement initiative, please visit here. Source: U.S. Department of Justice