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Press Release

Robert J. Shubert, Sr. Sentenced On Violation Of The Arms Export Act And Possession Of Pipe Bombs

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia


Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Robert J. Shubert Sr., age 49, from Warner Robins, Georgia was sentenced on October 14, 2014, by the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge, in Macon, Georgia to a total of six and a half years in prison following his earlier plea of guilty to one count each of conspiracy to violate and violation of the Arms Export Control Act as well as one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

The investigation in this case revealed that Mr. Shubert conspired with a foreign national between June 2006 and December 2011 to export defense articles to a foreign nation without the proper authority or license.  He purchased the defense articles from various legitimate distributors and shipped them to a foreign nation at a considerable profit to himself.  To facilitate the scheme he also prepared false documents regarding the contents to be exported to his foreign co-conspirator.  These acts formed the basis of the Arms Export Control Act violations.

Additionally, search warrants executed on homes owned by Mr. Shubert in Warner Robins, Georgia, and in Wisconsin revealed more than eighty (80) unregistered destructive devices, better known as pipe bombs.  These resulted in the possession of an unregistered firearm count.

District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell was not persuaded by Mr. Shubert’s statements of remorse, sentencing him to seventy-eight (78) months imprisonment, the top of the available range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. The Court also imposed a fine of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) and ordered forfeiture of one hundred and forty seven thousand eight hundred and ninety two dollars ($147,892.00). The Court prohibited Shubert from leaving the United States and ordered his passport be surrendered to the State Department, as well.

“Robert J. Shubert showed a total disregard for the laws of the United States of America and the potential harm the defense articles he exported could pose to others. He allowed his personal enrichment to guide his conscience. The possession of more than eighty (80) pipe bombs at the time of his arrest is equally disturbing to the Government, ” said United States Attorney Michael Moore.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.  Deputy Criminal Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Tamara Jarrett, handled the prosecution for the United States.  The case was also worked by prosecutors from the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterespionage Section.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office (478/621-2603).

Updated February 19, 2015