LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four Louisville men are in custody after attempting to move guns through US customs and into Iraq.
30-year-old Haitham Al-Dulaimi, 41-year-old Haider Lazem, 27-year-old Hasan Wasak, and 30-year-old Abdullah Alsajee were arrested on Friday, according to an indictment.
They were charged with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggle goods from the United States, engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, make false statements in the purchase of firearms, and defraud the United States government.
The indictment also charges Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak with making false statements in the purchase of firearms.
From February 2023 through September 2024, the men conspired to export guns from the United States to Iraq, without obtaining the required export licenses, the indictment said.
It also said Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem, got guns from federal firearm licensees and at gun shows in the Louisville area.
Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem then delivered the guns to Al-Dulaimi, who arranged for them to be taken to Iraq.
38 firearms were detained by law enforcement from a shipment sent by Al-Dulaimi.
If convicted, all four men face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violations of export control laws, and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge.
Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak also face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Al-Dulaimi faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for smuggling and five years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
