Haitham Al-Dulaimi, Haider Lazem, Hasan Wasak, and Abdullah Alsajee have been arrested in Louisville, Kentucky. The arrests followed an unsealed indictment charging them with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling goods from the United States, engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, making false statements in firearm purchases, and defrauding the U.S. government. Additionally, Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak face charges for making false statements when purchasing firearms.
The indictment outlines activities from February 2023 to September 2024. It alleges that Al-Dulaimi and his co-defendants attempted to export firearms such as Glocks and Smith & Wessons from the U.S. to Iraq without necessary licenses. Firearms were reportedly acquired from federal licensees and gun shows in Louisville by Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem before being delivered to Al-Dulaimi for exportation. Authorities detained thirty-eight firearms intended for shipment to Iraq.
If convicted of export control violations, each defendant could face up to 20 years in prison plus five years for conspiracy charges. Additional penalties include up to 10 years for false statements against Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak; Al-Dulaimi faces up to 10 years for smuggling and five years for dealing firearms without a license. The indictment also signals intent by the U.S. government to seize firearms linked to these offenses.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division announced this case alongside other officials including U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for Kentucky's Western District and leaders from the FBI’s National Security Branch and ATF’s Louisville Field Division.
Investigations are ongoing by ATF, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), and FBI teams.
The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez along with Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence Section.
It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.